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Q. Did this match go pretty much as you thought it would? Did you think this match developed pretty much the way you thought it would, a test of your shot‑making against his speed and his shot‑making as well? IVAN LJUBICIC: Well, more or less, it's what I expected, of course, him fighting, running for every ball; when he could, taking control of the point. Yes, more or less, that was it. Q. I know you're obviously very disappointed with the end result, but it did look as if you played an outstanding match from the word "go." Is it pretty demoralizing when he's getting everything back? IVAN LJUBICIC: No, it's not demoralizing, that. Many other things are demoralizing. Not him running around. That's what you have to expect when you're playing against him. It's just that that's his game, you know. If you go out there and think that he's not gonna get it back, something that you don't expect and you are not in good position. Q. Was there anything that you were unhappy about with Rafael's play today? You looked a little bit unhappy with things at the end of the match. IVAN LJUBICIC: Oh, no. I was just disappointed that I lost the match. Q. You weren't worried about the amount of time he was taking between points? IVAN LJUBICIC: That's not my issue. That's umpire's problem. I am surprised how much they let him do it, because, you know, they give him one time violation, but didn't seem like change something. I think the umpire should be more aggressive on that because it's ridiculous how much time he takes between points. Q. He was only warned once. IVAN LJUBICIC: My feeling is that the umpire does it just that he can say he did it and then, you know, nothing anymore, because it's not like something change after that. He just kept doing what he was doing. Q. Why do you take so many risk in the tiebreaker at 5‑3 in the second ball? IVAN LJUBICIC: I felt I can go for it. I made couple. I missed that one. It was bad decision. After we realized that. But if I made it, it would be perfect decision. Q. After the final in Rome, Roger Federer was complaining that Toni Nadal was coaching his nephew from the player's box. Did you have any experience like that today? IVAN LJUBICIC: No, not today. I have to say that, I mean, it's too far away, you cannot say. But I had bad experience in Miami when I lost to him. Toni was telling him a lot what to do, yes. But not today. Today, maybe yes. The stadium is so big, you cannot realize that. In Miami we played on a grandstand, so it's so small you can actually hear everything. Q. Do you feel that you were at your maximum in the first two sets, because you play much more better in the third? IVAN LJUBICIC: Well, you know, it takes time actually to realize how to play first and, second, to adjust also because it's the first lefty in a while for me. And also, you know, I have to adjust my serve as well. I think in the third set I served much better, much smarter and everything. It does take a little time. I think I had chances in the first actually when I broke him back, and I had chances maybe to rebreak him again to get to 4‑All or maybe 5‑All. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. But second set was clear for him. And the third set, I played good set but unfortunately didn't make my chances. Q. Do you have an opinion about what may happen in the final on Sunday, and do you care who wins? IVAN LJUBICIC: Well, I would love
to see Roger win it. I think everybody will because it would be
nice. He is the best player probably ever in tennis and it would be, I think,
nice to see him lifting the trophy here. Visit the Ivan Ljubicic page here
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