Tennis Acumen

Jankovic & Ljubicic Champions at Indian Wells

PETE ZIEBRON

Jankovic: 8^th Consecutive Win v. WTA Top 5 Nets BNP Paribas Open Crown 

 Jelena Jankovic's last title prior to today in Cincinnati in August 2009.

Jelena Jankovic defeated her 8^th consecutive Top 5 opponent today when she impressively handled second seeded Caroline Wozniaki 6-2 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA.  Jankovic improves to 4-0 lifetime against Wozniacki, and has dropped only 10 games in the last 4 sets that they have played.  In advancing to the Final, Wozniacki will rise to world number 2 on the WTA Tour. 

Jankovic won only 5 matches in 2010 coming into the BNP Paribas Open but was able to find her game in the California desert, winning her 12^th career title and first since Cincinnati last August when she defeated then world number 1 Dinara Safina. 

Jelena’s Mastery of the Top 5:

• 6-2 6-4 v. #4 Wozniacki   @ Indian Wells MAR ‘10
• 6-3 2-6 6-3 v. #4 Kuznetsova  @ Fed Cup – Serbia FEB ’10
• 1-1 RET v. #1 Safina  @ Qatar OCT ’09
• 6-2 6-2 v. #4 Wozniacki  @ Qatar OCT ’09
• 6-4 6-2 v. #1 Safina  @ Cincinnati AUG ’09
• 7-6(2) 0-6 7-6(6) v. #4 Dementieva  @ Cincinnati AUG ’09
• 6-3 6-4 v. #4 Ivanovic  @ Qatar NOV ’08
• 0-6 6-1 6-0 v. #4 Dementieva  @ Moscow OCT ‘08

Ljubicic Hoists Masters 1000 Hardware for Initial Time

 Champion Ivan Ljubicic in action at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open.

Ivan Ljubicic blasted 20 aces past Andy Roddick to win the 2010 BNP Paribas Open 7-6(3) 7-6(5).  The 31 year-old Croatian led the tournament with 86 aces in total and won his 10^th overall title and first Masters 1000 tournament of his career. 

Ljubicic had a difficult road to victory as he defeated world number 2 Novak Djokovic in the round of 16, defending Champion Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and world number 7 Andy Roddick in the Final. 

In the loss, Roddick missed a prime opportunity to join Roger Federer, Michael Chang and Andre Agassi as the only players to win all 4 Masters 1000 tournaments held in North America.  Last year in Cincinnati, Novak Djokovic was also denied this feat as he fell to Roger Federer in the Final.

As new Champion of the BNP Paribas Open, Ljubicic rises to #13 in the world and enters the Sony Ericsson Open Masters 1000 this week with new confidence. 

• Ironically, Chinese clothing companies sponsor both Ljubicic and Jankovic: Ljubicic with Li Ning and Jankovic with ANTA.

Nadal and Rezai Make Fashion Statements at Indian Wells

PETE ZIEBRON

INDIAN WELLS, CA

Rafael Nadal and Aravane Rezai made the biggest fashion splashes at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells this week.

Nadal debuted a new tennis short called Nike Men’s Spring Rush and Crush Short. Meanwhile, Rezai wore the same attire that she played in at the Australian Open, a shiny gold and black outfit designed by a friend in France. 

Rafael Nadal in 4th round action against John Isner at the BNP Paribas Open. (Pete Ziebron Images)

Nadal: “What do you think?  You like it?  Well, it’s different I think, yeah.  It’s more different than usual.  That’s the thing, no?  It was a little bit fashion for me, I think.  Is too much, a little bit for me, but going to be (only) for this tournament.  I change everything for Miami (next week)."

 

 Aravane Rezai of France battling with Elena Dementieva at the BNP Paribas Open. (Pete Ziebron Images)

Rezai: “I have a designer and she’s from Iran and she live in France and have double nationality like me.  She’s designer and make clothes for me, and try to make something different than other players.  This year we made something gold and black and that’s pretty fun.  We try to make something together and that’s great.  Yeah, disco (inspired).  It was shiny with the sun.  I like to be different, you know, to wear different clothes.  It’s always fun when, you know, it’s a little bit fashion on the court.  Many players wear the same clothes and always the same color.  I don’t want this. I want to be different.”

 

California Desert Heat & Ljubicic Combine to KO Djokovic

PETE ZIEBRON

INDIAN WELLS, CA

Ivan Ljubicic practicing serves prior to his round of 16 match with Novak Djokovic.

Ivan Ljubicic, two days shy of his 31^st birthday, defeated world number 2 Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-3 under a hot 90F desert sun at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells yesterday.  Ljubicic rallied from a break down early in the first set to break Djokovic twice to take the opening set.  Once an early break was secured in the second set, Ljubicic steadied himself and served out the match. 

Despite being ranked second in the world, Novak Djokovic’s round of 16 match with Ivan Ljubicic was not among the four men’s matches that were played on the main Stadium Court and was played concurrent to the Rafael Nadal v. John Isner match on Stadium Court.  Instead, the Djokovic-Ljubicic tilt was relegated to Stadium Court #2, as the second match of the day following Juan Monaco and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and provided tennis aficionados the rare opportunity to see the world number 2 on a considerably smaller court. 

Prior to the opening match on Court #2, Ljubicic practiced to get a feel for the court and more importantly get a read on the conditions.  This move would pay dividends for Ljubicic a few hours later when he met Djokovic and booked his place in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Ljubicic also did some advanced scouting as he appeared in the stands as a spectator, sitting directly across the court from me, and ate lunch during the majority of the second set of the Monaco v. Garcia Lopez match.  Obviously, Ljubicic liked his chances against Djokovic, especially since the Djoker has had recent issues with his ball toss and historically does not seem to perform well when playing in the heat. Last year at Indian Wells, Djokovic struggled with even higher temperatures in his round of 16 match with Stanislaus Wawrinka that started in the blazing, late afternoon sun and concluded with considerably cooler conditions after the sun went down.  Djokovic’s entire demeanor changed once Stadium Court became completely shaded and he was able to squeak out a challenging tussle with Wawrinka to advance.  Yesterday, Djokovic did not have the luxury of a setting sun during his match. 

Ljubicic will face Juan Monaco for a place in the 2010 BNP Paribas Open semifinals later today.  The winner will play the winner of the Rafael Nadal – Tomas Berdych quarterfinal on Saturday.