2005

ATP in Qatar

INTERNET
www.ATPtennis.com
www.qatartennis.org

TELEVISION
QTV             Monday-Saturday
Eurosport       Monday-Saturday

DRAWS
Log on to the Doha singles draw at: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2005/451/MDS.pdf
Log on to the Doha doubles draw at: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2005/451/MDD.pdf

RESULTS – SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2005

Singles – Final
(1)Roger Federer (SUI) d (6)Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 63 61

FINAL FACTS

• Top seed Roger Federer wins his 23rd career ATP title, in his 31st final, defeating No. 6 seed Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-1 in one hour, three minutes. It’s the eighth title from the past 10 tournaments Federer has played.
• The Swiss takes the early lead in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race winning 50 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race points. He won the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race after having been in the lead for 42 weeks, adding up a total of 1267 points.
• In the final, played in front of a packed house, Federer broke Ljubicic’s serve in the sixth game and then served out the set to 6-3. The Swiss dominated the second set, taking only 27 minutes, including breaking the Croat on three occasions. Ljubicic won only four points in the last four games.
• Federer defeated David Ferrer, Greg Rusedski, No. 7 seed Feliciano Lopez, No. 8 seed Nikolay Davydenko, and No. 6 seed Ivan Ljubicic in today’s final, on his way to the Doha title.
• Federer wins his 21st consecutive match going back to last season, and is one of only three players (Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg) since 1990 to win 20 or more matches at least twice.
• He also extends his Open Era (since 1968) record of being unbeaten in his last 14 finals going back to Vienna in 2003. He was previously tied with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe with 12 consecutive finals won.
• The 23-year-old Swiss held serve all 43 service games this week en route to the title, saving seven of seven break points.
• In addition to the 50 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race points, Federer picks up US$142,000.
• Playing in his second straight Doha final, No. 6 seeded Ljubicic was looking for his second career ATP title in his third final. Last year the 25-year-old Croat lost in straight sets to Frenchman Nicolas Escude in the final. He is now holding an 8-2 record in Qatar.
• Ljubicic wins US$83,600 and 35 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race points.
  

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:

Federer: “I think it’s a great start to the season coming here to Doha. I’m very happy to lead the [INDESIT ATP 2005] Race already after the first week.”

“In a way this victory is surprising. Of course I was the big favorite so I knew that if somebody beats me here it’s a big upset. But it’s the first tournament of the year, you never know what is going to happen. Now to have won it is a relief. Also I feel the pressure coming into these tournaments being a huge favorite.”

“By winning the first set, I think I broke his belief and that’s exactly what I wanted. For me the match went like planned, I never lost my serve, I won the first set, like this I put more pressure on my opponent.”

“There are many questions before your first round match. Once your first match is over you get into the rhythm, where you don’t actually ask yourself those questions any longer. I think it’s good that this is gone now, so when I approach the Australian Open now I’m fine. I know that I’m playing well, I know how to play. Because in the beginning of the season there is always this little doubt in your mind.”

Ljubicic: “I think I played good but after losing the first set, where I felt I played really well, his confidence was growing. My serve wasn’t helping me at all today and then it’s really tough. He is a tricky player, obviously he is the best in the world. He knows how to deal with the different situations on court.”

“I think I played well today. I had some chances, especially in the first set. I could’t serve that well, I was a little stiff physically. I spent a lot of energy in the early rounds, and he wasn’t. But I have to be very satisfied with this week.

I didn’t expect to reach the final but I have to say but I was playing some great tennis this week.”

RESULTS – FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2005

Singles – Semifinals
(1)R Federer (SUI) d (8)N Davydenko (RUS) 63 64
(6)I Ljubicic (CRO) d A Costa (ESP) 63 76(4)

Doubles – Final
Costa/Nadal d Pavel/Youzhny 63 46 63

RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2005

Singles - Second Round
(1)R Federer (SUI) d G Rusedski (GBR) 63 64
(3)S Grosjean (FRA) d H Lee (KOR) 63 60
(6)I Ljubicic (CRO) d (WC)M Lopez (ESP) 61 64
(7)F Lopez (ESP) d (Q)U Vico (ITA) 62 76(6)
(8)N Davydenko (RUS) d K Beck (SVK) 76(2) 62
R Nadal(ESP) d F Verdasco (ESP) 62 64
A Costa (ESP) d (Q)M Chiudinelli (SUI) 63 62
F Santoro (FRA) d (WC)G Monfils (FRA) 62 46 75 - saved one M.P.

Doubles - Quarterfinals
Andreev/Davydenko d (1)Suk/Vizner 63 60
(2)Mahut/Santoro d Waske/Wassen 16 63 64
Costa/Nadal d (4)Cermak/Friedl 64 62
Pavel/Youzhny d Gaudio/Lopez 76(2) 64

RESULTS – TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2005

Singles - First Round
(WC)G Monfils (FRA) d (2)G Gaudio (ARG) 64 76(4)
(3)S Grosjean (FRA) d G Muller (LUX) 76(3) 62
R Nadal (ESP) d (4)M Youzhny (RUS) 63 76(3)
(Q)M Chiudinelli (SUI) d (5)A Pavel (ROM) 75 67(8) 64
(8)N Davydenko (RUS) d I Karlovic (CRO) 76(7) 63
K Beck (SVK) d I Andreev (RUS) 63 64
F Verdasco (ESP) d (WC)M Abdulla (QAT) 62 62
A Costa (ESP) d D Sanchez (ESP) 63 64
F Santoro (FRA) d T Johansson (SWE) 64 62

Doubles - First Round
(1)Suk/Vizner d Cibulec/Coetzee 64 75
(4)Cermak/Friedl d Beck/Lee 60 64
Andreev/Davydenko d Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 60 76(5)