Miscellaneous > Tennis > Gulbis > Miami 2008


Gulbis in Miami, 2008

To show that I was on the Gulbis bandwagon before I started this website, I reproduce here an exchange of emails with a friend who lives in Miami. I didn't know if she was interested in tennis, but had nevertheless decided to alert her to Gulbis' existence, and to suggest that she tried to get to see him play.

From: Lloyd Walters
To: Sharon Jones
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:06 PM
Subject: Anyone for tennis ?
Sharon,

I read somewhere that "Coral Gables offers plenty to do within short driving distance of downtown Miami", so it seems that it's logistically possible for you to go to see some tennis. Here's the website: http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/

Lloyd

From: Lloyd Walters
To: Sharon Jones
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:09 PM
Subject: 2008 Sony Ericsson Open: Tickets: Daily Tickets
Sharon,

http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/tickets/daily_tic.html

The Saturday, March 29th tickets are sold out, but Sunday 30th ones are still available.

Lloyd

From: Sharon Jones
To: Lloyd Walters
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 4:53 PM
Subject: RE: 2008 Sony Ericsson Open: Tickets: Daily Tickets


Thanks. I volunteered over there last year as a ticket collector in the Stadium and saw men's and women's finals...I think my game improved due to all the watching...I have friends who are going to give me some free tickets, but I may still buy some.

Sharon

From: Lloyd Walters
To: Sharon Jones
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:12 PM
Subject: 2008 Sony Ericsson Open: Players

Sharon,

http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/bios/ATPG858.html

I didn't know that you liked, and played, tennis !!!

When you go to the tournament, try and get to see Ernests Gulbis play. He's from Latvia, and looks about 12 in his photo, but is actually 19 and is 6'3" tall. I expect him to give Davydenko a nasty experience in the second round. They're in the same quarter of the draw as the Scottish dickhead (Murray) and Mardy Fish, who got to the final last week in Indian Wells. See here:
http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/draws/msr1s2.html

Gulbis got to the fourth round of last year's US Open, where he lost in four sets to Moya. Before then he hadn't dropped a set, winning several 6-1. He could have beaten Nalbandian (another favourite player of mine) last week, but in the end he bottled out more than Nalbandian did. However he has the time to get his brain sorted out - perhaps it's too late for Nalbandian. If they meet in this tournament, it'll be in the final ! Maybe next year...

Lloyd

From: Lloyd Walters
To: Sharon Jones
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 1:14 PM
Subject: Miami day 4 preview - 2nd quarter | Tennistalk

Sharon,

If I were in Miami today, I would like to get a seat on Court 1 by 3pm, to see the Bryan twins first and then to see if Gulbis has got his brain on straight today. If so, he'll simply blow Davydenko away. It was Gulbis who put Henman out of the first round at Roland-Garros last year, 6-4,6-3,6-2. Henman's luck wasn't any better at the US Open last August, where Tsonga sent him packing in the first round, 7-5,6-1,6-3.

Tennis Talk is a very good men's tennis website, and it's preview of the Gulbis game is here:

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20080329/Miami_day_4_preview_-_2nd_quarter

And here, to save you the trouble of clicking on the above link:

Davydenko vs Gulbis

A tricky opener for the world number 4, Gulbis looked impressive during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 defeat of veteran Domnik Hrbaty in round 1 and he came close to putting Nalbandian out in Indian Wells, losing in a third set breaker. Davydenko was a casualty of Mardy Fish's power hitting in the 4th round last week but after he meted out the same treatment to Federer two rounds later, the Russian's loss wasn't such a surprise ! Miami hasn't been a particularly successful tournament for Davydenko in the past, he's never been past the 4th round (losing to Delic, Ancic and Monfils in the past 3 years) which is strange as the surface plays very much like the US Open where he's a 2-time semi-finalist.


This match will probably overlap with the Murray match, which is due on the Grandstand court not before 5pm. As all I can see is the scores on a web page, I can monitor the progress of both at once.

Really stormy wet weather here again now, after a few days of cool sun.

Lloyd

From: Sharon Jones
To: Lloyd Walters
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 7:26 PM
Subject: RE: Miami day 4 preview - 2nd quarter | Tennistalk

Lloyd

Thanks for the expert's tips...I have not seen him play.

Next year you should come over and volunteer at the Stadium as a ticket collector like I did.

Weather is divine...mid 80s, light breeze and lots going on here. I will probably have tickets for one evening next week.....

Stay dry and warm,

Sharon

From: Sharon Jones
To: Lloyd Walters
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 3:36 AM
Subject: RE: Miami day 4 preview - 2nd quarter | Tennistalk

Hi,

Just got given tickets for Bryan Brothers match at 5pm tomorrow (Thursday) against the Ruskies and then the Federer vs. Roddick match at 7 (East Coast time).

I'm soooo excited! Hope we don't get rain......

I'm organizing a trip to Eire in June for a week, so hope to see you then.

Am going to be busy...trip to New Orleans Jazz Fest first weekend in May and then following weekend in NYC....

Take care,

Sharon

From: Lloyd Walters
To: Sharon Jones
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 1:07 AM
Subject: Roddick

Sharon,

I assume you enjoyed the tennis, and went along with the American jubilation at Federer's downfall.

As I write, Davydenko has two set points in the first set tie break against Roddick - and now he's lost one ! Roddick second serve... and he's lost it !

Everyone's been saying how well Roddick's been playing this year, and Davydenko has been playing so-so for many months before this tournament, but now the Russian is reminding everyone why he's ranked fourth in the world. If he carries on like this, he could go on to beat Nadal on Sunday. (My original very long odds tip, Gulbis, actually served for the match against Davydenko, and also had a match point on Davydenko's serve.)

Davydenko's now opened the second set with a love game, and taken the first two points off Roddick's first service game. If Roddick starts moping he might be in for a very early bath !!!

Lloyd



As I envisaged, Davydenko did go on to beat Nadal in the final.






August 2007: Gulbis serving at the US Open
This page was last changed on 2008.06.29