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Croatian Ivan Ljubicic captured the Lyon Grand Prix title on Sunday. He crushed Michael Llodra of France by 7-5, 6-3 to earn his first ATP title in 2 years.
The World number 29 Ljubicic had earned his last title at the Den Bosch Open in 2007 and was the only non-Frenchman to advance into the quarter-finals.Both Ljubicic and Llodra made strong serves, until Llodra collapsed in the 12th game.
Ljubicic's service returns finally earned him the opening set.
A forehand return gave Llodra the early break in the second set, but the Frenchman won five games in a row. Ljubicic sealed a straightforward victory on his first match point with a service winner.
Ljubicic said after his win, “I am very happy. The emotions are coming up now.”
"I have been struggling with injuries lately, so I will enjoy this title as much as I can. My wife is here, my family is around so I will celebrate but unfortunately, I have to run to Basel next week," he added.
The 30-year-old Ljubicic said that the title would make a perfect gift for his son's first birthday."It's a special place for me. I won my first title here in 2001 and here is my first title as a father," he said.
"It's his first birthday in four days and it's the best present I could offer to him," he added.
