Latvia’s young tennis wonder Ernests Gulbis fell Sept. 4 to 17th-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain, thus ending his surprising debut in the U.S. Open being played in New York.

Gulbis, 19, had surprised fans and tennis observers by breaking into the final 16 in men’s singles play when he beat eighth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain on Sept. 2.

Moya proved a stronger opponent, defeating the Latvian 7-5, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 in their fourth-round match. Moya advanced to the quarter-finals.

Gulbis was the youngest player remaining in the singles draw, according to the official Web site of the U.S. Open. He stands to make USD 75,000 for getting in the final 16, while the winner of the tournament will make USD 1.4 million.

A Latvian named Gulbis is making a name in the professional sports world by hitting a little ball. But this time it’s not Latvian-American professional golfer Natalie Gulbis.

This time it’s 19-year-old Latvia-born tennis player Ernests Gulbis, who surprised fans and his opponents Sept. 2 by breaking into the final 16 in men’s singles play at the U.S. Open.

Gulbis beat Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in a quick 91-minute third-round match in New York, according to the official Web site of the U.S. Open. Robredo was seeded eighth in the U.S Open, while Gulbis currently is ranked 88th by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

In his first round match, the right-handed Gulbis defeated 30th-seeded Potito Starace of Italy 7-5, 7-6, 6-3. In the second round, Gulbis bested Germany’s Michael Berrer 7-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The 6-foot, 3-inch (1.91-meter) Gulbis, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals, has made USD 138,935 this year. His career singles record is 8 wins and 15 losses, while his career doubles record is 4-7.

When Gulbis was 12 years old, he began training in Germany under former Croatian pro Nikola Pilic. Gulbis began playing professionally in 2004.

Gulbis next faces Spain’s Carlos Moya in a fourth round match scheduled for Tuesday morning, Sept. 4. Moya is seeded 17th. Whoever wins heads to the quarter-finals.

Gulbis is not the only Latvian who has been competing in the U.S. Open. Andis Juska, 22, beat Antony Dupuis of France 6-3, 6-3 in the first round men’s singles qualifier, but fell to Go Soeda of Japan in the second round, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Latvia’s Līga Dekmeijere, 24, was paired with Ukraine’s Julia Vakulenko in women’s doubles play. They lost 6-2, 6-4 in the first round to the 14th-seeded pair of Agnes Szavay of Hungary and Vladimira Uhlirova of the Czech Republic.

 

 

The Latvian embassy in Dublin is especially encouraging Latvians in Ireland to get involved in the Aug. 31 “Viena diena Latvijā” (One Day in Latvia) documentary photography effort, but the project is open to all in Latvia and abroad.

The project, which will join professional photographers and citizen-photographers in an effort to record 24 hours in the life of the Latvian nation, replicates an effort 20 years ago. Back then, photographers from the Soviet Union, Germany and Finland documented a day in the life of what was then occupied Latvia. They shot 30,000 frames in 24 hours.

This time, the Embassy of Latvia wants Latvians in Ireland to be part of the project.

“You can photograph whatever seems interesting and characteristic of Latvian life in Ireland,” the embassy said in an Aug. 28 press release.

One of six themes in which citizen-photographers may submit their work is “Latvia and Latvians Abroad,” showing life in the diaspora. That means Latvians worldwide may participate in the project.

Photographs are to be taken between 12:01 a.m. and midnight on Aug. 31. They may be made with still cameras, mobile telephones or video cameras, according to “Viena diena Latvijā” organizers. Photos then are to be uploaded to the project’s Web site. Some of the photographs may end up in an album, digital presentation or exhibit.

Fifty professional photographers from Latvia and from several other countries will record specific assignments. Another 53 photographers and well-known Latvians with a passion for photography have been invited to augment the work of the professionals.

Further details on the project are available from www.vienadiena.lv.