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2/3/10 1:26 AM | Vincent Glenn
Australian Open semifinalist Marin Cilic will begin his quest for a second consecutive Zagreb Indoors title on Wednesday. Ivan Ljubicic and Ivo Karlovic will also be in action.
(1) Marin Cilic vs. Jan Hajek
Defending champion Cilic will be facing Hajek for the first time when they meet on Wednesday afternoon. Cilic has been in fine form so far this season and he has cemented his reputation as one of the game’s brightest young talents. The Croatian No. 1 defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the final of the Chennai Open in January to claim the fourth title of his career.
Zagreb’s No. 1 seed then beat US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick en route to the semifinals of the Australian Open. The Croat was eventually stopped by Andy Murray, but his best ever run at a slam was enough to see him rise to a career-high No. 10 in the rankings.
Hajek broke back into the top 100 last month for the first time since May 2007. The Czech started this season with a win over Simon Greul in Chennai, but he was defeated in the second-round by Santiago Giraldo. He then recorded an opening-round victory over former world No. 15 Robby Ginepri at the Australian Open before being comprehensively beaten by Mikhail Youzhny.
Cilic is bound to be feeling weary after his early-season heroics, but he’s likely to gain inspiration from playing in front of Croatian supporters. The world No.10 is a player of immense power and he has performed well indoors in the past. He should have few problems seeing off Hajek in straight sets.
(2) Ivan Ljubicic vs. Arnaud Clement
Ljubicic and Clement will be meeting for the 11th time on Wednesday. Clement won their first two encounters, but No. 2 seeded Ljubicic has claimed victory in their last eight clashes. Their most recent match was in the semifinals of Lyon last November. Ljubicic triumphed in straight sets and he went on to defeat Michael Llodra in the final.
Despite suffering a first-round exit at the Australian Open, veteran Frenchman Clement has made an encouraging start to the season. He saw off Jeremy Chardy, David Ferrer, Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Kohlschrieber en route to the Auckland final last month before losing an absorbing three-set clash to John Isner. The former world No. 10 and 2001 Australian Open finalist is presently No. 60 in the rankings.
Ljubicic enjoyed a successful 2009 and he is currently ranked No. 24 in the world. He reached four Masters 1000 quarterfinals and recorded victories over the likes of Juan Martin Del Potro, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Fernando Verdasco. The Croat reached the third-round of the Australian Open last month, registering wins over Jason Kubler and Andrey Golubev before losing to compatriot Ivo Karlovic.
Ljubicic’s big serve makes him a formidable opponent indoors. Clement is a tenacious player and his dogged approach will ensure an intriguing contest, but Ljubicic’s extra power should enable him to clinch a three-set victory.
(7) Ivo Karlovic vs. Antonio Veic
Karlovic and countryman Veic have never before faced each other. World No. 33 Karlovic has been in good form so far this season. He made the quarterfinals in Doha before being usurped in two tiebreak sets by Nikolay Davydenko. The Croat then notched impressive victories over Radek Stepanek, Julien Benneteau and Ivan Ljubicic at the Australian Open, but he was defeated in the fourth-round by Rafael Nadal.
Wildcard Veic has won just three ATP tour-level matches in his career, but one of those victories came at the Australian Open last month. The world No. 183 successfully negotiated his way through qualifying in Melbourne before claiming a five-set triumph over Daniel Koellerer in the opening round.
Veic is unlikely to pose Karlovic many problems. The 6'10'' Croat should have little trouble wrapping up victory in straight sets.
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Antonio Veic
Ivo Karlovic
PBZ Zagreb Indoors
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