Federer saw off Ancic, Tim Henman’s conqueror earlier in the week, 7-5 6-3. He missed two break points early in the first set, but at 5-5 pounced with a volleyed winner at the net to snatch the first break and had soon taken the set. The second set was one-sided — Federer snapped up an early break and the contest was over in 81 minutes.
Ljubicic won 7-6 7-5 to continue his impressive start to the season. The Croatian, who now takes part in his second final in as many weeks and a repeat of last month’s Doha final, said afterwards: “This is my 20th match this year and when you play so much tennis, the pressure becomes less and less.”
Ljubicic was the loser in Doha and in Marseilles last week and will be chasing his first title. “So far, I have beaten Roger Federer three times and Marat Safin twice,” he said. “Although I am capable of beating the top players, I’ve been unable to perform consistently. I was completely washed out after playing Roger, but I’ve learnt how to deal with exhausting matches.”
Yesterday’s win was the first time he had beaten Johansson in four meetings. There was little to separate the players, with the first break of serve achieved in the penultimate game of the match, when Johansson’s resistance finally crumbled.
Ljubicic, with a career-best ranking of 19 in the world, ended the one-hour, 43-minute tussle with an ace.
Advertisement
In Memphis, Tennessee, top seeded American Andy Roddick was forced to default his semi-final against Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen because of an ankle injury at the Kroger St. Jude ATP event.
The world No 3, who was bidding for his second consecutive ATP title, withdrew after injuring his left ankle in the second set of his quarter-final victory over Robby Ginepri.
“At first it wasn’t too bad but, by the end, it was definitely noticeable,” Roddick said.
He did not want to risk further aggravating the injury ahead of next month’s Davis Cup match against Croatia in California. “I have to think of my teammates as well.”
Carlsen will now face Max Mirnyi of Belarus in the final later today. Eighth-seeded Mirnyi upset second-seeded Germany’s Tommy Haas 7-5 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Advertisement
On the WTA Tour, meanwhile, world No 2 Amelie Mauresmo, of France, reached her second successive final with a straight-sets win over Alicia Molik at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium. Mauresmo took control of the match from the start, and was not forced to defend a break point in the first set.
Molik did manage to stretch her top-seeded opponent a little more in the second set, but Mauresmo ultimately proved to be far too strong for the young Australian, winning the match in resounding fashion, 6-3 7-6, in just under an hour and a half.
“I’m really happy with my tennis, especially my service, and I feel good at the net,” Mauresmo said afterwards. “I started really well by breaking Alicia early. The second set was tougher because Alicia wouldn’t let anything go.”
Mauresmo will take on former winner Venus Williams in today’s final after the American beat Anastasia Myskina in the other semi-final.