1 Response to iw10ljubicic_roddick

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 21, 2020 at 12:11 pm

   Points won by each set: | 43-43, 41-41 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   41 % Ljubicic – 40 of 96
   38 % Roddick – 28 of 72

   Ljubicic belonged to the best players in the world of years 2005-2006, but he lost all his three Masters 1K finals back then, so it was tough to expect he would enjoy another chance, especially that he dropped in the ATP ranking significantly. Nevertheless he managed to come back to the broad elite, and advanced to his fourth Masters 1K final in which he stunned the local favourite Roddick [8]. Usually when they faced each other, one break of serve or a tie-break decided the outcome of their encounters. There was no different story that time: Roddick had more opportunities but in the no-break-of-serve contest, Ljubicic [26] played better in the tie-breaks. Approaching them, he saved a set point at *4:5 in the 1st set & two mini-set points at 4-all in the 2nd set – all with service winners, every time he pointed Roddick’s forehand. In the 2nd tie-break, the 31-year-old Croat had already led *6:2 before converted his fourth match point with another service winner – that time serving to Roddick’s backhand. “It’s a really fantastic feeling to finally have it,” Ljubicic said about his 10th & last ATP title. “There were times in 2005, 2006, when I really felt I deserved one. It gives something special to your career.”

   Ljubicic’s route to his only Masters 1K title (his 251st main-level event):
   2 Ryan Harrison 6-2, 7-6(2)
   3 Brian Dabul 6-2, 6-3
   4 Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3
   Q Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
   S Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(1)
   W Andy Roddick 7-6(3), 7-6(5)

   Ljubicic trailed *3:4 in the 2nd set vs Nadal, in the 3rd set he saved a mini-MP at *3:4 and was two points away from defeat at *4:5 (deuce)

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