Nadal shrugs off Ljubicic loss at Indian Wells as a blip

INDIAN WELLS, California - Rafael Nadal described his stunning semifinal loss to Ivan Ljubicic on Saturday as an "accident", and felt he had been playing close to his best at the Indian Wells ATP tournament.

The Spanish world No 3 was upset 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 by the big-serving Croat at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after he had squandered three break points in the sixth game of the second set to lead 4-2.

"That was an accident today," Nadal said after failing in his bid to win a third title at Indian Wells in four years. "That's my feeling because I was playing (well) enough to win the tournament.