Help
4/6/09 6:21 PM | Ricky Dimon
Ivan Ljubicic finishes off Arnaud Clement in three sets in the first round of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Monday afternoon. Next up for Ljubicic is Frederico Gil.
Ivan Ljubicic survived Arnaud Clement 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 57 minutes in the first round of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Monday. Ljubicic could have ended the proceedings in much quicker fashion, but he missed an opportunity to close out the match on serve in straight sets.
Neither man could come up with a break in the first set, mainly due to impressive serving by both competitors. Ljubicic fired nine aces and saved one break point, while Clement put in 63 percent of his first serves and saved three break points. The 6'4'' Croat surged two a 5-1 lead in the ensuing tiebreaker with two mini-breaks, but gave both of them back at while serving at 5-2. Ljubicic missed another chance at 6-5, but finally capitalized on his third set point--and his first on Clement's serve.
The 30-year-old used his momentum to break right away in set two, and he consolidated the advantage all the way until he served for the match at 5-4. Clement finally broke for the first time of the afternoon and eventually ended the set on a four-game winning streak. The Frenchman's second break finished things off 7-5 and forced a decisive third frame of play.
Ljubicic again went up an early break in the third, but this time he almost did not have to serve it out himself. He earned his first match point with Clement serving at 3-5, 30-40, but Ljubicic went for a big forehand off of a second serve and missed it wide. Clement went on to hold serve, but Ljubicic managed to close things out at 5-4. Two huge serves at 30-30 and 40-30 booked Ljubicic a spot in the Casablanca second round.
Ljubicic finished the match with an impressive 16 aces to just one double-fault. Next up for the former world No. 3 is Frederico Gil, who also survived a first-round thriller. Gil knocked out Alberto Martin 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4).
Tell a friend »
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
