Federer Denies Ljubicic for Third Time at Dubai

Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic is playing the tennis of his career, but it still wasn't enough to get him over the hump against world No. 1 Roger Federer, losing his third final of the year against the Swiss 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3.

It was Federer's third title of the year, all against Ljubicic in finals after Doha and Rotterdam. The win extended Federer's Open Era record in finals to 16 straight.

"This week I felt I had a couple of second chances, match points down against (Juan Carlos) Ferrero, 7-6 in the third in the first round and now I sit here as the winner," Federer said.

Ljubicic fell to 0-3 in finals for 2005.

"If I play a final every week, I will be very happy," Ljubicic said. "Tonight's match makes me feel like I'm closer to beating him. The crowds were great, usually I don't have crowds on my side but here it's been fantastic. Here, the crowds like me."

In the doubles final the unseeded Czech team of Martin Damm/Radek Stepanek upset No. 4 seeds Jonas Bjorkman/Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-4 for their second title of the year.