The next time Andy Murray is asked whether he is running out of time to win a grand slam title, he may well refer to Ivan Ljubicic.

The Croatian's career appeared to be on the wane as he entered his 30s after a lengthy spell in the top 10.

Ljubicic peaked at number three in the world in 2006 and he had won a respectable nine titles on the ATP World Tour.

Then this month he suddenly produced the best two weeks of his tennis life to win his maiden Masters Series title in Indian Wells.

It may not be as big as a grand slam but successive victories over Novak Djokovic, Juan Monaco, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick would be enough to win most titles.

At 31, Ljubicic was the oldest first-time winner of a Masters event and the second oldest champion at Indian Wells behind Jimmy Connors in 1984.

The Croatian, who had lost his three previous Masters finals, greeted his victory in a close match against Roddick with a mixture of disbelief and happiness.

Reflecting on his achievement, Ljubicic said: "Looking at my career in general, I did feel like I was missing it.

"It's a really fantastic feeling to finally have it. It gives something special to your career. It's just another thing that makes everything look better."

One of the many players whose trophy haul has undoubtedly suffered through playing in the same era as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Ljubicic has generally flown under the radar despite being ranked in the top 10 from October 2005 to May 2007.

He was born in Bosnia but moved to Croatia at the age of 13 because of the war in his homeland and later decided to play Davis Cup for his adopted country.

Indeed, Ljubicic lost only one rubber as Croatia collected the Davis Cup trophy for the first time in their history in 2005.

Although the big-serving right-hander has been one of the most consistent players of the last decade - he has been ranked inside the top 100 since 1999 - he has struggled to make any impression on tennis' biggest stage.

By far his best grand slam performances came in 2006, when he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and then went one better in Paris.

Ljubicic's ranking began to slide towards the end of the 2007 season and in June last year he dropped to 75th in the world.

Rumours of his imminent retirement circulated but the Croatian was not finished - as he proved so emphatically in California.

A quarter-final appearance at the Masters Series event in Shanghai was followed by the ninth singles title of his career in Lyon.

That took him back into the top 30 and, after making it lucky number 13 with his Indian Wells coup, he now has his sights set on a return to the top 10 and even qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

"I want to fight for London and try to finish top 10 another year," he said. "But it's not going to be easy, that's for sure.

"I have to be realistic enough and try to steal maybe seventh or eighth spot from younger guys who might be injured or not fit and not consistent enough.

"But it's a long season in front of us, so who knows what it's going to bring us?"