Ljubicic beats Davydenko to reach final

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb 25 (Reuters) Ivan Ljubicic overcame a slow start to stun top seed Nikolay Davydenko 4-6 7-6 7-6 in the semi-final of the World Indoor Tournament.

The Croat will be contesting his third final of the season against Davydenko's compatriot Mikhail Youzhny, who survived three match points to upset Novak Djokovic 3-6 7-6 7-5.

Ljubicic lost the first set after dropping his opening service game 24 blistering aces helped on his way to victory.

The Croatian missed his chance to serve out the match at 5-4 as he was broken by the world number three but made no mistake in the tiebreak.

''It was a close game against a great player,'' Ljubicic told reporters yesterday.

''(But) it was stupid of me not to convert one of the three match points I had serving for the match.'' Should he win his first title in Rotterdam, Ljubicic promised to buy every spectator attending the final a drink but knew he will have a tough outing tomorrow.

''I am leading 6-0 against Youzhny but they were all close matches and even some with match points for him,'' added the Croatian, who lost the 2005 final against Roger Federer.

In the other compelling semi-final, fifth seed Djokovic broke Youzhny's serve in the sixth game of the first set to take the lead.

The Serbian then took the second set into a tiebreak but he failed to convert a match point leading 7-6 and Youzhny pounced.

In the third set Djokovic built up an early 3-0 lead but the 24-year-old Russian, who beat his opponent in Marseille in three sets earlier this month, broke Djokovic's serve twice to claim victory after surviving two more match points.

''Last week I beat Djokovic in Marseille and that helped me today when I was a break down in third set,'' Youzhny told reporters.

''It was a tough match but sometimes in a tournament it is better to play matches like this on your way to the final.'' Djokovic was frustrated by losing to the Russian again.

''I am still thinking about where it went wrong but Mikhail really deserved to be in the final,'' said the Serbian, who triumphed in Adelaide last month.

''I am very satisfied with my performance and believe the match we played was the best of the tournament.'' Reuters SBA RN0437