Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia toppled French wild
card Michael Llodra to capture the Lyon Grand Prix title.
The third-seeded Ljubicic posted a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Sunday to claim his
ninth career ATP singles title and first in more than two years. The Croatian
veteran last won at the Wimbledon tuneup in 's-Hertogenbosch in June of 2007.
Ljubicic was the only non-French player among the eight quarterfinalists and
emerged victorious at a site where he captured his first career ATP crown back
in 2001.
"It's a really special feeling to win this title," said Ljubicic. "Lyon means
so much to me; it was where I won my first title in 2001, and now it's the
first title I have won as a father. It has given me the belief that I am still
a great player and that I can compete with the best. I feel in great physical
condition and I'm going to give everything I have in the last two weeks of the
year."
The 30-year-old Ljubicic last played in an ATP final in February of 2008, when
he lost to Sergiy Stakhovsky in Zagreb. He improved to 9-12 lifetime in ATP
finals.
Ljubicic saved a break point in the first set at 5-5 and held serve, then
broke Llodra to capture the set.
"I thought I could have served better today," said Llodra. "I didn't get
enough first serves in, and maybe my arm was a little tired. He returned very
well too."
Llodra was trying to become the third French winner in the past four years,
joining Richard Gasquet in 2006 and Sebastien Grosjean in 2007. He fell to 3-4
lifetime in ATP finals, including 0-2 this year. Fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga beat in the Marseille title match back in February.
Sunday marked just the second meeting between the two, with Llodra winning the
previous matchup in June 2008 in Halle.
Ljubicic claimed a first prize of $152,000.
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