Ljubicic Plans with Ancic Over

Ivan Ljubicic, close friend and former Davis Cup captain to Mario Ancic, led to compliments for the Croatian who has been forced to accept his tennis career is over at the premature age of 26

“It’s terrible,” said Ljubicic who was with Ancic during the Davis Cup tie againt Germany in Krefeld four years ago when the mononucleosis first surfaced. “ This is ‘the’ worst way for one sportsman to finish the career.

“Fortunately Mario has a law degree and he’s  practicing already .  His life, it will go on and he chose a new direction.  He’s no even 27 yet so it is terrible.

“We had great plans for our future. Together we achieved so much at such early stages of our career.  It was just incredibly unfortunate to finish it that way. But it’s not only mono, because then the latest one was the back problem which apparently is really bad.”

Ljubcic was last with Ancic during the ATP World Tour event in Zagreb earlier this month. “ Before that, I guess it was in September, October,” he said.  “But we are in touch all the time.

“I didn’t bother asking him too much how he was, because I knew the answer.  It was not good,. It’s not been good last three years. We all felt that it was coming.  When it’s definite, when it’s official, it’s just terrible.”

Ljubicic was forced to retire from his first round match against Sergi Bubka Jr. in the Dubai Duty Free Championships because of an injury to his lower right leg.

Bob Larson, www.tennisnews.com