Ljubicic Fails to Hold Serve or Hold Off Chela

NEW YORK, Sep 2 - Juan Ignacio Chela was reeling in the fifth set of today’s third-round match against Ivan Ljubicic. The former world No. 3 had just broken Chela in his last two service games, and was looking to tighten the noose further the next time the Argentine served. But there was one big problem for Ljubicic. The Croat had dug himself in such a deep hole – losing the first five games of the set – before any of this transpired. Ljubicic needed to play flawless tennis just to stay alive, but when he got his serve broken for the fourth time in the final set, it was game, set and match Chela – 6-4, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The contrast between Ljubicic’s and Chela’s games was very apparent, even during the warm-up. Chela hit his practice shots with heavy spin and pace, while Ljubicic opted for safer ground strokes and slice backhands that merely kept the point going. The more offensive approach prevailed early on, as Chela won the first set after nearly an hour of play. The conservative tennis from Ljubicic afforded Chela plenty of opportunities to go for winners, which he succeeded on more times than not.

This match could have been over quickly if this pattern continued, but Ljubicic relied on his serve to bail him out. In the second set, Ljubicic was much more consistent with his first serve, and started to rack up aces with serves that neared 140 mph. Ivan struck 25 aces in total on the day, with only four double faults.

Chela would not go down easily though, as Ljubicic was unable to break his own serve. A tiebreak was required to decide the second set, which went to Ljubicic after Chela missed an approach shot while rushing toward the net. Chela did well at net on the day, winning 24 of 36 points when approaching, but not in this decisive point, which is what the second set boiled down to.

Winning the tiebreak inspired Ljubicic, who went on to win the third set with ease. For the first time in the match, Ljubicic held the upper hand, thanks to numerous volleys at net that rattled the previously calm Chela. Ljubicic’s net stats were also impressive, as he won 35 of 51 points when approaching, including seven of eight points in the third set.

But not to be outdone was the 20th ranked Chela, who kept the match going by taking the fourth set in 36 minutes. Each player held serve until the eighth game, when Chela finally halted the Croat’s run of service dominance. Chela needed to be patient and wait for his opportunity, but it came in the form of a screaming cross-court backhand that awakened the Argentine. Leading 5-3, Chela held serve as the match went to a fifth set.

After three hours of play, both players showed fatigue at times. But it was Ljubicic who was most affected, dropping the opening game in the fifth set, along with his next two service games. It was a completely different Ljubicic on court than earlier on, and quickly, Chela led 5-0. The Grandstand crowd was excited at the prospect of a monumental comeback after Ljubicic won the next three games, but it was too much of a deficit in the end, as Chela upset the 12th seed in three hours and 43 minutes.

Chela reaches the fourth round of the US Open for the second time in his career, where he’ll face the winner of Robby Ginepri and Stanislaus Wawrinka.