Dear Mr Gulbis

Now, Ernests, I don't want to put any pressure on you. I know you're going to perform when you're ready. I know you're still a dangerous youngster, rather than being a full-fledged threat. I know you're going to grow into your game, and I know you're going to be in the top ten one day, and I know you're going to mature mentally and you're going to be something pretty special.

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But Ernests, please. Kei's done it. Marin's done it a couple of times. Thomaz nearly did it last week. When is that title going to come?

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It's not that Ernests isn't performing. He's the third seed this week in Delray Beach, and you don't just get there by hanging about in the top hundred. But he's also the third seed who just got beaten and dumped out of the tournament in the first round. Sure, it was by Marcos Baghdatis, who is definitely someone who should be seeded and who you wouldn't like to run into in the first round, but still. He hasn't always been running into Marcos Baghdatis in the first round - and it's not that he isn't capable of beating Marcos. Remember his first first round of the year? That's right, he beat some no name player called Novak Djokovic. And I think Gulbis revealed when he had Nadal on the ropes last year that he can challenge just about anyone.

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So, Ernests, I am going to wait for you. I know you're a good player, and you've had some good performances, and it is going to happen one day. But please... can you string those performances together one week? Waiting for you to win a title is a little like waiting for Marat Safin at the moment. And I know you can do it.

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So... win a title for me, Ernests. That's all I ask.

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Today's Results

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Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships (Dubai)

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Novak Djokovic def. Jan Hernych, 6-3 3-6 6-4

Andy Murray def. Arnaud Clement, 6-2 6-3

Gilles Simon def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-1 6-2

David Ferrer def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4 6-2

Marin Cilic def. Julien Benneteau, 6-3 4-6 7-5

Igor Andreev def. Dmitry Tursunov, 5-7 6-4 6-3

Fabrice Santoro def. Marco Chiudinelli, 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-1)

Richard Gasquet def. Simone Bolelli, 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

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Abierto Mexicano Telcel (Acapulco)

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Men's Draw

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Daniel Koellerer def. David Nalbandian, 1-6 6-3 6-4

Gael Monfils def. Olivier Patience, 7-6 (7-4) 6-4

Tommy Robredo def. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, 6-4 3-6 6-3

Nicolas Almagro def. Santiago Gonzalez, 6-4 6-2

Jose Acasuso def. Brian Dabul, 6-3 7-5

Marcel Granollers def. Fabio Fognini, 7-6 (7-3) 7-5

Carlos Moya def. Pablo Andujar, 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-2

Alberto Martin def. Marcos Daniel, 6-4 7-5

Kevin Kim def. Juan Monaco, 1-6 3-0 retired

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Women's Draw

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Mathilde Johansson def. Tathiana Garbin, walkover

Venus Williams def. Nuria Llagostera Vives, 6-4 4-6 6-2

Flavia Pennetta def. Mariya Koryttseva, 6-3 6-1

Carla Suárez Navarro def. Viktoriya Kutuzova, 7-5 6-3

Gisela Dulko def. Ioana Raluca Olaru, 6-3 6-2

María José Martínez Sánchez def. Arantxa Parra Santonja, 6-2 6-3

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova def. Andreja Klepac, 2-6 6-1 6-4

Mathilde Johansson def. Rossana de los Ríos, 6-4 6-1

Maret Ani def. Patricia Mayr, 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-4

Greta Arn def. Edina Gallovits, 6-2 6-3

Agnes Szavay def. Anna Orlik, 7-5 7-5

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Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (Delray Beach)

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Mardy Fish def. Frank Dancevic, 7-5 6-3

Marcos Baghdatis def. Ernests Gulbis, 7-5 6-2

Evgeny Korolev def. Igor Kunitsyn, 6-4 7-6 (7-3)

Jeremy Chardy def. Tommy Haas, 7-6 (9-7) 6-3

Yen-Hsun Lu def. Lleyton Hewitt, 7-5 2-6 6-2

Dudi Sela def. Philipp Petzschner, 6-3 4-1 retired

Gilles Muller def. Ryan Sweeting, 7-6 (7-5) 6-2

Vince Spadea def. Denis Gremelmayr, 2-6 7-5 6-1

Mischa Zverev def. Taylor Dent, 6-4 6-3

Andrey Golubev def. Evan King, 6-2 6-4