|
Post by getta on Feb 11, 2011 8:14:14 GMT -5
Marcos kept his cool to keep up the pressure and win the second set 7-6(6) through after a nail-biting tie-break.
|
|
|
Post by getta on Feb 11, 2011 8:44:46 GMT -5
Marcos broken in the seventh game of the decider and he ... did not... collapse...
he breaks back in the eighth game.
3rd set: 4-4 on Marcos serve
|
|
|
Post by getta on Feb 11, 2011 8:56:35 GMT -5
gosh.
eventually match needs another tie-break.
|
|
|
Post by getta on Feb 11, 2011 9:06:19 GMT -5
Marcos put up a good fight against a high-class opponent and just came short. he lost 6-4 6-7(6) 7-6(4).
on to Dubai.
|
|
|
Post by getta on Feb 11, 2011 10:13:32 GMT -5
www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2011/02/6/Rotterdam-Friday-Ljubicic-Edges-Baghdatis.aspxLjubicic Edges Baghdatis To Set Tsonga Clash Rotterdam, The Netherlands by ATP Staff | 11.02.2011Seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic inched towards a third final appearance at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament after edging Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-6(4) Friday in the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tennis tournament in Rotterdam. The Croatian, who finished runner-up in 2005 (l. to Federer) and 2007 (l. to Youzhny), was pushed the distance by the unseeded Baghdatis, against whom he went into the match with a 1-4 record. Ljubicic looked set to wrap up a straight-sets win as he held match point at 6-5 in the second set tie-break. He failed to convert, though, and Baghdatis seized the initiative to level the match. Again Ljubicic ascended to a winning position in the third set as he broke for a 4-3 lead. Again, though, Baghdatis pegged back the big-serving Croatian as he levelled at 4-4 and forced another tie-break. However, where he had been passive in the second set tie-break, Ljubicic approached the decider with aggression and was rewarded as he clinched victory in two hours and 24 minutes. Ljubicic was especially potent on serve in the encounter, firing 18 aces and winning 85 per cent of points behind his first serve. “It was a very difficult match,” reflected Ljubicic. “I felt the second set was pretty even. I had a match point on serve but he made a great return and I lost that tie-break. It felt really bad, actually. The third set was, again, very even and I decided to play a little more aggressively in the tie-break and at the end it paid off."The 31-year-old Ljubicic will bid to reach his 24th ATP World Tour final when he faces eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. The Frenchman advanced at the expense of fourth seed Tomas Berdych, who was forced to withdraw suffering from flu. “Jo didn’t play today so it’s a little advantage for him. I had a tough one today, so he’s definitely going to feel better physically than me tomorrow. We have very similar games, big serve and going for our shots. So I’m sure it’s going to be a very entertaining match,” concluded Ljubicic, who has promised to buy everyone in the stadium a drink should he win the title this week.
|
|
|
Post by Giatros on Feb 12, 2011 3:01:02 GMT -5
Marcos Falls To Ljubicic
Quarter-final exit in Rotterdam...It was a gripping quarter-final clash at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Friday, but one that ultimately Marcos was to lose to Ivan Ljubicic as he fell 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-6(4) against the big-serving Croatian. Marcos surprised two-time Rotterdam finalist Ljubicic with the pace of his play at the start of the match and his aggressive ground strokes quickly earned him a 2-1 break advantage. As Ljubicic settled into the fast-paced conditions, though, the Croat drew level before breaking Marcos again in the 10th game courtesy of a rifling forehand return winner. Ljubicic had been especially lethal on serve in the early exchanges, winning all 11 points behind his first serve. After neither player was able to crack the other’s serve in the second set, Marcos came perilously close to losing in the ensuing set tie-break. He netted a forehand to give Ljubicic a 6-5 lead, but the Croatian could not covert his match point as Marcos scrambled a booming first serve back into play before ending a cagey exchange with a forehand winner. He then won the final two points to stun Ljubicic and force a third set. Post your thoughts on FacebookWith Ljubicic on the back foot and struggling to comprehend the loss of the second set, the Croatian later admitted it was a relief that Marcos served first at the start of the third set as it gave him chance to compose himself. Marcos was unable to build on a 0/30 advantage in the Croatian’s first service game and was later made to rue his missed opportunity as Ljubicic capitalised on a poor service game from the Cypriot to break and lead 4-3. Once again, though, Marcos came storming back with some fine tennis, including a backhand pass crosscourt on break point, to level at 4-4 and force another tie-break. This time, though, Ljubicic adopted a more aggressive approach and was rewarded as he sealed victory after charging the net on his fourth match point. It was a good campaign for Marcos in Rotterdam, beginning with his first-round win over Andy Murray, and he will now have a week to recover and practise on outdoor courts before competing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in just over a week. Go, Marcos!
|
|