PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Willy Canas warming up his new charge, Ernests Gulbis in Cincinnati Pete Ziebron Images
Prior to Wimbledon this summer, Ernests Gulbis tabbed former world #8 Guillermo "Willy" Canas to be his coach. At the time, Gulbis entered Wimbledon with a 3 match losing streak, despite achieving a career high of #21 in February. Following the hire of Canas, Gulbis dropped his next 2 matches, a 4 set tussle against Dmitry Tursunov at Wimbledon as well as a competitive 3 set loss to James Blake in Atlanta.
Next up was Los Angeles, where Gulbis' game started to click as a result of working with Canas. Throughout the tournament, Gulbis dropped only 2 sets, soundly defeated 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro and then cooled off a resurgent Mardy Fish to win his 2nd career title and improve his ranking to #55.
Due to his success in Los Angeles, Gulbis was granted a Special Exception entry into the main draw of the Masters 1000 tournament last week in Montreal. Fully expecting to have to attempt to qualify, Gulbis took advantage of the unexpected rest and won his first 2 matches in Canada before falling to Fish in a rematch in the 3rd round in 3 sets.
Here in Cincinnati, Gulbis did need to play the qualifying round and was able to defeat Alejandro Falla and Igor Andreev to advance to the main draw. Gulbis will play Ivan Dodig of Croatia in the 1st round. Last week in Montreal, Dodig stormed back from several improbable deficits to stun world #2 Rafael Nadal in the 2nd round.
Willy Canas (left) and Mr. Ainars Gulbis (center) watch Ernests Gulbis in qualifying action in Cincinnati Pete Ziebron Images
In other intriguing coaching maneuvers on the ATP Tour, Richard Gasquet brought on countryman Sebastien Grosjean for the US hardcourt season and then his coach Riccardo Piatti will join him in time for the US Open. This arrangement is similar to one that Rafael Nadal follows each summer as Francisco Roig accompanies Nadal for the North American hard court 1000 tournaments that precede the US Open until Toni Nadal arrives for the US Open. Toni Nadal usually remains in Spain for the North American hardcourt swing.
Finally, Gael Monfils and Roger Rasheed parted ways in early July. Monfils will now be coached by his fitness trainer Patrick Chamagne.
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