Ljubicic limps out of Eastbourne after fall

By Clare Fallon

EASTBOURNE, England (Reuters) - Former world number three 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, to applause from the Devonshire Park crowd, after being forced out of his quarter-final against fourth-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

Ljubicic, who has dropped to 30th 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.

TRAINER SUMMONED

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.

Tour officials said the Croatian, who has never gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon, would have an MRI scan later on Thursday.