Ljubicic powers into French Open semi-final

PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) Big-serving Ivan Ljubicic powered into his first grand slam semi-final when he ended French hope Julien Benneteau's run at the French Open with a clinical 6-2 6-2 6-3 win today.

The Croatian fourth seed will face defending champion Rafael Nadal for a place in the final.

Benneteau, whose main ambition was to keep the ball in play, held serve for the first time when he levelled at 2-2 in the second set, only for Ljubicic to win the next four games and seal a two-set lead.

The Croatian decisively broke to love for 4-2 in the decider when Benneteau double-faulted, before wrapping up the match after two hours 14 minutes.

The result means it will be the first time since 1985 that the French Open semi-finals will feature all four top seeds.

Spain's Nadal reached the last four after Serbian Novak Djokovic pulled out of their quarter-final with a back injury when two sets to love down.

REUTERS DH BST2109