Nadal Falls to Ljubicic: Still a Server’s Game When You Serve Like Ivan

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at Internationaled.org

Published: March 20, 2010

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Rafael Nadal made his long awaited return to competitive tennis after a scare that saw him retire against Andy Murray at the Australian Open due to pain in his recently suspect knees.

With the disappointment of injury and drop in rankings far behind him, Nadal came into Indian Wells determined to prove his doubters wrong and defend his title. Over the past week and a half, fans were treated to a new and seemingly improved Rafael Nadal. One who was moving like his old self, but with a new, more aggressive mentality. He was hitting the ball harder, keeping points shorter and cruising through the field.

His first real test came in the form of 6'9 John Isner, the man many deemed was unbreakable. Despite dropping a set Nadal came out of that match more comfortably than he could have hoped to, winning both his sets without the need of a tie-break.

He then went on to face an in-form Thomas Berdych, a player who in the past had caused problems for Nadal by overpowering and dictating play. It was Nadal, however, who would dictate and overpower in their latest encounter, coming through in straight sets.

At this point, it seemed as though Nadal had done all the hard work and was a lock for his third final appearance in four years. I mean, what could Ivan Ljubicic throw at him that Isner and Berdych hadn't already?

From the get go it seemed like "nothing" was the answer. Getting broken in his first service game and again in his fifth, Ljubicic was simply out-classed surrendering the first set 6-3 without making much of an impression on the Nadal serve. Despite hitting the occasional ace here and there, Ljubicic found himself working very hard just to win a few games on his own serve. It was looking like the most routine of matches for Nadal. 

Things would change in the second set however, as Ljubicic began taking more risk...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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