''If I knew what my problem was, I'd work on it!''

By: Katarina TEPESH

NEW YORK - During 2005, the headline blasted, ''Ljubicic cracks the World Top 10!''. Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, who has been playing on the tennis circuit for 11 years, this year has accumulated 3,315 points and is currently ranked the No. 3 best player in the world according to the ATP Association of Tennis Players' ranking system.

Only two other players have a higher ranking: No. 2 Rafael Nadal 4,625 points and No. 1 in the world, Roger Federer, 7,295 points.   

A No. 3 seed has to be formidable, and the 27-year-old Ljubicic most certainly is, thanks to his very powerful serve. Grand Slams, however, have been his bane, which is surprising for a man who has performed so admirably for Croatia in the Davis Cup competition.

Ljubicic has never progressed past the third round of the US Open and, unlike Federer and Nadal, he has never won any of the four Grand Slams.

At this year's US Open, which commenced on Monday, Ljubicic lost in the first round against unseeded Spanish player Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. So what happened?

''It's really hard for me to explain,'' said Ljubicic. ''Obviously, if I had an explanation, I would try to do something differently.''

For weeks prior to the tennis tournament, Ljubicic kept saying to reporters, ''the US Open is my favorite tournament.''

Even after the loss, Ljubicic said, ''During practice, I felt really good, without any physical problems. But Lopez is a left hander and I had problems with him in the past, losing to him twice. Lopez served extremely well. His pace, precision, accuracy, he was slicing his backhand, keeping the ball low, his forehand is a pretty good shot.''

Statistically, Ljubicic had 13 aces to Lopez's 11, but Ljubicic's total points won during the game was only 65 in comparison to Lopez's 87.

The obvious question was put to Ljubicic: 'Do you think that you have under performed in Grand Slams compared to other tournaments?'

''I think so, yes. Definitely!'' the gentle giant replied, then added, ''Why? Well, I don't know. If I knew the reason why then I would work on it,'' commented Ljubicic, alluding to the complexity and fascination of professional tennis.

Ljubicic is a rarity among the top players. Since 1997 he did not changed his coach, Italian Riccardo Piatti. Critics speculate that perhaps with another coach and a sports psychologist, Ljubicic might have reached No. 3 sooner and with more confidence.   

Professional tennis ushered in the 21st century with the debut of instant replay technology. Used in March in Key Biscayne tennis tournament, the innovation was a hit. Ljubicic commented, ''I think it definitely worked out well. I think it's a good change.''

Ljubicic has accumulated career prizemoney in excess of $6 million, and for tax purposes - as a result - he officially resides in Monaco.

Ljubicic married Aida in 2004. Both were refuges from their native Bosnia during the war in the mid 1990's, their families eventually finding shelter in a Rijeka hotel. Now the two travel the world together and like to spend their holidays on the Croatian island of Brijuni.

Ivan and Aida financially support the zoo located on Brijuni, specifically the enormous expense of feeding the 'local' elephants, which were a gift from India way back in the 1970s to the communist dictator, Tito.  

Ljubicic also enjoys scuba diving with his wife and takes diving holidays every year at the end of the arduous professional tennis season.

His rather interesting life story can be viewed on his web site: www.ivan-ljubicic.com