Ernests Gulbis Is Not Looking Forward To Playing Friend Dominic Thiem At The US Open
Good friends Ernests Gulbis and Dominic Thiem will meet Friday in the US Open second round, and the Latvian isn’t looking forward to it.
“Never want to play somebody who you practice with,” said Gulbis. “But, honestly, I have no emotions because of that. I think it’s a little bit tougher on Dominic, though. He really doesn’t want to play with me, because we played one match I think two years ago in New Haven in qualifying. I played a terrible match, but he couldn’t win me just because it was against me, you know. It was a really bad quality match, so hopefully it’s going to be better quality. But for me it doesn’t really bother me.”
Gulbis said the young 20-year-old Austrian Thiem has made him a better player.
“We have a good relation,” Gulbis said of Thiem. “He gave a lot to me by helping me to practice. Because if I see young guy who is so motivated and so eager to practice, you know, let’s say I have to be not worse than him, so I push myself even more through that. When he saw me pushing more, then he was pushing more. It’s a win-win situation.”
The two also happen to share the same coach, Gunther Bresnik. “I think he’s going to be happy somebody’s in third round.”
You Might Like:
Zverev, Thiem Lead Next Gen Surge at ATP Vienna; Preview
Dominic Thiem: The Younger Gen Can Beat Big 4 Players, But It’s Hard Beating Multiple Big 4s In Events
Wawrinka Crashes Out Of Home Geneva Event; Coric, Thiem Bid For Upsets In Nice
Novak Djokovic Now Leads Andy Murray By Over 8,000 Ranking Points! Dominic Thiem Into Top 10
Ernests Gulbis: ‘I Don’t Care About Money, I Don’t Care About Fame’