Tokyo - Ernests Gulbis credited a competitive match a month ago with Andy Murray for stopping the rot in his game, showing his steady recent improvement with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of eighth seed Radek Stepanek at the Japan Open Wednesday. The number 98 from Latvia said his confidence began to return despite losing in straight sets to Murray at the US Open. After changing coaches and picking up Argentine Hernan Gumy, formerly with Marat Safin, Gulbis says he's finding his way on court again.
"OK, it's near the end of the season, but it is happening. Even if I lose some more, I'll be working hard in the off-season and be ready to do well in 2010."
The 21-year-old qualified into the main draw as he makes his Tokyo debut. Stepanek, 30, has played on three previous occasions, reaching the quarters the last time he visited in 2005.
Gulbis said that Gumy has helped his revitalise his game, starting to turn it around after failing to win back-to-back matches at the ATP level before Wednesday.
"I have played well the last three weeks," said the Latvian. "I have been finding out how to get my game back.
"For one thing, I was standing two meters behind the baseline like a Spaniard and doing nothing. Now I'm playing more aggressive like I want."
With the roof closed at the Ariake colosseum to steady rain form an approaching typhoon said to be the strongest in a decade, eight matches were scheduled from 10 a.m. on the one covered showcase court.
Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez helped to pick up the pace of a long day, quitting after five games with illness to put Argentine Juan Monaco through in record time.
Russian Mikhail Youzhny beat Tomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-2, 6-3 while German Andreas Beck struggled for nearly three hours with senior compatriot Rainer Schuettler, the 2003 winner, before prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) in the first round.
