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2/28/10 6:16 AM | Ricky Dimon
Ernests Gulbis will contest his first career ATP final on Sunday afternoon in Delray Beach. Standing in his way of the title is No. 2 seed Ivo Karlovic.
Huge serves and short points will be on the menu when Ernests Gulbis and Ivo Karlovic square off in what is sure to be a hard-hitting final at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Sunday afternoon.
Big serving, however, is just about where the similarities between the two competitors come to an end. Karlovic is 31 years old, a decade older than Gulbis. The 6'10'' Croat has been a late bloomer, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 14 in the world at the age of 29. Gulbis, on the other hand, seemed to arrive before his time. Still just 21 years old, the Latvian soared to a career-high ranking of 38th in the world at the age of 19 thanks to a fourth-round showing at the 2007 U.S. Open and quarterfinal performance at the 2008 French Open.
Karlovic and Gulbis could not be more different in terms of ATP final experience, as well. Gulbis is making his first career appearance in an ATP title match, whereas Karlovic is looking forward to his seventh final. The veteran has captured four ATP titles, most recently prevailing on the grass courts of Nottingham in 2008.
Resurgent play is one thing Karlovic and Gulbis share in common. Karlovic slumped throughout the majority of 2009, but he has advanced at least two rounds in each of his past five events, including quarterfinal showings in Doha, Zagreb, and Memphis along with a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open. So far in Delray Beach, Karlovic has ousted Philipp Petzschner, Daniel Brands, James Blake, and Mardy Fish.
Crashing back to earth last season, Gulbis briefly dropped out of the Top 100 before regaining his form last fall with two quarterfinal finishes and ending a woeful 13-month stretch in which he did not win back-to-back matches on the ATP Tour. The world No. 72 has already reached at least the quarters of three tournaments in 2010 (quarters in Doha, semis last week in Memphis, and now a final) and is on the verge of storming back into the Top 50. Gulbis earned his spot in the Delray Beach final by dismissing Ryan Harrison, Teimuraz Gabashvili, Leonardo Mayer, and Jarkko Nieminen all in straight sets.
Karlovic should provide a more difficult test, and not just because he is the first seeded player Gulbis will have faced this week. The No. 2 seed was in rare form against Fish, not only with his serve but also from the back of the court. He is a tough matchup for Gulbis because while Gulbis is capable of producing other-worldly tennis at times, he is prone to the sudden dismal service game. Just one lapse on serve against Karlovic could spell doom.
The good news for Gulbis is that even against the best server on tour, the match is still on his racket. Never one to shy away from going for shots, just a few connections could be enough to earn one or two critical breaks of the Karlovic serve. Nonetheless, look for Karlovic's experience to pave the way to a three-set victory.
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Dr. Ivo was surprising good on his return game against Fish so unless he chokes he should win this one.
chr18 , 2/28/10 7:46 PM
first set to Gulbis with some impressive stuff
RickyDimon , 2/28/10 10:18 PM
Whoa I missed the match ... but is that the right score 6-2, 6-3? With Karlovic?
smr , 2/28/10 10:45 PM
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didn't see the match today. but congratulations to Ernests!
yay! you are in a final, finally!! right where you belong!
You can win the Ernie, c'mon! your fans are loving this roll you are on. you can do it! Gulbis in 3.......Go Gulbis!
zoey234 , 2/28/10 8:35 AM