Ivan LjubiÄić
Ivan Ljubičić [ iʋan ʎubitʃitɕ ] ( born March 19, 1979 in Banja Luka, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia ) is a former Croatian tennis player.
- 4.2.1 finals ( 4)
Career
The 1.93 m wide Croat began his career in 1998. Awarded the highest ranking in the tennis world rankings he had to show in 2006, where he advanced to # 3 on the ATP Entry List.
At the tournament in Lyon he proposed in 2000, first in the first round Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin in the semifinals surprising. In the final he defeated the Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui 6:3 and 6:2 and was able to book its first tournament victory.
In his strongest season to date in 2005, he won within two weeks of the tournament in Metz and the BA Tennis Trophy in Vienna. In addition, he stood six times in a final and lost three times against Roger Federer, the No. 1 rankings. In Rotterdam, he led the decisive third set tiebreak 4-1 and lost yet against the Swiss. The Head- to-Head against Roger Federer is 3:8 from the perspective of the Croats. His strengths include his constant service around 200 km / h and his one-handed backhand.
Ivan Ljubičić fame when he against the United States in the first round of the Davis Cup took with Croatia in 2005. First, he defeated Andre Agassi in three sets. The following day, Ljubičić defeated at the side of Mario Ančić surprisingly the peak double Bob and Mike Bryan. On Matchday Ljubičić defeated Andy Roddick still in a 5 - set thriller, which meant that Americans were eliminated for the first time at home in the first round of the Davis Cup. Ljubičić continued his winning streak in Davis Cup and almost single-handedly led Croatia to Davis Cup win.
In 2006, he was initially able to build on his performance from last year. He won three tournaments (Chennai, Zagreb and Vienna). He also reached the semifinals at the French Open. After an argument, he took over as captain Playing the Croatian Davis Cup team after a win against Austria Croatia difference then against Argentina from.
The 2007 season began Ljubičić with his seventh career title in Doha. He also stood in Zagreb and Rotterdam in the finals, but lost both finals scarce.
His main triumph celebrated Ljubičić in March 2010, when he in a tournament the Masters series finally was successful at the fourth Final departure and the Indian Wells Masters won. Along the way, he beat Novak Djokovic in the second round and the semi-finals Rafael Nadal before the finale then defeated Andy Roddick 7-6 ( 3), 7-6 (5).
As previously announced, Ljubičić resigned after his retirement from the Monte Carlo Masters 2012 from professional tennis. He defeated his fellow countryman Ivan Dodig in straight sets.
Curiosities
Early 2005 had to experience a more or less nasty surprise Ljubičić. At the Tennis Masters in Miami, he made acquaintance with a naked man in the locker of his dressing room. It was the French double Michaël Llodra specialists who wanted to absorb the positive vibrations of Ljubičić.
Private
Ljubičić had to emigrate to Italy because of the civil war in Yugoslavia at the age of 14 years. He now lives in Monte Carlo. In November 2004, he married his wife Aida. Four years later, in November 2008, Ljubičić was father for the first time. The child's name is Leonardo.