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Indian Wells, California. Ivan Ljubicic rode his big serve to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal on Saturday and a berth in the BNP Paribas Open final.

Ljubicic will play Andy Roddick in the final after the American outlasted Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Ljubicic served 17 aces and overcame 51 unforced errors to end a five-match losing streak against the world’s third-ranked player. The Croatian upset second-ranked Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 and is in position to win an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time after three runner-up showings, the last in 2006 at Miami.

“I hope this is going to finally be the victory,” he said.

Nadal appeared unbeatable in the opening set, powering forehands out of Ljubicic’s reach.

However, the lefty’s best stroke deserted him at times in the second set, when Ljubicic broke for a 5-4 lead on Nadal’s double-fault. The Croatian served out the set and then broke again to open the third.

“He was missing more when it was important. He overhit a couple of balls,” Ljubicic said. “I didn’t feel he was in control of the points. I felt if I can find the rhythm of the returns, I can have a match.”

Nadal broke back in the next game, but he later blew a break point to go up 5-3. Ljubicic held with an ace to tie it 4-all. Both players stayed on serve to force the tiebreak, where Nadal committed four errors to fall behind 6-1.

Ljubicic won on his first match point, sending a forehand down the line. He jumped in the air and thrust his right fist in celebration a day after his 31st birthday.

“Today was probably the best tiebreaker I have ever played in my career,” he said. “Absolutely perfect.”

He could become the first 30-or-over player since Andre Agassi in 2001 to win at Indian Wells. Agassi is also the last American to win the singles at Indian Wells.

Roddick will play his first Indian Wells final after losing in the semifinals three times, including last year to Nadal.

“This is probably the only real big tournament in North America that I haven’t won,” he said. “I feel like the crowd was on my side and I would hope they’re there tomorrow. They certainly have an effect on a match.”

  Tennis

Associated Press