Ernests begins planning U.S. Hardcourt season – returns to LA.
18 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Ernests Gulbis, news
Ernests has started to plan for the U.S. Hardcourt season,by entering the Farmers Classic tournament in Los Angeles, the longest running annual sporting event in LA, to be held between 26th July and 1st August. As an ATP 250 event there are 250 ranking points on offer to the winner.
Last year Ernests lost a heartbreaking 3 setter to his friend Marat Safin of Russia.
Joining Ernests in the 28 man field will be Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who is the projected top seed for the tournament. Sam Querrey of the U.S. returns to defend his title there. Other notable names in the entry list are Radek Stepanek(2007 champion) from Czech Republic, James Blake of the U.S., LA runner-up in 2007, Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus(a former Australian Open finalist), Spanish all surface player Feliciano Lopez and rising Argentine stars Leonardo Mayer and Horacio Zeballos.
LA looks an exciting event! Good luck Ernests!!!
At this stage there are 20 direct entrants. The rest of the entry list will consist of Wild-Cards, or players that advance through qualifying event.
I want to explain a 3rd often overlooked way that players can gain entries to tournaments.
Tournament Directors can award SE(special exemptions). These are usually allocated if a player is unable to enter an event because they are still competing on the date the qualifying competition begins in another qualified event. This applies when ranking at date of the entry deadline would not have otherwise qualified them as a direct acceptance on the original acceptance list if they had entered. (Tournament entry lists are usually issued 6 weeks before tournament start date).
A second way to gain entry via SE is when a player is still playing a match at 9 p.m. on Friday(qualifying competition sign-in deadline). A player has to win that match to be eligible to receive a special exempt.
If any of you have a question about tennis, the players or how the Tour works I will try to answer. I would welcome any participation in this blog.
Further info on LA entry list can be obtained from Mens Tennis Forums,Facebook or atpworldtour.com.
Ernests withdraws from Boodles – Wimbledon participation in doubt
14 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Ernests Gulbis, news, The Boodles
According to sources in Latvian media (Sportacentrs),Ernests has withdrawn from Boodles exho saying he isn’t ready to compete yet…following the hamstring injury he sustained in last months French Open.
It is reported he will decide on his participation at Wimbledon at the last moment possible,as he is in London right now…
If I have any better news I’ll post it…if not then assume Ernests has made the decision to withdraw.
In my personal view it is better for him now to withdraw from Wimbledon…he’d be going into it with no preparation on a notoriously slippery surface…and the prospect of him playing a 5 setter without prior matches would be perilous for him.
Source http://sportacentrs.com/teniss/latvijas_sportisti/14062010-par_gulbja_dalibu_vimbldona_lems_isi_pirm
