In Saturday's final at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Friday, French wild card Nicolas Escude meets Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic for the third time in their careers. The Frenchman has won both previous meetings, in Moscow in 2002 on carpet and in Rotterdam in 2001 on hard courts. Escude has never dropped a set during his victories over the Croat.
Escude is playing his first tournament since recovering from a hip injury that had ruled him out of action since Wimbledon. This will be his sixth career ATP final (3-2).
Escude is playing in Doha for the third time. He reached the semifinals in 2001, falling to Bohdan Ulihrach 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(9).
Ljubicic will be playing his second ATP final. He won his first career title in Lyon in 2001. Last year, he reached the semifinals at four events in Milan, Dubai, Bangkok and Basel. He also reached the quarterfinals in TMS Roma, allowing him to end the year No. 41 in the ATP Champions Race.
The winner of the tournament will be the first leader of the ATP Champions Race 2004.
I cant see Nico losing this one, from reports Ljubicic did not win against Henman, Henman simply lost the game through lots of mistakes and missed opportunites. Escude has shown that he can handle the big serving croat and the ease with which escude has made the final would suggest he is hitting some good form, no doubt the product of a very long and thorough preparation since his injury woes. Only way I can see Ljubicic taking this one is if he constantly holds serve and hoped to get the edge in tie breakers.
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