Argentine schools Ljubicic

The final round robin match of the Red Group for both players, failed to live up to expectation as Nalbandian recorded a 6-2 6-2 victory that ensured the 23-year-old a place in the semi-finals.

"I think today I feel I played one of my best matches indoors," said Nalbandian. "If I could play like that all the time of course my ranking would be higher.

"I wish I could play like that more often but it's not easy."

While Ljubicic had won their Madrid Masters semi-final last month, the Croat was completely outplayed by Nalbandian - a late replacement for Andy Roddick - in 67 minutes.

With three breaks of serve in the first set for Nalbandian, it was difficult to understand how Ljubicic had gone 81 service games unchallenged between title charges in Metz and Vienna through to a quarter-final with Fernando Gonzalez in Madrid.

Even with a first serve percentage of 67% - considered above average on the men's tour - Ljubicic struggled with Nalbandian's fluid all-court game.

Ljubicic earned one break in the sixth game of the first set to avoid the bagel, but there ended his competitive spirit. He hit 22 unforced errors in total.

Nalbandian, the world number 12, sealed the opener in 34 minutes and went on to break 26-year-old Ljubicic in the third and fifth games of the second set.

The 2002 Wimbledon finalist rounded out a comprehensive second win of the week minutes later to book a place in the last four on Saturday.

"He was playing unbelievable," said a dejected Ljubicic. "It's just disappointing to run out of gas a couple of metres from the finish line. Today I couldn't do anything.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of - he was playing unbelievable," said the towering Croatian. "I was serving 220 (km/h) and the balls were coming back like I was serving 120."

Ljubicic, who also lost to Federer on Tuesday, had been trying to become the first Croatian to reach the semi-finals of the year-ending championships since Goran Ivanisevic in 1996.

Now a holiday and time to regroup must surely beckon.

It is a certainty that the player who has almost single-handedly taken Croatia to the Davis Cup final with victories over the United States, Romania and Russia, will need to be on top form against the likes of Slovak Dominik Hrbaty and friends in Bratislava from 2 December. Pilic will be banking on it.