Tennis
Since 2006, tennis has become popular sport in Latvia because of Ernests Gulbis's achievements. He reached 4th round of 2007 U.S. Open where in 3rd round he beat world No. 8 Tommy Robredo. In 2008 he lost in quarter-finals in French Open, where his opponent was world No. 3 Novak Djokovic. Gulbis has reached 38th position in ATP ranking. Of course, he isn't only Latvian who has played tennis at a high level. Starting from late 1980s until beginning of 1990s, one of the top tennis players in doubles was Ukrainian-born Larisa Neiland. Partnering Natasha Zvereva she has won two Grand Slam doubles tournaments (1989 French Open and 1991 Wimbledon). In singles her highest achievements are quarterfinals at 1994 Wimbledon and 1988 U.S. Open. Her best position in WTA singles ranking was 58th, which she reached in 1996, while in beginning of 1992 she was 1st in doubles ranking.
Latvian team is participating in Davis Cup since 1993 when it won rights to get promoted to Group II of Europe/Africa zone. In 2000 Latvia was relegated to Group III. It next year Latvia returned to Group II, but was relegated again in 2002. Latvia returned to Group II already in next year and since then is playing there. In 2007 Latvians met Monaco team. Latvia won and were promoted to Group I for 2008, where Latvia were defeated by Republic of Macedonia. Besides Gulbis, in team were also playing Andis Juška, Deniss Pavlovs and Karlis Lejnieks.
Read more about this topic: Sport In Latvia
Famous quotes containing the word tennis:
“The boneless quality of English conversation, which, so far as I have heard it, is all form and no content. Listening to Britons dining out is like watching people play first-class tennis with imaginary balls.”
—Margaret Halsey (b. 1910)
“Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else.”
—Joseph Heller (b. 1923)
“[My one tennis book] was very, very old. It had a picture of Bill Tilden. I looked at the picture and that was how I learned to hold the racket.”
—Maria Bueno (b. 1939)