Ernests Gulbis

Ernests Gulbis is a Latvian former professional tennis player. He is the only Latvian male tennis player to have reached the ATP top 10, achieving a career-high singles ranking of World No. 10 in June 2014. Gulbis captured six ATP singles titles and one ATP doubles title in his career.

His best Grand Slam result came at the 2014 French Open, where he reached the semifinals, having previously made the quarterfinals of the same event in 2008. Since September 2022, he has served as a President of the Latvian Tennis Union.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Ernests Gulbis was born on August 30, 1988, in Riga, Latvia. Standing 1.91 meters tall, he plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand.

Over his career, Gulbis was coached by several prominent figures, mainly Günter Bresnik. Coming from a well-known Latvian family, his father Ainārs is an investment businessman, and his mother Milēna Gulbe-Kavace is a theater actress.

His maternal grandfather, Uldis Pūcītis, was a celebrated actor and film director, and his paternal grandfather, Alvils Gulbis, was a top basketball player and European champion with ASK Rīga. Gulbis began playing tennis with his grandmother and is the second of five children; his half-sister Laura Gulbe is also a tennis player.

In November 2017, Gulbis married Tamara Kopaleyshvili and they have a child together. He speaks Latvian, English, Russian, some French, and German.

Juniors

Gulbis started playing tennis at age five and trained at the Nikola Pilić Tennis Academy in Munich from age 12 to 18. He played a minimal junior schedule, mostly choosing men's ITF Futures events, and officially turned professional in June 2004.

Career

Gulbis turned professional in 2004 and experienced steady progression, winning his first ATP Tour singles title in Delray Beach in 2010.

He is notable for being the only Latvian man to break into the ATP top 10. His best Grand Slam run was a semifinal showing at the 2014 French Open, defeating Roger Federer en route. Gulbis also reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2008.

Over his career, he won six ATP singles titles and one doubles title, with his biggest Masters 1000 result as a semifinalist at the Rome Masters in 2010. After years of fluctuating form and various coaching changes, Gulbis took on a new role in 2022 as president of the Latvian Tennis Union, significantly scaling back his competitive appearances.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 502–405
• Career titles: 6
• Highest ranking: No. 10 (9 June 2014)
• Current/Final ranking: N/A

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – Third Round (2009, 2014, 2018)
• French Open – Semifinals (2014), Quarterfinals (2008)
• Wimbledon – Fourth Round (2018)
• US Open – Fourth Round (2007)

Other tournaments

• Olympic Games – Did not advance past first round (2008)
• Davis Cup – Best result: elevating Latvia to Europe/Africa Zone Group I
• ATP Finals – N/A

Doubles

• Career record: 53–41
• Career titles: 1
• Highest ranking: No. 130 (October 2008)
• Current/Final ranking: N/A

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – First Round
• French Open – First Round
• Wimbledon – First Round
• US Open – Second Round (2009)