Today, from 18.00, the Merko Cup duel between the Latvian Ernests Gulbis (162 ATP) and the Estonian Vladimir Ivanov (733 ATP) is scheduled to start.
The recommended prognosis is favorable for Gulbis, a player with a much higher potential.
Ernests Gulbis: Team form, news and statistics
Ernests (31 years old) was stopped by the outbreak of the pandemic from a series of 8 consecutive victories, with 1 title in the hall at Pau Challenger and 2 successes in the Davis Cup.
Previously, the Latvian had tied 5 victories in a row at the Australian Open 2020, from qualifying until being eliminated by Monfils in round 3 of the main draw.
Gulbis is a strong tennis player, with a height of 1.91 meters and a weight of about 85 kilograms.
On indoor hard, his record is 139 victories and 83 defeats.
He won 2 ATP titles in these conditions, in St. Petersburg 2013 and Marseille 2014.
To these are added another 5 titles won in Challenger tournaments.
Vladimir Ivanov: Team form, news and statistics
Vladimir (33 years old) has a much lower experience at a high level, being a mediocre tennis player, of Futures level or at most Challenger throughout his career.
His record in the gym, on fast pitches, is 96 victories – 80 failures.
His favorite playing surface is clay.
Ivanov has limited potential, as evidenced by the fact that he never climbed above the 310 ATP.
In his last official appearance, he was defeated by Basilashvili in the Davis Cup, score 4-6 1-6, on March 6, 2020.
⚽️Statistics of direct matches Ernests Gulbis vs Vladimir Ivanov
The two tennis players have never faced each other before.
Tennis Prediction of the Day Ernests Gulbis vs Vladimir Ivanov
I consider that the class difference between the two tennis players is extremely large, and the added value clearly tilts the balance in favor of Gulbis, former number 10 ATP.
On the other hand, Vladimir Ivanov has never entered the top 300 in the world, and is now more than 500 places below ranked in the ATP hierarchy.
Ernests’ service is superior, and if it will be in the optimal parameters from a physical point of view, it can be imposed without emotions, in a minimum of sets.
