Nadal for Ivan the terrible.

                                                              Ivan Ljubicic younger.

At age 31, Ivan Ljubicic said regain all his feelings. Qualified for the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 Indian Wells, Croatian regain Rafael Nadal on his way.

That was three years (Miami 2007) Ivan Ljubicic had not reached the last four Masters in 1000. On the eve of its 31 years, former World No. 3 has offered a gift by dominating the surprising Juan Monaco (4 / 6 6 / 2 6 / 1). Despite having lost the first set, the Croat did not panic, which quickly break in the second inning. "This allowed me to stay relaxed"Explained the seeded No. 20, which subsequently produced a tennis dream diverse. Everything happening: lobs, written off, stolen ... "I felt that I could put the ball where I wanted."Totally exceeded, the Argentine could only see the damage. As in his finest hours, Ljubicic, who has changed his physical trainer in the offseason, explained after his victory that he felt "almost unbeatable». «As in 2005, 2006, when I almost lost that against Roger (Federer). I feel again that I am ready to win big games, to beat anyone. 'This is fortunate, it now Rafael Nadal who stands in his way.

Nadal is at:
The Mallorcan is also confirmed that he returned to the fore after his umpteenth knee injury in Melbourne. Face Tomas Berdych, who won three of their five previous encounters on hard defending champion had to fight hard (2:11). Breakit entry, he was joined in the 8e game (4 / 4) while the Czech had wasted three balls débreak in a 5e Thurs marked by seven equalities. Nadal regained the advantage in the wake had concluded on his service (6 / 4). Pushed to the tiebreak in the second set, the No. 3 worldwide took advantage of a double-fault of its rival 4-4 to fold the case on his last two engagements (7-4). "It was a very big game. I played really well, especially in the first set. The eight, nine games were an incredible level (...) It's really good to find the semifinals here. It is true that Spanish is particularly comfortable in the California desert, having won 20 of the 21 games he has played ... Ljubicic is accused.

Quarter-finals:
Nadal (Esp, 3) - Berdych (CZE) 6 / 4 7 / 6
Ljubicic (Cro, 20) - Monaco (Arg, 21) 4 / 6 6 / 2 6 / 1