Tokyo -Ernests Gulbis credited a competitive match a month ago with Andy Murray for stopping the rot in his game, showing continuing steady 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.
"I don't know why I can't keep playing better and better," said the 18-win, 22-loss player this season. "I'm playing well now.
"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."
With the roof closed at the Ariake colosseum to steady rain from an approaching typhoon said to be the strongest in a decade, eight matches were scheduled from 10 am 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.
Richard Gasquet, a Tokyo regular, advanced over German Philipp Petzschner 6-3, 6-2 and said that his main goal is recovering his game after missing three months to successfully fight charges after a positive trace test for cocaine in the spring.
"I'm rebuilding my game," said the number 53 who stood seventh two years ago. "Of course I was playing better two years ago.
"But I only came back at the US Open and I couldn't put two balls on the court. It's hard work to come back. That's what I have been doing. The faster I can get back to my former level, the better."
Gulbis began picking up his pace by winning two Davis Cup matches last month and reaching the second round a week ago in Bangkok.
The 21-year-old qualified into the main draw as he makes his Tokyo debut.
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.
"I was standing two meters behind the baseline like a Spaniard and doing nothing. Now I'm playing more aggressive like I want."
