The former world no.3 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia played the last professional tennis match of his career as he lost to fellow countryman Ivan Dodig 6-3 6-0 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Rolex Tennis Masters.
The tournament board prepared a post-match ceremony for the Croatian, attended by the ATP Executive Chairman & Presinden Brad Drewett and tournament director Zeljko Franulovic.
Ljubicic won 10 ATP World Tour title during his career, including the Indian Wells Tennis Masters in 2010, where he defeated Andy Roddick. He also reached the 2006 Roland Garros semis, going out to the later winner Nadal.
“I think this is the first time that I’m not happy that I won the match. I’m happy and proud that I played the match against such a good player who made history, especially for Croatian people, Croatian tennis.” said Dodig after the match.
6 time Roland Garros champion Nadal is the defending champion and will try to win the Monte Carlo Masters title for the eighth time this year. It would be his first tour-title win since he defeated the Swiss Federer in last year’s French Open final.
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