Gulbis topples Fish for LA tennis title

Latvia's Ernests Gulbis earned the second ATP title of his career Sunday, rallying to upset top-seeded American Mardy Fish 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to win the $619,500 Los Angeles hardcourt crown. Gulbis, who arrived in California ranked 84th in the world after a series of lackluster results, denied Fish a second title in as many events after the ninth-ranked American's successful title defence in Atlanta last week. The 22-year-old Gulbis had played just one previous ATP final, when he won his only title at Delray Beach, Florida, in 2010. After reaching the semi-finals at Sydney in January he climbed to a career-high ranking of 21 in the world in February, but his first-round victory over fifth-seeded Belgian Xavier Malisse here ended a five-match skid. Gulbis' lack of finals experience showed when he served for the match at 5-2 in the third set. He opened the game with a double fault en route to dropping his serve. After Fish held to narrow the gap to 5-4, Gulbis again faced a break point after netting two backhands. Gulbis averted the threat with a drop shot that Fish couldn't quite answer, and he put the match away with a forehand down the line on his first match point. Both players held serve with confidence through most of a close first set. Gulbis had the first opportunity to break, but Fish held him off in the 11th game. Fish claimed the set in the next game, giving himself a break chance with a backhand volley winner before Gulbis double-faulted to concede the set. Gulbis gained the advantage in the second set with a break in the seventh game, setting up break point with a cross-court winner before Fish netted a backhand. Gulbis went on to claim the set with an ace, then broke a slow-moving Fish in the opening game of the third, and again in the fifth game en route to a 5-1 lead. Fish was hobbling after the match, but said a sore heel "had zero bearing on the match". Instead the American admitted he was feeling the wear after his deep runs in two straight tournaments.