I still don’t view Gulbis as having the same lifestyle tendencies as the mighty Russian(Safin), and until he shows up to a Grand Slam supported by a row of killer blondes,
his claim as the party man of the Tour will have to be put on hold.
It’s clearly evident what Canas believes in: Hard work, no rest, and then more hard work. Although Gulbis’ beliefs have never really been edged in stone, you’d have to think that when he wakes up in the morning his thought process may not always center around the same belief system as his coach.
With that being said, Gulbis’ future, and more importantly the rest of his US Open Series campaign will be based on one very important factor: Not having to face extreme adversity.
Do I see Gulbis finding that balance between on-and-off-court sacrifice which could very well see him challenge the very best players in the world? No. The reason: Because his attitude towards playing, whether he is winning or losing a match depends on an ideal situation of him feeling comfortable. Once that feeling of comfort is taken away—a feeling that Rafael Nadal is prepared to face every single day—then Gulbis will continue to remain a player with tremendous ability but not enough guts to survive when he needs to.
I certainly hope I’m wrong in my prognosis, considering that Gulbis is one fun guy to watch. Just like his forehand which holds many moving parts, Gulbis’ personality holds many hitches and bright points which lead to an always interesting finish.
Here’s hoping that it’s never too late for Ernie, and although I say that with a dark cloud of hesitation over my head, the curly haired Latvian remains a great addition to an extremely competitive men’s Tour.
