Ernest Gulbis is suffering from a respiratory problem that forced him to pull out of Madrid and Rome. The 22-year-old Latvian reached the Rome semis last year, upsetting Roger Federer before falling to Rafael Nadal.
"Every time a small wind blows it affect me," Gulbis told The Times of London. "My immune system was not good and this time I had to drink antibiotics for three days and didn’t practice at all. I hope to get a wild card into Nice."
Gulbis is no longer being coached by Argentine Hernan Gumy, but has been working some with adidas coach Darren Cahill and trainer Gil Reyes. "He’s the first guy who can put me to work for one hour without talking to me," the 63rd-ranked Gulbis said of Reyes, Andre Agassi's former trainer. "He motivates you so well with his positive energy in the gym, you just want to work. Darren is traveling to some tournaments and I can always consult if I need to and I like the arrangement. As for my form, basically, after Paris last year it’s been a black stripe for me. Up and down, I got injured and sick so many times. This always happens when my system is weak and I’m trying to deal with it now in a more serious way."
A number of players have been struck by viruses this year. On Wednesday in Rome, David Ferrer pulled out with a fever and Maria Kirilenko did the same with a viral illness.—Matthew Cronin