Great Tennis Photos: Ivan Ljubicic Upsets Rafael Nadal, Will Face Roddick in Indian Wells Final

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Ivan Ljubicic defeated defending champion Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open.

“Probably the best I've ever played in my career,” said Ljubicic, who will play for his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title on Sunday. “I enjoyed it, really… Great, great moment, and the fourth Masters finals, four different Masters, so I hope this one, it's finally gonna be the victory.”

“I think that [sixth] game in the second set when I served down love/40 was the key to the match,” said Ljubicic. “After I relaxed a little bit I started to play more aggressive, and that was it. I think he played some incredible points. I felt like, ‘What is this?’ I mean half volleys, winners off the baseline. It was impressive. I knew if I keep serving well and playing aggressive with my service games I would have a chance maybe in the end to win.”

If he capture the title, Ljubicic will become the first Croat to win this tournament. And he will also become the second-oldest winner in Indian Wells at 31 years, 2 days, since 1984 when Jimmy Connors was 31 years, 5 months.

“I would love to have that win tomorrow, because it would mean the world to me,” he said. “I really feel like 2005, 2006 when I played my best tennis I deserved that one Masters [1000]. Tomorrow I'm gonna have another chance to go for it.”

Nadal afterwords described his defeat as an "accident", adding:

“That was an accident today,” said Nadal. “That's my feeling because I was playing enough well to win the tournament. It was an important accident, and I have to learn to try to play more aggressive next time and try to convert the opportunities. But I am happy how I did after the stop [with] being at home a few weeks and [it’s] not easy come back and play with this level, no?”

With his loss, he will slip to No. 4 from No. 3 in next week's South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings and Andy Murray will move to No. 3 (from 4).

Ljubicic will play seventh seed Andy Roddick in todfay's final after the American beat Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 3-6 6-3.

(via BNP Paribas Open, photo/Getty Images)