Ernests Gulbis says that if he plays at the same level he has over the past two weeks, he can upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of Indian Wells. Gulbis has won 13 straight matches, including five in qualifying in Delray Beach and Indian Wells. He has played Nadal four times, losing each contest, but every one of them was close.
“I think the way I play right now, that should make a difference,” Gulbis told reporters. “I believe that I can win. I like to play against him because his ball and his heavy spin, it's good for my timing. I don't like when the opponents hit flat, deep balls. I like the opponents hit spin, high balls. It's easier for me to control them. So honestly I like to play against him. I had close matches. I had three sets twice [as well as a four-set loss], and just in the third set lack of experience, lack of fitness, lack of everything, and then he just broke me down. I know how he plays. And of course he's a great player, but I honestly believe that if I play my best game I can beat him.”
Gulbis added that trying to hit winners against Nadal isn’t much different than against other players.
“I'm telling you, if I'm going to hit a winner it's gonna be a winner. Doesn't matter if it's gonna be Nadal or whoever," Gulbis said. "I'm going to go for my shots, of course maybe [it] is going to take me more than one shot. Maybe it's going to take me two shots. But I'm going to be ready for it. One shot one corner, one shot other corner. I want to see him get it.”