Ivan Ljubicic beat American Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) Sunday to win the Indian Wells men's title, the first elite Masters 1000 triumph of the Croatian veteran's career. Ljubicic, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, became the oldest first-time winner of a Masters event, filling a gap on his resume that had nagged since runner-up finishes at Paris and Madrid in 2005 and Miami in 2006.
"Looking at my career in general, I did feel like I was missing it," said Ljubicic, who reached a career-high number three in the world in 2006. "It's really a fantastic feeling to finally have it. It gives something special to your career." He certainly showed he has plenty of quality tennis left in him this week, with victories over world number two Novak Djokovic and number three Rafael Nadal en route to his clash with eighth-ranked Roddick.
Ljubicic put on a serving clinic on stadium court, belting 20 aces and winning a bevy of other points with his serve. Fittingly Ljubicic captured the match with a last service winner - but not before Roddick had saved three match points. Ljubicic had raced to a 5-1 lead in the second-set tiebreaker, and went up 6-2 on Roddick's backhand miscue. On his first chance to seal the win, Ljubicic double-faulted. Roddick then saved two more match points on his serve before Ljubicic clinched the victory.
"He served great," said Roddick, who had 11 aces. "The last two days was an exhibition in how-to on serving big points. "He had complete control over all four spots," Roddick added. "He hit 'em. Ljubicic said he couldn't even regret his double-fault on match point, given his commanding lead in the tiebreaker.
Ljubicic also saved two break points in the ninth game of the second set, and he said holding on two win in two sets was crucial. Ljubicic did the same in the fourth game, and when the tiebreaker rolled around it was the Croatian who took charge - taking a 3-1 lead and going on to wrap up the set by belting a forehand past Roddick after pulling him forward with a drop shot.
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