Help
2/25/10 3:01 AM | Ricky Dimon
Novak Djokovic has managed to escape the upset bug in Dubai through two rounds. On Thursday he will do battle with Ivan Ljubicic for a spot in the semifinals.
Novak Djokovic appeared to be on a collision course with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the quarterfinals of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Instead, Djokovic will go up against familiar foe Ivan Ljubicic on Thursday night for a spot in the semis.
Djokovic and Ljubicic have met on five previous occasions, including four in the past two years. Ljubicic won their first encounter back in 2006 on the indoor hard courts of Croatia, but he has not taken a set of Djokovic since. The second-ranked Serb went on two prevail at the 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters before scoring a trio of wins last season; at the Madrid Masters, Cincinnati Masters, and the U.S. Open.
Ljubicic once again comes in as a considerable underdog, but he has reason to be encouraged based on his performances this week. After ousting Jan Hernych in three sets, the 30-year-old Croat upset Tsonga 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday. Ljubicic owns a mediocre 5-3 match record for his 2010 campaign, and unlike a lot of players in Dubai, he should have plenty in the tank as this is his first tournament since the Australian Open.
The world No. 26 has a tough task ahead of him in Djokovic, who started the tournament as highest-ranked player in the draw due to the withdrawal of world No. 1 and No. 1 seed Roger Federer. Still, nothing has been easy for Djokovic so far this week. He survived two tight sets in an opener against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez then overcame compatriot Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
"I wasn't happy with the performance overall today," Djokovic said after beating Troicki. "He was a better player for a set and a half. But I won; that's what matters."
A similar performance will give Ljubicic a good shot at an upset, and Ljubicic's serving prowess will most likely keep him competitive even if Djokovic raises his level. Still, look for the favorite to pull out a three-set victory.
Tell a friend »
yea he's not losing to Ljubicic. Olly, what happened to the faith? :)
stu , 2/25/10 5:01 PM
oops, didn't realize the match had already started. what the hell?!
stu , 2/25/10 5:06 PM
stu, are you watching? This is frustrating...
Ljubicic is serving great, Nole is making too many UE...not one break chance for Nole from the start, can you believe it???
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:23 PM
What's going on here, I'm watching the scores so I have only statistics. Is Ljuba is really so good, or Nole is underperforming? He's killing me...
zare , 2/25/10 5:26 PM
there's the Nole I know :)
Not watching, I'm at work looking at the online stats!
stu , 2/25/10 5:32 PM
Both, zare...both...Ljuba is playing like when he was no3, and Nole far away from no2...Service especially.
Butttt...here is the 2nd set for Nole!!!! Ajdee!
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:33 PM
set Djoker
RickyDimon , 2/25/10 5:35 PM
How did he get the break Olly? And did he follow that up with a love service game?
stu , 2/25/10 5:38 PM
what a funny sport tennis is
stu , 2/25/10 5:40 PM
yeeeeaaaa this is important going into the 3rd set. Ajde Nole, wake up!
zare , 2/25/10 5:42 PM
Which one, stu? :D
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:45 PM
haha.
this is the theme for Dubai looks like. he wakes up half way into set 2!
stu , 2/25/10 5:46 PM
yes nole! fight back!! Show that you deserve the number 2 spot!
FEDistheGOAT , 2/25/10 5:47 PM
3:0 for Nolee...oh, I will never EVER lose faith in him again, I promise! Shame on me! :) Nole is playing much better in 3rd set (FINALLY, service is much much better)...Ljuba looks tired now...
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:48 PM
lol, stu
Remember Basel? Same thing..And, it ended very well... :P
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:51 PM
A break and a hold! Way to go!
FEDistheGOAT , 2/25/10 5:53 PM
oh ya i'll take that ending any day!
what happened to ljub all of a sudden tho?
stu , 2/25/10 5:53 PM
I dunno..they just changed roles, I think... :)) he is riding UE rollercoaster now.. :)
ooooh......bagel in 3rd set!!!! WTG, Noleee!!!!
OllyK , 2/25/10 5:59 PM
Bagel time?? :)
FEDistheGOAT , 2/25/10 6:00 PM
Nole really needs to fix his serve. His numbers are disgraceful.
Is it time to start dreaming about a title defense yet?!!! :D
stu , 2/25/10 6:04 PM
I don't know if Novak is aware that his 1st and his 2nd service are pathetic?
rfzr , 2/25/10 6:05 PM
Djoker-Bagman could be good
RickyDimon , 2/25/10 6:20 PM
stu, I think I'll put dreaming on stand by till I see if he is going to play with Baghdatis in SF...their matches are always so unpredictable.. :)
OllyK , 2/25/10 6:27 PM
Cilic is gone?!!!!
Has the road cleared for Nole or what?!
stu , 2/25/10 6:27 PM
Cilic is gone?!!!!
Has the road cleared for Nole or what?!
stu , 2/25/10 6:29 PM
Djoker-Ljubo match report - http://www.tennistalk.com/en/match_report/Barclays_Dubai_Tennis_Champi onships/2010/Ivan_Ljubicic_-_Novak_Djokovic
RickyDimon , 2/25/10 6:30 PM
Ivan Ljubicic
Novak Djokovic
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2010, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
Ljubicic is on fire..Nole's performance - not promising at all...
OllyK , 2/25/10 4:46 PM