Lobbing 6’ 6" Sam Querrey may look as easy as leapfrogging a tree. But late in the third set today, Ivan Ljubicic showed some slick stick skills in summoning Querrey to net with a backhand drop shot, then lofting a lob volley that left the lanky Californian lunging at air. The shot typified Querrey’s plight: the No. 24 seed scraped his way around the red clay, but Ljubicic played over his head when it mattered most.
In a match that featured just two breaks of serve, the 32-year-old Croatian played clean tennis in quelling Querrey, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 to roll into the third round of Roland Garros for the fifth time in the last six years. Querrey continues to stumble at major hurdles: He has failed to surpass the second round in seven of his last 10 Grand Slam tournament appearances, and is now 1-5 at Roland Garros. The loss leaves Mardy Fish as the lone American man remaining in the men’s singles field.
Once written off as another aging, bald dad riding off into the inviting retirement sunset to spend time scuba diving with his family, Ljubicic completed a career-revitalizing run last year at Indian Wells, beating Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick to win his first Masters event. This year, at Roland Garros, he hasn’t surrendered a set through two rounds.
2006 French Open semifinalist, Ljubicic still owns a brilliant one-handed backhand that he wielded in befuddling Querrey. Ljubicic’s ability to lash that shot down the line, deliver slice backhands that slithered near Querrey’s shoelaces or play heavy, high topspin backhands to Querrey’s two-hander kept the American off balance and coerced Querrey to going for too much, when he got a good look at his favored forehand.
Tactically, this match came down to which man could impose his strength more effectively. Querrey is at his best running around his backhand to smack his forehand, while Ljubicic, who can leave his forehand short in the court against titanic thumpers, looked to expose the expanse of court Querrey often leaves open down the line. Mission accomplished.
Querrey, who imploded in an opening-round loss to compatriot Robby Ginepri last year that left him questioning his motivation, remained committed to the cause today, even after falling into a two-set sinkhole. But after scattering three forehand errors, Querrey double-faulted to hand Ljubicic the break and a 4-3 lead in the third set.
The 37th-ranked Ljubicic arrived in Paris with an 11-10 record on the season and had not won back-to-back matches since dispatching Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych to reach the Monte Carlo quarterfinals. He’ll next face either 16th-seeded Fernando Verdasco or Xavier Malisse for a spot in the round of 16. Ljubicic has won two of three meetings with the Spanish left-hander and has split four matches with Malisse.
—Richard Pagliaro