Blake Edges Safin, v Ljubicic in Bangkok Final
Posted on October 1, 2006Top seed Ivan Ljubicic and No. 3 seed James Blake booked their spots in Sunday's final in Bangkok Saturday, with the American struggling past a former No. 1 while the Croatian disappointed the home-country fans.
The third-ranked Ljubicic blew out local favorite Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3, 6-2. Ljubicic raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set and closed out the match with ace No. 17 to win the 1-hour, 17-minute affair. The Croat saved all four break points he faced.
Ljubicic was treated multiple times for a shoulder injury during the match.
"I have to use my serves. It is my weapon," Ljubicic said. "I have to win a lot of points from my serves. It is important because it's indoors. James will use his big forehand as a weapon and I will use my serve."
Meanwhile, Blake ousted defeated Russian favorite Marat Safin for the second time in seven days to advance to his sixth final of the year. Blake, who beat Safin in a 'dead rubber' in the Davis Cup semifinals in Moscow Sunday, again took out the former world No. 1 this time in a meaningful match, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).
Safin was 3-1 up in the third set after breaking in the fourth game but Blake broke right back. At 5-5 Blake broke Safin and served for the match but lost serve and it went into a tiebreak. Blake took command with a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak and never trailed again.
Blake will be looking to add to his three hardcourt titles this season (Sydney, Las Vegas and Indianapolis).
Blake has never beaten Ljubicic.
"Every time I play him, it is always tough," Blake said. "When he plays well, I try to raise my game to get close to him. Now I'm feeling pretty good."
The third-ranked Ljubicic blew out local favorite Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3, 6-2. Ljubicic raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set and closed out the match with ace No. 17 to win the 1-hour, 17-minute affair. The Croat saved all four break points he faced.
Ljubicic was treated multiple times for a shoulder injury during the match.
"I have to use my serves. It is my weapon," Ljubicic said. "I have to win a lot of points from my serves. It is important because it's indoors. James will use his big forehand as a weapon and I will use my serve."
Meanwhile, Blake ousted defeated Russian favorite Marat Safin for the second time in seven days to advance to his sixth final of the year. Blake, who beat Safin in a 'dead rubber' in the Davis Cup semifinals in Moscow Sunday, again took out the former world No. 1 this time in a meaningful match, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).
Safin was 3-1 up in the third set after breaking in the fourth game but Blake broke right back. At 5-5 Blake broke Safin and served for the match but lost serve and it went into a tiebreak. Blake took command with a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak and never trailed again.
Blake will be looking to add to his three hardcourt titles this season (Sydney, Las Vegas and Indianapolis).
Blake has never beaten Ljubicic.
"Every time I play him, it is always tough," Blake said. "When he plays well, I try to raise my game to get close to him. Now I'm feeling pretty good."