Post by tyson on Mar 22, 2010 3:02:54 GMT -5
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2011407034_digs22.html
Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title
Tennis Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title: Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia outlasted Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) Sunday in...
Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title: Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia outlasted Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) Sunday in a battle of big servers to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., earning his first ATP Masters 1000 title after three runner-up finishes.
Ljubicic set up his fourth match point with the last of his 20 aces, then won with a serve that Roddick couldn't return. At 31, Ljubicic is the second-oldest winner at Indian Wells behind Jimmy Connors, who was five months older as the 1984 champion.
Roddick was trying to become the first American man to win at Indian Wells since 2001, but he trailed in both tiebreakers. He had beaten Ljubicic seven times in 10 meetings, winning their last match at Indian Wells in two tiebreakers in 2007.
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www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/17819/rafa-falls-to-croatias-ivan-ljubicic-in-indian-wells-open
Rafa falls to Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in Indian Wells Open
By: thinkSPAIN , Sunday, March 21, 2010
SPAIN'S Rafa Nadal fell in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Open on Saturday at the hands of Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
Ljubicic fired down 17 aces to beat Nadal, current champion, earning his place in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Nadal seemed to be unbeatable in the opening set, but lost his form in the second set with a double fault allowing Ljubicic to break for a 5-4 lead.
Rafa broke back in the next game but then squandered a break point, allowing Ljubicic to tie it at 4-4.
He finally committed four errors, falling behind 6-1, allowing Ljubicic to win with a forehand winner on his first match point.
Nadal says his defeat was an 'accident'.
“That's what I feel, because I was playing well enough to win.
“I must learn to try to play aggressively next time to turn my chances round.”
Ljubicic's victory was his perfect birthday present – he turns 31 on Friday.
Nadal's defeat means he has dropped to world number four in the ATP rankings.
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latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/03/croatians-and-serbs-an-upset-goodbye-djokovic.html
Croatians and Serbs, an upset, goodbye Djokovic
March 17, 2010 | 3:39 pm
Played on Stadium Court 2 in front of significant numbers of both Croatians and Serbians (who have been known not to get along), big-serving, bald-headed, 30-year-old Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, upset second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Djokovic, who arrived here fighting a cold and exhaustion after pulling Serbia through a first-round Davis Cup win over the United States (the first time his country had ever beaten the U.S.), had struggled to find his best form on the first really hot afternoon, Ljubicic often overpowered Djokovic with big serves. Ljubicic got the key service break in the sixth game of the second set with a monster forehand and on match point he popped off a 135 mph service winner. The bald-headed Ljubicic bellowed and fist-pumped some Croatian fans. Djokovic can look forward to a chance for revenge though. In the next round of Davis Cup Croatia hosts Serbia. Djokovic has chosen to sit out Davis Cup this year and after the match he said even the prospect of his country playing Serbia is not going to change his mind.
Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title
Tennis Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title: Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia outlasted Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) Sunday in...
Ljubicic beats Roddick to win Indian Wells title: Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia outlasted Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) Sunday in a battle of big servers to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., earning his first ATP Masters 1000 title after three runner-up finishes.
Ljubicic set up his fourth match point with the last of his 20 aces, then won with a serve that Roddick couldn't return. At 31, Ljubicic is the second-oldest winner at Indian Wells behind Jimmy Connors, who was five months older as the 1984 champion.
Roddick was trying to become the first American man to win at Indian Wells since 2001, but he trailed in both tiebreakers. He had beaten Ljubicic seven times in 10 meetings, winning their last match at Indian Wells in two tiebreakers in 2007.
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www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/17819/rafa-falls-to-croatias-ivan-ljubicic-in-indian-wells-open
Rafa falls to Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in Indian Wells Open
By: thinkSPAIN , Sunday, March 21, 2010
SPAIN'S Rafa Nadal fell in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Open on Saturday at the hands of Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
Ljubicic fired down 17 aces to beat Nadal, current champion, earning his place in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Nadal seemed to be unbeatable in the opening set, but lost his form in the second set with a double fault allowing Ljubicic to break for a 5-4 lead.
Rafa broke back in the next game but then squandered a break point, allowing Ljubicic to tie it at 4-4.
He finally committed four errors, falling behind 6-1, allowing Ljubicic to win with a forehand winner on his first match point.
Nadal says his defeat was an 'accident'.
“That's what I feel, because I was playing well enough to win.
“I must learn to try to play aggressively next time to turn my chances round.”
Ljubicic's victory was his perfect birthday present – he turns 31 on Friday.
Nadal's defeat means he has dropped to world number four in the ATP rankings.
------------
latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/03/croatians-and-serbs-an-upset-goodbye-djokovic.html
Croatians and Serbs, an upset, goodbye Djokovic
March 17, 2010 | 3:39 pm
Played on Stadium Court 2 in front of significant numbers of both Croatians and Serbians (who have been known not to get along), big-serving, bald-headed, 30-year-old Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, upset second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Djokovic, who arrived here fighting a cold and exhaustion after pulling Serbia through a first-round Davis Cup win over the United States (the first time his country had ever beaten the U.S.), had struggled to find his best form on the first really hot afternoon, Ljubicic often overpowered Djokovic with big serves. Ljubicic got the key service break in the sixth game of the second set with a monster forehand and on match point he popped off a 135 mph service winner. The bald-headed Ljubicic bellowed and fist-pumped some Croatian fans. Djokovic can look forward to a chance for revenge though. In the next round of Davis Cup Croatia hosts Serbia. Djokovic has chosen to sit out Davis Cup this year and after the match he said even the prospect of his country playing Serbia is not going to change his mind.