06 Feb 2004 - Les Arenes, Metz, FRA - Neven Berticevic - FRA v CRO
Ljubicic Levels for Croatia
France - Croatia 1:1 after the first day of first round World Group tie
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas in Metz as Ljubicic runs through Ascione. After
Arnaud Clement drew first blood, Ivan Ljubicic made things even after the
first day of the tie, taking care of Thierry Ascione 75 64 64
Ascione was playing his first ever Davis Cup match and it showed, the
Frenchman must have felt the nerves of the big occasion. Ljubicic, already
a Davis cup veteran, made things complicated in the first set, but it was a
one-way street. Ljubicic broke for 4-3, held for 5-3 in the first set, but
failed to convert three consecutive set points in the tenth game. Croatian
had a commanding lead, 5-4, 40-0 but his first serve failed him and Ascione
broke back only to lose his serve in the following game. Ljubicic held to
take the first set 75.
In the second set Ljubicic broke in the third game and dictated the play
throughout. Despite only serving at 47% the Croatian managed take the set
without even giving Ascione a break point. An early break in the third set
sealed Ascione’s fate. The Frenchman had opportunities to break back in
the tenth game but Ljubicic was just too good. He closed the match in two
hours and 11 minutes.
The Croatian was quite happy with his performance. "Almost perfect for a
first clay court match of the season. It is not easy, clay is a big change.
I felt good most of the match. At the end of first and beginning of second
I had some problems with the serve, but I felt it was just a matter of time.
The way I felt, I could have won 30 of 30 sets. Ascione was nervous at the
start, and it showed. I know his game, when somebody breaks top 100, we tend
to go see him, and know what to expect. The tie is open, we are still in with
a chance. Tomorrow is another day".
Nikki Pilic was hoping for 2:0, but he knew that 1:1 was more likely to
happen. "Ivan played a great match. Mario Ancic could have, maybe should
have won the first set, he missed some chances, did not served well enough.
Clement actually served better, you can't have that. From the first set, it
was one-sided".
Thierry Ascione saw his running, or the lack of it as a key point. "Usually
I move well, but for some reason I was not fast enough today. Ljubicic made
some great shots to break me in the second and third set. The Captain was
telling me that I was close to Ljubicic, but I could not do better.
Guy Forget, like Pilic, was hoping for 2:0, "Both matches showed the
difference in rankings. Arnaud played a great match, the last three days
he was better and better in practice. I hope Thierry will be better if he
plays on Sunday".
Forget would not get drawn into the argument about the possible switch, if
the fifth rubber will decide. Ascione, or Escude. Forget did not confirm his
team for the Saturday doubles, the nomination stands with Escude and Llodra.
Nikki Pilic will stick, as he said on Friday, with Ancic and Ljubicic.
http://www.daviscup.com/news/matchreport.asp?id=12744
--
monkey! monkey! monkeymon!
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 61.70.206.23