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6/18/09 3:14 AM | Ricky Dimon
Ivan Ljubicic and Fabrice Santoro will square off at the AEGON International on Thursday afternoon. The winner will book a spot in the Eastbourne semifinals.
It will be the ninth career meeting between two tour veterans when Fabrice Santoro and Ivan Ljubicic do battle in the quarterfinals of the AEGON International on Thursday afternoon. The head-to-head series, which has involved no grass-court encounters, is all tied up at four apiece.
Santoro has not been in spectacular form in 2009, but he is still a solid 41st in the world, good enough for the No. 4 seed in Eastbourne. The 36-year-old Frenchman owns a modest 7-8 match record at the ATP level this season and he had not won a match since the first round of the Masters Series Miami heading into this week. So far in Eastbourne, however, Santoro has dispatched Americans Robert Kendrick and Robby Ginepri.
Ljubicic struggled with injuries as well as his form in 2008, so he is ranked a mere 75th in the world. A much more productive 2009 campaign, however, should have the 6'4'' Croat back on the move in the rankings as this season progresses. He has already reached the quarterfinals of three Masters Series events this year. This week he has defeated Andreas Seppi and Joshua Goodall, both in straight sets.
This one should come down almost entirely to Ljubicic's serve. If he can win a lot of free points, he should advance. But if Santoro is allowed to work his way into points and beguile his opponent with a vast array of shot-making, Ljubicic is in trouble. Count on it going three sets, with Ljubicic's power game winning out in the end.
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What happened to Ljubicic ? I think these guys play too much tennis ... so many injuries.
smr , 6/18/09 5:49 PM
Fabrice Santoro
Ivan Ljubicic
AEGON International
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Pulling for the Magician!! He loves the grass, and I love him. Allez Fabrice!
Also pulling for Tipsy and Tursonov, but I just couldn't post on that story - too heavy comments already on there for me.
Rafterfan , 6/18/09 3:38 PM