Gulbis wins second ATP title

  • 2011-08-01
  • Jared Grellet

LOS ANGELES, USA – Ernests Gulbis has claimed his second ATP career title, defeating American Mardy Fish in the final of the Farmers Classic.

 

Appearing in his first final of the year, Gulbis took two hours and 43 minutes to knock off Fish 5-7 6-4 6-4. It was the second final that Fish has appeared in as many weeks, having last week won the Atlanta Tennis Championship.

 

It was the first tournament this year when Gulbis has shown any real consistency, reminding fans once again just of how good he can be when he turns up mentally to play, defeating three players within the world top 50 – including Fish with a current world ranking of nine – on his way to winning the title.

 

Despite this, their were still more than a few lapses in concentration from the Latvian. Serving to send the opening set into a tie-breaker Gulbis double faulted to hand a one set advantage to Fish.

 

The second set was as evenly poised as the first but Gulbis was able to do enough to remain in the match, claiming the only break point of the set.

 

In the deciding third Gulbis raced out to be in a dominant position to be leading 4-1. but Fish was not done, fighting his way back to tie the set at four apiece. Gulbis however would awake from his slight slump and go on to win the next two games to claim the match.

 

Subsequently, Gulbis’ world ranking has taken a significant boost with his end of week ranking going up 29 places to 55 in the world.