Gulbis Positive Despite Defeat

Despite suffering his seventh opening-round exit in 2015 on Monday at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Ernests Gulbis was upbeat about his game and his new coaching arrangement with Thomas Enqvist.

Andreas Haider-Maurer set a second-round clash with Bernard Tomic as he upset the 13th-seeded Gulbis 6-1, 6-0 at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

“In practice I played very well,” said Gulbis. “I’m lacking confidence now on the court for the match. I was in a great state of mind this week practising. Every change is a good change. With [new coach Thomas Enqvist], it was a really positive environment on the court. He gave me a boost. He pushed me. Everything was really good, except the match. This past hour was bad in Monte Carlo. All the rest of the week was really unbelievable.”

The 28-year-old Haider Maurer is at a career-high World No. 52 in the Emirates ATP Rankings this week after reaching the Casablanca quarter-finals (l. to Dzumhur). He will play Tomic for the first time since 2012, when the Australian won their first-round clash at Roland Garros.

French qualifier Benoit Paire recorded just his third tour-level win of the season as he beat fellow qualifier, American Denis Kudla, 6-3, 7-6(3) in one hour and 35 minutes.

Alexandr Dolgpolov finished strongly to defeat Croatian 18-year-old Borna Coric 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 13 minutes. The Ukrainian, coming off a fourth-round showing in Miami (l. to Djokovic), claimed his 11th win of the season as he saved 10 of the 14 break points that he faced.

David Goffin needed just 73 minutes to dismiss qualifier Norbert Gombos 6-1, 6-4 in the first round. It is the first time in three visits that the Belgian has won a main draw match at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

World No. 25 Philipp Kohlschreiber cruised through his opener, defeating Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-4 in 76 minutes.