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  • ATP Zagreb - Ljubicic (1) vs Stakhovsky

    3/1/08 1:13 PM | David Cox
    - Ljubicic goes for his 2nd Zagreb title today against the lucky loser from Ukraine who’s really been the story of the tournament, coming from nowhere to beat the likes of Karlovic and Tipsarevic. Stakhovsky has had 3 very close 3 setters before a more comfortable 6-4, 6-4 success against Bolelli yesterday while Ljubicic has dropped just the 1 set, against Gabashvilli in the quarters

    With most of the top players either taking a break before the all-star Dubai event next week or competing in Memphis, this tournament has been wide open from the start. Ancic, Simon and Karlovic looked like good tips to go deep, each making good runs in Marseille or Rotterdam but the latter two were out before the quarters. As in Rotterdam last week, upsets were numerous, Ljubicic and Tipsarevic the only seeds to make the last 8. However, no one could have predicted Stakhovsky to come through the bottom half, the Ukrainian crashed 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 to the unheralded world no 396 Blaz Kavcic in qualifying and only got in the main draw after Michael Llodra pulled out. The week before, he lost in qualies for the Belgrade challenger !

    Ljubicic won this tournament on his first visit back in 2006, beating Murray, Youzhny and Djokovic that week. He looked set to claim a second title in the Croatian capital last year after marathon wins against Johansson and Youzhny but fell to an inspired Marcos Baghdatis 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in the final. The Croatian will be hoping it kick-starts his season after disappointing early exits in Rotterdam and Melbourne.

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