INDIAN WELLS, California – Ivan Ljubicic rode his big serve to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal on Saturday and a berth in the BNP Paribas Open final.
Ljubicic will play Andy Roddick in the final after the American outlasted Robin Soderling, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Jelena Jankovic and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki will play for the women’s title Sunday.
Ljubicic served 17 aces – giving him 64 in the tournament – and overcame 51 unforced errors to end a five-match losing streak against the world’s third-ranked player.
The Croatian upset second-ranked Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 and is in position to win an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time after three runner-up showings, the last in 2006 at Miami.
“I hope this one is going to finally be the victory,” he said.
Nadal was trying to end an 11-tournament title drought. He hasn’t won since last May in Rome after being hampered by knee injuries last summer and at the Australian Open. (AP)