Ernest Gulbis tells L'Equipe that today’s game is short of engaging personalities. The Latvian fell to French wild card Gael Monfils in four sets today at Roland Garros.
“I respect Roger, Rafa, Novak and Murray but, for me, all four of them are boring players," Gulbis said. “Their interviews are boring. Honestly, they are boring as crap. I often go on YouTube to watch the interviews. With tennis, I quickly stop. It is a joke.
“It’s Federer who started this fashion. He has a superb image of a Swiss gentleman, perfect for him. I repeat, I respect Federer but I don’t like it that young players try to imitate him. When I hear them answer like Roger, I am terrified by phrases like: ‘I had a little bit more success at certain moments and that is how I won.’ I do not want to hear in an interview a guy who I will not name, but who I know well thinks all his opponents are a*holes, putting on an act.”
The 24-year-old Gulbis added that he has a good relationship with most of the players and doesn't care what people think of him.
“I want to say what I think. And if my prediction is that I am going to win the match, it doesn’t bother me to say so," Gulbis said. "I would like interviews to be more like in boxing. OK, maybe those guys are maybe not the brightest on earth, but when they face each other down at the weigh-in, they bring what the fans want: War, blood, emotion. All that is missing in tennis, where everything is clean, and white with polite handshakes and some nice shots. While the people want to see broken rackets and hear outbursts on the court.”