Guga Bids a Fond Farewell

Two-time former champion Gustavo Kuerten bid a fond farewell to Masters Series Monte-Carlo Presented by Rolex on Monday, when the Brazilian was beaten by local resident Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-2 on Court Central.

Wild-carded Kuerten, who was appearing at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the first time in three years, never produced his vintage form and won just eight points on return of serve in first round clash that lasted 52 minutes.

For Ljubicic it was a first career win over the former World No. 1 in almost seven years. The 29-year-old had previously beaten Kuerten at Lyon in 2001.

Kuerten clinched the 1999 (d. Rios) and 2001 (d. Arazi) Monte-Carlo singles titles and now travels to Barcelona, where the 31-year-old will make his fifth appearance. He will retire from the ATP circuit after Roland Garros, where he is a three-time titlist.

Ljubicic, currently No. 29 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, will next meet World No. 3 Novak Djokovic – this season’s Australian Open and ATP Masters Series Indian Wells winner from Serbia. Ljubicic won their only meeting at Zagreb in 2006.

Click here to view more videos of Masters Series Monte-Carlo