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2/4/10 8:52 PM | Vincent Glenn
Lukas Lacko stunned No. 2 seeded Ivan Ljubicic in the second round of the Zagreb Indoors on Thursday. Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic, however, booked their places in the quarterfinals.
Lukas Lacko d. (2) Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (5)
World No. 72 Lacko secured a surprise three-set win over Ljubicic to progress through to the quarterfinals in Zagreb. Slovakia’s Lacko served particularly well in the opening set, winning 23 of 25 points behind his first delivery. Neither player was able to conjure up a break, but Lacko held his nerve in the 'breaker to take it 7-3.
Ljubicic fell 0-40 behind at 1-2 in the second set and, although the Croat managed to stave off two break points, he double faulted on the third to hand his opponent the first break of the match. Lacko, however, was unable to serve out the match at 5-3 and he pushed an attempted passing shot wide to gift Ljubicic the game. The Croatian No. 2 then secured another break to move 6-5 ahead and he fired down an ace to wrap up an eventful set.
A tiebreak was needed to settle a tense final set. Lacko claimed two mini-breaks to move 3-0 clear in the ‘breaker and a wayward Ljubicic backhand gave him a 6-3 lead. The Slovak clinched victory on his third match point with a big ace out wide after two hours and 37 minutes of play. Lacko will face Philipp Petzschner in the last eight.
(1) Marin Cilic d. Daniel Koellerer 6-2, 6-1
Cilic easily defeated Koellerer to continue his excellent early season form. The No. 1 seed produced a series of deep groundstrokes to break for a 4-2 lead in the opening frame of play. Koellerer, who was carrying a shoulder injury, was broken again when serving to stay in the set at 2-5.
Cilic continued to dictate play as he raced through the second set. The world No. 10 hit a clever angled forehand to bring up a break point in Koellerer's first service game and the he converted when the Austrian pushed a volley long. Cilic clinched a second break to lead 4-0 when Koellerer netted an ill-judged drop shot. The Croat wrapped up victory with his twelfth ace of the match and he will face compatriot Ivo Karlovic in the quarterfinals.
(7) Ivo Karlovic d. Alexandre Sidorenko 7-6(4), 7-6(8)
Karlovic needed two 'breakers to move past world No. 187 Sidorenko. Karlovic did not face a single break point in the opening set, but he was unable to convert any of the six break chances he created. Four of the first six points in the ensuing ‘breaker went against serve, but Karlovic secured his third mini-break to lead 5-4. The Croat brought up two set points with a forehand down the line and clinched the set with his twelfth ace.
A second tiebreak secured Karlovic’s place in the last eight. He failed to convert his first two match points in the 'breaker and he then had to save a set point when trailing 7-8. The Croat, however, brought up his third chance to close out the contest with a forehand winner and he claimed victory with a blistering passing shot.
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i am not so surprised by lacko upsetting ljubicic. well done to beat the croat who seems to often thrive and come out as the winner in tight matches. i understood lacko played well in chennai and AO, only going down to nadal there. perhaps someone to keep an eye on for 2010.
croc , 2/4/10 11:33 PM