Ljubicic reaches third successive Zagreb Indoor final

Top seed Ivan Ljubicic reached the Zagreb Indoor final for the third year in a row by beating fellow Croat Mario Ancic 7-6 6-4 on Friday.

Ljubicic next meets unseeded Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine, who ousted Italian Simone Bolelli 6-4 6-4 to qualify for his first ATP final.

The 28-year-old Ljubicic won here in 2006 and was beaten in the final a year later by Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

The world number 25 swept through the first set tiebreak 7-2 before wrapping up victory over the unseeded Ancic after a single break of serve in the second.

“It was a difficult match and I knew small details would decide it,” Ljubicic told reporters.

“It is always special to play before a home crowd and I hope I will win tomorrow.”

Stakhovsky, 21, underlined his status as the tournament’s surprise package by downing the unseeded Bolelli.

The Ukrainian, ranked 209th in the world, only qualified for the event as a ‘lucky loser’ after Michael Llodra of France withdrew.