Former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic limped out of the Eastbourne International on Thursday after injuring his ankle in a heavy fall.
Four days before Wimbledon begins the tall Croatian winced in agony as he was helped off court by a trainer after being forced out of his quarter-final against fourth-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.
Ljubicic, who has dropped to No. 30 in the world after being troubled by back and hamstring injuries last year, had won the first set 6-3 and was 2-4 down in the second.
Racing to the net to reach one of Santoro’s trademark delicate shots, he skidded on the grass, fell and cried out in agony, clutching his left ankle. Santoro, playing his last year on the ATP Tour at the age of 36, threw off his cap, dropped his racket and ran to the court-side freezer to fetch bags of ice which he applied to Ljubicic’s ankle while officials summoned the trainer.
Ljubicic’s retirement gave Santoro a place in the semi-finals of the new men’s event. He next plays Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic who beat Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Second seed Dmitry Tursunov of Russia will meet Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Friday’s second semi-final.
Tursunov, the world No. 27, put out Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 7-6, 6-4 while eighth seed Garcia-Lopez saw off a late fightback to defeat Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Virginie Razzano upset defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 (5), 7-5 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals.
Marion Bartoli defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Razzano.
Sixth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki swept past Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2, the only remaining seed in the women’s draw.
Wozniacki will face Aleksandra Wozniak, who took just 45 minutes to oust former finalist Vera Dushevina 6-1, 6-0.
■ORDINA OPEN
AP, DEN BOSCH, NETHERLANDS
Ivan Navarro beat defending champion David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Ordina Open grass court tournament.
Ferrer repeatedly threatened his fellow Spaniard’s service but could not convert any of the five break points he forced in the match.
Navarro next plays Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, who dispatched Dudi Sela of Israel 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance.
Mario Ancic was the last player to successfully defend his Ordina Open title in 2006.
Qualifier Benjamin Becker, who beat top-seeded Fernando Verdasco in the second round, advanced by edging 2004 winner Michael Llodra 7-6 (6), 7-5. Becker will play fourth-seeded Rainer Schuettler in an all-German semi-final.
Schuettler overpowered No. 7 seeded Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (11).
In the women’s event, top-seeded Dinara Safina defeated No. 6 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to set up a semi-final clash with Los Angeles-born Tamarine Tanasugarn, the Russian’s conqueror in last year’s final.
Tanasugarn of Thailand dismissed third-seeded Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to advance.
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