Ivan Ljubičić Counting on Croatia's Support to Win Against Serbia
The Davis Cup quarter-finals will begin this weekend, and the pressure is on as the tennis players—most coming from a heated Wimbledon Championship -- are withdrawing from the competition.
The Croatian team, which had made it to the semi-finals last year, will be in great need of a talented replacement player for Ivo Karlović. The Croatian star also had to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a foot injury that prevented him from completing his season.
The chosen replacement is Ivan Ljubičić, who was a key team player for Croatia in 2005 when they won the Davis Cup against the Slovakian team. This achievement could very well repeat its course, as Ljubičić gladly accepted the offer to play for Croatia.
Ljubičić began this years season at the Australian Open, where he lost to Ivo Karlović, the Croatian he is set to replace during the Davis Cup. He then took part in the 2010 Dubai Tennis Championships, but lost to the Croatian’s rival World No. 2 Novak Djokovic in three sets.
While participating in the 2010 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Ljubičić avenged his loss by defeating the Serb Djokovic 7-5, 6-3 in the fourth round. His next opponent was Rafael Nadal, currently the 2010 French Open champion, Wimbledon champion, and World No. 1. Ljubičić played brilliantly and defeated the Spaniard 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(1) in the semi-finals. This victory allowed Ljubičić his fourth career Masters 1000 final.
His next adversary in this tournament was the American and favourite Andy Roddick. In this match, Ljubičić won 7-6(3), 7-6(5). This victory made him break his three consecutive final losses streak in a master's series tournament. Ljubičić then lifted the Masters Series trophy for the first time of his career. It was clearly a great honor and career advancing moment for the Croatian.
This accomplishment made Ljubičić the first Croatian to win the final, the 26th-ranked player entering the final for the third time, the second oldest winner, and the oldest first time winner of a Master Series 1000 tournament.
During this championship, Ljubičić defeated three top-ten players, including World No. 2 Djokovic in the quarter-finals, World No. 1 Nadal in the semi-finals, and World No. 8 Roddick in the final, proving that age really could make little difference on the court, with the proper dedication. Ljubičić’s current entry list ranking in the world of tennis is No. 13, which he accomplished in March 2010.
Ivan Ljubičić was quoted by the state-run HINA news agency Monday, admitting that Serbia was unfortunately the favourite against Croatia: “Serbia is favourite. They have Novak Djokovic who is world number two and Nenad Zimonjic, who tops the doubles standings." He then added, “The Serbs might be stronger on paper but in Split, in front of a home audience, they cannot be absolute favorites." As such, Ljubičić said that "it wouldn't be the first time that favorites don't win." The coach of the Croatian team, Goran Prpic, then added to CBC Sports that Serbia is a "tough opponent," but that Croatia "is ready for that challenge."
Novak Djokovic was also interviewed and admitted that “it’s a pity” that Croatia and Serbia have to meet so early in the tournament, as they both are talented enough to deserve reaching its finals. He then expressed that Serbia had the skilled players to secure a victory, “but the crowd can help the host.” With the audience’s imput, Croatia could potentially, as the quarter-finals underdog, prevail to the Davis Cup semi-finals that will take place next September.
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