Post by LesT on Oct 21, 2004 16:40:52 GMT
Hard-serving Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia upset top seed but error prone Tim Henman of Britain 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2.4 million (US$3 million) Madrid Masters.
The featured night match was No.2 seed Andre Agassi against fellow American Vince Spadea.
Ljubicic got off to a fast start. "I don't have to hit a lot of balls to get in a rhythm," he said. "With my serve, there are no rallies, at least I'm trying not to have any rallies."
Henman held his own for a while, mixing shots well and racing to the net to take advantage of the taller, less agile Croatian. In the first set, each had three aces and Henman had more winners, 15-9.
But he committed 17 unforced errors to Ljubicic's four, struggling to hold service games he had seemed to wrap up.
"I was so erratic and so inconsistent ... every game was a struggle," Henman said. "My movement, first and foremost, was poor so I never really felt like I was in the right position."
That caught up with him in the deciding 10th game. Henman jumped to a 30-0 lead, then lost three straight points. He saved the first break point, but gave game and set to Ljubicic by drifting out of position to midcourt where he was handcuffed by a forehand bullet.
In the second set, the Briton seemed to find his stride. In game six, he took the lead then gave it up; served an ace to save break point and followed that with a double fault. But two points later, he served another ace for the game.
Henman broke Ljubicic's serve the first and only time in game seven, driving a shot deep and arriving at net as the Croat's return drove harmlessly into the other side.
"I love to see him playing because it's really beautiful technique and moving on the court and he's using his brain totally," Ljubicic said.
But in the deciding set, Ljubicic upped his own game - and Henman fell apart.
In game six, he hit three unforced errors in a row, dropping his racket to the court in disgust. Next game when a forehand clipped the netcord and sailed long, he threw his racket angrily in frustration.
Afterward, Henman said he felt poorly and had a blood test taken the day before. "From the waist up, I feel fine. I don't feel ill," he said. "But I just don't have any energy," much as was the case before the French Open.
He stressed that was no excuse. "I was hitting the ball poorly. I think it's as simple as that."
The top three players in the world - Roger Federer, Andy Rodthingy and Lleyton Hewitt - withdrew last week, and defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out Wednesday.
Players are vying for top prize of ?360,000 and 100 points in the Champion's Race.
Finals are Sunday.
The featured night match was No.2 seed Andre Agassi against fellow American Vince Spadea.
Ljubicic got off to a fast start. "I don't have to hit a lot of balls to get in a rhythm," he said. "With my serve, there are no rallies, at least I'm trying not to have any rallies."
Henman held his own for a while, mixing shots well and racing to the net to take advantage of the taller, less agile Croatian. In the first set, each had three aces and Henman had more winners, 15-9.
But he committed 17 unforced errors to Ljubicic's four, struggling to hold service games he had seemed to wrap up.
"I was so erratic and so inconsistent ... every game was a struggle," Henman said. "My movement, first and foremost, was poor so I never really felt like I was in the right position."
That caught up with him in the deciding 10th game. Henman jumped to a 30-0 lead, then lost three straight points. He saved the first break point, but gave game and set to Ljubicic by drifting out of position to midcourt where he was handcuffed by a forehand bullet.
In the second set, the Briton seemed to find his stride. In game six, he took the lead then gave it up; served an ace to save break point and followed that with a double fault. But two points later, he served another ace for the game.
Henman broke Ljubicic's serve the first and only time in game seven, driving a shot deep and arriving at net as the Croat's return drove harmlessly into the other side.
"I love to see him playing because it's really beautiful technique and moving on the court and he's using his brain totally," Ljubicic said.
But in the deciding set, Ljubicic upped his own game - and Henman fell apart.
In game six, he hit three unforced errors in a row, dropping his racket to the court in disgust. Next game when a forehand clipped the netcord and sailed long, he threw his racket angrily in frustration.
Afterward, Henman said he felt poorly and had a blood test taken the day before. "From the waist up, I feel fine. I don't feel ill," he said. "But I just don't have any energy," much as was the case before the French Open.
He stressed that was no excuse. "I was hitting the ball poorly. I think it's as simple as that."
The top three players in the world - Roger Federer, Andy Rodthingy and Lleyton Hewitt - withdrew last week, and defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out Wednesday.
Players are vying for top prize of ?360,000 and 100 points in the Champion's Race.
Finals are Sunday.