“What you should not do, I think, is worry about the opinion of anyone beyond your friends. You shouldn’t worry about prestige. Prestige is the opinion of the rest of the world.”
“Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you’d like to like.”
Paul Graham (https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/02/27/purpose-work-love/)
Ernsts Gulbis, a Latvian tennis pro, was ATP ranked 10th in June, 2014, and is currently ranked 254th. He has managed to string together two victories following the qualifying rounds at the Australian Open. Ernests first-round match was against Auger-Aliassime, a brilliant, young, Canadian player. I don’t know that anyone expected him to win that match other than Jon Wertheim on The Tennis Channel and, perhaps, his mother.
Nonetheless, he’s been surprising people for years. He has had a surprise victory over several major players including Rodger Federer. His mother is an actress and his father is a successful investment banker in Latvia.
Gulbis is arguably the biggest character on the tour. An interview with him is like stand-up comedy. On the other hand he adds some color to the tour that makes it more interesting for the viewer. At a minimum he’s got a big game with a wonderful serve and a superb backhand. His forehand has been under suspicion for years but perhaps at 31 it’s getting better. Keep it happening Ernsts!
Pilgrim on a Long, Long Journey 