Ljubicic books Nadal date

ByEurosport

Published 07/06/2006 at 15:10 GMT

Ivan Ljubicic booked a date with Rafael Nadal by reaching his first major semi-final with a straight sets victory over Frenchman Julien Benneteau on Wednesday. Ljubicic, the hero of Croatia's Davis Cup win last year, has never won a clay court tournament

The number four seed was never troubled by Benneteau - one of this year's surprise packages - and he ran out a comfortable 6-2 6-2 6-3 winner.

TENNIS 2006 French Open Benneteau J. - Ljubicic I.

Image credit: dpa

It did not start too well for the number four seed though, as he dropped his first two service games to the Frenchman, fortunately staying in touch by breaking back twice as both players struggled with their serves.

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But that was all Benneteau could take from the first set as Ljubicic went on an incredible run from 2-2 to break twice more and collect the next four games and the set to two.

It was the same story in the second, with Benneteau continuing to struggle to find his rhythm, much to the frustration of the packed Court Chatrier, the vast majority of whom were urging their countryman on.

Poised at two games apiece once again in the second set, Ljubicic powered a forehand past the advancing Benneteau to win a lengthy game, and with that, there was a sense that the Frenchman's hopes of causing a major upset took a nosedive.

TENNIS - 2006 Roland Garros - Benneteau 1/4F

Image credit: Reuters

NO WAY BACK

And it proved to be the case, as he dropped his serve twice more to lose the second set by the same scoreline as the first - 6-2.

Benneteau tired in the third, and it showed as Ljubicic got both his forehand and serve going to devastating effect. The Croat powered down 13 aces - some at frightening speeds - and scored 37 winners to his opponent's one solitary ace and 13 winners.

TENNIS - 2006 Roland Garros - Ljubicic against Benneteau

Image credit: Reuters

Despite Ljubicic's dominance in the final set, Benneteau did finally manage to break past the two game barrier with a held service game to pull back to

3-5 just as it seemed likely that he would drop the third set by the same scoreline as the previous two.

But he was not to trouble the scorekeepers again, as Ljubicic took the match on the first of three match points during the next game with a forehand into the corner that his opponent could only return into the net.

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