Ivan Ljubicic to retire after Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters – Tennis News
Former world number three, Ivan Ljubicic, has announced that he is going to retire from professional tennis after the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters next month.
He said, “I look forward to the next stage of my life. Tennis has given me so much and I want to continue to stay involved and contribute in some ways.”
The Croatian, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on 19th of March, rose to number three in the South African Airways ATP Rankings in 2006.
That was the most successful year for Ljubicic. The Croatian captured three titles in that year. He won the crown in Chennai, Zagreb and Vienna. Ljubicic also reached the final in Miami and Bangkok. His supreme performance continued
at the Australian Open and French Open, where he reached the quarterfinals and semi-finals respectively.
Ljubicic is the winner of 10 ATP World Tour titles. He grabbed his latest championship at the BNP Paribas Open in 2010. The Croat was on a dream run as he upset the then world number two Novak Djokovic, number two Rafael Nadal
and number eight Andy Roddick on his way to the biggest win of his career.
The right-hander also finished runner-up on 14 occasions, with the last being his loss at the hands of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final at the Moselle Open in 2011.
Ljubicic also secured a couple of titles representing Croatia. He helped his country in winning the Davis Cup in 2005. The veteran led Croatia to the title at the World Team Championship in 2006. The Croatian claimed a bronze medal
partnering Mario Ancic in the doubles event at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
The 6ft 4in tall gave stiff competition to Swiss Maestro Roger Federer in the early days of their rivalry. Ljubicic won two of their first three meetings. The Croatian also defeated Federer at the Swiss legend’s home tournament
in 2003.
The 16-time grand slam champion, Federer, said on Ljubicic’s retirement plans, “He’s one of the most feared players on tour. He’s been a wonderful friend to me on tour, and it’s also been very beneficial to the game of tennis,
not just on the court but off the court because he’s been part of the political system here. He has a great future ahead in tennis or whatever he wants to do, because he’s a bright man and he’s a great person.”
The Croatian remained a member of the ATP Player council from 2002 to 2006 and it’s President in the next two years.
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