Love fuels Gulbis’ tilt at Novak

ERNESTS GULBIS has revealed finding true love is the secret behind his return to the big time at Wimbledon.

The Latvian world No.589 today faces Novak Djokovic, the No.2 seed who lost at the same stage here last year amid strains in his personal life.

John McEnroe this week compared the Serb’s off-court problems to the downfall of Tiger Woods.

Gulbis, the son of a millionaire, earned the reputation of a playboy as he cracked the top 10 earlier in his career – and once spent the night in a Stockholm prison after his arrest for allegedly soliciting prostitutes.

But the bearded Gulbis (above) got engaged to Georgian model Tamara Kopaleyshvili in May. And playing here on a protected ranking after a series of injuries, he won his first Tour-level match for 13 months in the first round.

“I’m just in a relaxed state of mind,” he said. “As soon as I’m relaxed, I can produce this kind of tennis.

“The most important thing for a man and a woman is to find real love and a partner for all your life. Marriage and beyond.

“I don’t play for money or fame. Tennis makes me a better person and when it stops helping me, I will retire.”

He sent down 25 aces to knock out No.29 seed Juan Martin del Potro in the second round to set up the clash with Djokovic.

At the 2013 French Open, Gulbis famously branded the Big Four as “boring”.

He added: “I had nothing to lose in that match, and I played well.

“I’m going to have even less to lose next match, so maybe I’ll play even better.”

Roger Federer will face Mischa Zverev - the German who shocked Andy Murray in the fourth round of the Australian Open.