LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis survived a few anxious moments in the final set to upset top-seeded American Mardy Fish 5-7 6-4 6-4 and win the Los Angeles International yesterday.
Initially serving for the match at 5-2, Gulbis was broken by Fish and he then trailed 30-40 on serve while leading 5-4 before sealing victory.
The tousled-haired Latvian set up match point with a delicate forehand drop shot before clinching his second ATP title with a rasping forehand winner down the line.
Gulbis, who had knocked out second seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the quarter-finals, pumped his right fist in celebration after becoming the first unseeded champion in Los Angeles since Radek Stepanek in 2007.
