#rg2014

A Player Who Is Rarely at a Loss for Words By BEN ROTHENBERGJUNE 6, 2014 PARIS — Ernests Gulbis entertained on and off the court in his run to the semifinals of the French Open, his best showing at a Grand Slam event. Gulbis spoke candidly and memorably throughout the tournament. On privilege being an obstacle to success: “One boxer,” Marvin Hagler, “said it in an interview: If you sleep in silk pajamas, it’s tough to wake up at 6 in the morning and go for a run, you know? That’s exactly what it is.” On talent being an obstacle to successful development: “Not everybody can translate talent into really hard work. I remember Novak, when we used to practice in Munich — it wasn’t a long time — but already when he was 13, 14, he was really dedicated. I used to practice, and then that’s it. I went to the room, I eat Nutella, I play PlayStation; he went to stretch, he went to go for a run. And this was the attitude. He had the talent and the hard work. I had just the talent.” On translating success in the finals of events that are lesser to Grand Slams: “I need to get into the final. The final, it’s not a problem. It’s getting up to the final.” On what would happen if he did not talk to himself during matches: “It would be really boring to play. I just entertain myself all the time.” On whether beating Roger Federer in the fourth round validated his confidence and candor: “Yeah, but I have to say what I think, you know? I cannot speak what I don’t feel. For me is the most easy thing in life, you know, just to speak the truth. Then if you lie, then you start to forget what did you lie, and then you go into lie and lying more. So for me, it’s real easy to speak what’s on my mind, even to take the consequences.” On breaking a racket on Court Philippe Chatrier: “I have to respect every court, you know? I have to break at least one racket on every court of the world. Otherwise, if not, I would show too much disrespect to Paris center court and I cannot allow this. I just had to do it.” On whether he was setting a good example by giving his broken racket to a child in the stands: “I think it’s a great gift. I would be really happy if a tennis player gives me his broken racket. He can refuse it if he doesn’t want to take a gift, he can sit down and say, ‘No, Ernests, I don’t want it.’ It’s all about choices in life. We all have choices. I can have a choice to break a racket and get a penalty. The kid can have the choice to take it or not. I think he did a great choice.” On why it took so long to make good on his talent: “What took me so long? I think I was eating wrong. I had the wrong diet. Everybody was talking about this gluten-free diet. My diet is full-on gluten. I like a lot of ketchup, a lot of unhealthy stuff, so there is a balance which I found in the last couple of years.” On when he understood that tennis was his job: “I still think it’s not a job. I think it’s half hobby. It’s an enjoyable job, very enjoyable job.” On whether he would celebrate making the semifinals: “No. I can take a cigar — but not more — with my coach. That’s the only vice which is left in me.”

Remember when rafa won the french open for the 9th time omg that was great good times

#DREAMIN9 !