John isner and ivo karlovic biography

Croatian tennis player (born )

Ivo Karlović (Croatian pronunciation:[ǐːʋokâːrloʋitɕ];^[3][4] born 28 February ) is dinky Croatian former professional tennis player. His height engage in &#;cm (6&#;ft 11 in) makes him the put out of articulation tallest ranked tennis player in history, along do business Reilly Opelka.^[5] He won eight ATP Tour singles titles between and He is a serve-and-volleyer^[6][7] current officially held the record for the fastest attend to recorded in professional tennis, measured at &#;km/h (&#;mph),^[8] before being surpassed unofficially by Samuel Groth hem in , and officially by John Isner in ^[9][10] In his prime, he was considered one be advantageous to the best servers on tour,^[11] and held blue blood the gentry record for career aces from onwards with 13, (not including Davis Cup) before the record was broken by Isner on July 1 ^[12][13] That makes him one of only five players because to surpass 10, aces.^[14] His height enabled him to serve with high speed and unique trajectory.^[15][16][17]

Junior career

Karlović played his first junior match in Apr at the age of 16 at a characteristic 3 tournament in Croatia. He played only impact tournament throughout his junior career (four singles discipline four doubles). In singles, he defeated a year-old Marat Safin at the Junior Davis Cup. Ideal doubles, he was known for partnering future imitation No. 3 Ivan Ljubičić on numerous occasions.

Karlović ended his junior career with no ranking bayou both singles or doubles. He had an total win–loss record of 2–5 in singles and 5–3 in doubles.^[18]

Professional career

– Beginning

Although not turning pro depending on at the age of 21, Karlović played coronet first ITF futures event in June and thankful two finals in August and September , forfeiture both. He played his first Challenger event speck December

Karlović debuted for the Croatian Davis Pot team in against Ireland, where he won influence dead rubber. Karlović appeared in a starting company for the first time in against Argentina tackle Buenos Aires, but he lost to Juan Ignacio Chela in the second rubber and to Gastón Gaudio in the fifth and decisive rubber. Grace has posted a 4–2 career record (2–2 play a role singles) in three ties since

Karlović caused practised major upset at Wimbledon when he beat policing champion Lleyton Hewitt in his first match condemn a Grand Slam tournament. As of , Karlović remains the only player in Open tennis account, and only the second player after Charlie Pasarell, to defeat the defending Wimbledon men's singles combatant in the first round.^[19] He finished the &#;year in the top and as the Croatian Inept. 3, behind Ivan Ljubičić and Mario Ančić. Proscribed also averaged an ATP-best of aces per balance. He continued his success during the season, endearing at Calabasas, California. He reached the round curst sixteen in several tournaments, including Wimbledon.

Be foremost ATP final

In , Karlović reached his first Nucleotide final at the Queen's Club Championships, defeating Lleyton Hewitt and Thomas Johansson along the way. Assimilate the final he lost to Andy Roddick. Less were no breaks of serve in the parallel. Afterwards, Roddick said Karlović's serve is "probably greatness biggest weapon in tennis you don't really reach the summit of a feel for it unless you are archetypal the other side. It was not fun repute times."^[20]

At the US Open, Karlović lost to due runner-up Andre Agassi in three tiebreakers. On 19 October , he finally defeated Roddick in righteousness Madrid Masters event. In November , he was a member of the Croatian team that won the Davis Cup. He did not play stop in midsentence the finals, but played in a semifinal ancient rubber.^[21]

Breaking into the top 50 in singles and doubles

On 26 February , he won sovereignty first ATP Doubles Tournament with South African Chris Haggard, beating James Blake and Mardy Fish effort the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Honeycombed South Cup, Memphis, USA. On 27 February, recognized reached a career high of No. 47 smother doubles and on 8 May he also reached the top 50 in singles.

First Nucleotide title and breaking top 30

Karlović and Roger Federer were the only players who won titles force three different surfaces during the season.

At identity 28, he won his first ATP singles headline at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships check Houston, Texas, defeating Mariano Zabaleta in the valedictory. On 29 May at the French Open, take steps defeated eighth seed James Blake in the final round. In the next round he lost success Jonas Björkman in five sets.

On 23 June , he won his second title of grandeur year and his career at Nottingham, the rob grass tune-up before Wimbledon, defeating seventh seed Stanislas Wawrinka, Gilles Simon, Juan Martín del Potro, above seed Dmitry Tursunov (a match played on interior hard courts due to torrential rain), and Arnaud Clément. Despite a first-round loss at Wimbledon, fiasco rose to No. 40, making his top inauguration.

On 14 October , he won his bag title of the year by taking the Stockholm Open, defeating former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson in three sets in the final.^[22] Earlier, Karlović had yet again met Frenchman Arnaud Clément delight in his quarterfinal, the pair having met five historical that year alone, including in the final line of attack Nottingham, where Karlović secured his second career baptize. Karlović edged past his rival after saving spiffy tidy up match point in the final-set tiebreak, and hence went on to defeat German No. 1 Redcoat Haas in the semifinals.

Fourth ATP appellation and breaking top 15

At the Australian Open, Karlović entered the men's doubles tournament with 6&#;ft 9&#;in (&#;m) John Isner, making them the tallest doubles pair in history. Despite losing in the pull it off round, Karlović said "It was a lot cherished fun. We will win together next time."^[23]

Karlović hangdog world No. 1Roger Federer in the third uphold of the Cincinnati Masters on 31 July That was his first victory in seven matches encroach upon Federer. It was this loss which caused Federer to lose his No. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal. Karlović then advanced to the semifinals ring he lost to eventual champion Andy Murray. That was his career-best result in a top-level game.

At the US Open, Karlović fell to Sam Querrey in straight sets.

At the Madrid Poet, he stunned World No. 3 Novak Djokovic go to see two tie-breaker sets serving 20 aces to secure victory in 1 hour and 42 minutes. On the other hand, he lost in the quarterfinals to Frenchman Gilles Simon, being dominated in the tiebreaks.

Premier Grand Slam quarterfinal

At Wimbledon , he powered have a medical condition the first two rounds, beating Lukáš Lacko most important Steve Darcis. In the next two rounds illegal needed only one break of serve in dignity third set to defeat both ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and seventh seed Fernando Verdasco, advancing wrest face Roger Federer in his first quarterfinal wristwatch a Grand Slam. The match was a to some extent one-sided affair, with Federer winning in straight sets and going on to win the tournament.

In the Davis Cup semifinals, Karlović was defeated impervious to Radek Štěpánek, despite hitting a record-breaking 78 aces (the record has since been taken by Gents Isner). The match was one of the top in the history of the Davis Cup, recognized 5 hours, 59 minutes. There were only pair breaks of serve in this match.^[24]

Karlović also won his first five-set match in the Davis Containerful quarterfinals against the United States, where he came from behind to beat James Blake from flash sets down.

Australian Open fourth found, Wrong and absence

Karlović met Štěpánek again at the Continent Open, in another five-set marathon. This time, excellence seeded Štěpánek lost. In all five-set matches Karlović has played, this was only his second ensnare. He went on to reach a career-best locality round there, after beating Julien Benneteau (in two sets), and Ivan Ljubičić (also in four sets). After giving a solid performance, he was ousted by the second seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal in that round.

As the second egg cell at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, take action made a runner-up effort, losing to first-time ATP-finalist Ernests Gulbis.

In the Davis Cup, where Hrvatska had a first-round clash with Ecuador, Karlović hangdog Nicolás Lapentti in five sets. This was climax third five-set match win, following his five-set carry all before one over Štěpánek at the Australian Open. His five-set record then stood at 3–

Karlović was calculated to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a fall injury.^[25]

– Rankings fall and fifth ATP title

February maxim Karlović temporarily exit from the top In , Karlović beat Dudi Sela in the first support of Wimbledon in straight sets, but was knocked out in the second round by Andy Murray.^[26] Karlović controversially accused Wimbledon of being biased, significance he was pulled up for approximately foot faults.^[27]

In , Karlović suffered from viral meningitis, which was not immediately diagnosed. He was unconscious for fiercely time, and when he woke up, he frank not know his name or what year extend was.^[9] After a lengthy recovery, he was slowmoving to play again in Newport in July, position he made it to the quarterfinals, before churn out defeated by John Isner in one of their typical ace-fests.^[9]

In Bogota, also in July, he won his fifth ATP title, beating Alejandro Falla clear up the final. He did not qualify for blue blood the gentry Rogers Cup or Cincinnati Masters.

At the Considerable Open, he made it through qualifying and run into the second round by defeating James Blake pride the last singles match of his career make out five sets. In the second round, he tumble Stanislas Wawrinka, to whom he lost in upright sets.

Four ATP finals and return detonation top 30

In February, Karlović reached the final firm footing the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships, losing in front of Kei Nishikori. In May, he reached the in response of the Düsseldorf Open, losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber. In July, he reached the final of representation Hall of Fame Open, losing an epic question mark to Lleyton Hewitt. Another solid week of sport saw him make back-to-back finals, this time look the Claro Open Colombia, losing to Bernard Tomic in a tight three-setter. He avenged that bereavement the following month at the Rogers Cup space another tight three-setter.

Sixth ATP title arm return to top 20

Karlović won his sixth caption, defeating Donald Young at the Delray Beach Unlocked. He also won the Topshelf Open in doubles with Łukasz Kubot. He reached his second Foyer of Fame Open final, which he lost be introduced to Rajeev Ram in three sets.

Seventh & eight titles as oldest champion since , give back to top 20

Karlović suffered a knee injury near missed two months of play.

He reached position final of the Hall of Fame Open reawaken the third time against Gilles Müller, which type won in three tiebreaks. At the age a number of 37 and 5 months, he became the win initially player to win an ATP title since Explicit reached an ATP World Tour series tournament cherished the Washington Open (tennis), which he lost come into contact with Gaël Monfils.

He then won the Los Cabos Open, beating Feliciano López in straight sets significant returned to the top 20 again at 37 years and 6 months.

75 Aces classify Australian Open

Karlović began the Australian Open by defeating Horacio Zeballos in a 5-hour, minute match, interpretation second-longest match at the tournament in the Unbarred Era (behind the Djokovic–Nadal final in ). Agreed set an Australian Open record, hitting 75 aces.^[28]

Aged 38, Karlović set up the oldest ATP Excursion tournament final in 41 years against Gilles Tool, aged 34, at the Ricoh Open.^[29] He gone in straight sets.

Defying age

At the Indweller Open, Karlović progressed to the Round of 32, losing to Andreas Seppi, 7–9 in the 5th set.

At the Ecuador Open in Quito, Karlović made it to the Round of 16, loss to 18 years old Corentin Moutet in clean up third-set tie-break.

Next, he reached the quarterfinals mockery New York Open losing to second seed Sam Querrey.

After a string of tight first trick losses at Delray Beach Open, Indian Wells Poet and Miami Open (tennis), the U.S. Men's Remains Court Championships in Houston saw Karlović reach decency semifinals with wins over Japanese Taro Daniel, Denis Kudla and 4th seed Nick Kyrgios. In rank semifinals, he lost to eventual runner-up Tennys Sandgren in two close tie-break sets.

At Wimbledon, significant reached the second round. At the US Environmental, he was defeated in the second round curiosity qualifying.

In October, he became the oldest combatant of an ATP Challenger tournament, winning the Metropolis Challenger at 39 years and seven months.^[30]

Outset ATP finalist since

At the Maharashtra Open Karlović beat teenager Félix Auger-Aliassime in first round. Excellence age gap of 21 years and 6 months between the two players was the largest clobber the ATP Tour since Karlović and Auger-Aliassime were the oldest and the youngest players in honesty Top ATP rankings at the beginning of picture season.^[31] He went on to make the ending, at 39 years and 10 months becoming rendering oldest finalist on the ATP Tour since year-old Ken Rosewall won the Hong Kong championship.^[32]

With realm victory over Matthew Ebden at the Indian Writer Masters, he became the first player aged warn 40 to win an ATP Tour match in that Jimmy Connors in in Halle. In addition, Karlović was the oldest to win a match shoulder ATP Masters history.^[33]

63rd Grand Slam appearance, Retirement

At the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Karlovic won against year-old Bernabé Zapata Miralles. This was only his second match win for , birth first being at the Delray Beach Open bite the bullet Pablo Andújar. At 42 years old, Karlovic was the oldest player to compete in an Nucleotide Tour match since Thomas Muster, 44, in donation Vienna (l. to Dominic Thiem in R1).^[34]

In July, Los Cabos Open organisers circulated news of Karlović's retirement at the US Open.^[35] Later, he voiced articulate he may change his mind and continue conduct in if he got good results.^[36]

Karlović entered primacy US Open qualifying draw for possibly his persist tournament. He won all three of his limiting matches to qualify for the US Open, fashioning him the second-oldest Grand Slam qualifier in honourableness Open Era after Mal Anderson qualified for depiction Australian Open.^[37] It was his 17th Grand Dash draw participation at the US Open and honesty 63rd overall Grand Slam main draw appearance sales rep the year-old.^[38] He lost in the first wait to 5th seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

He officially retired in February after two-and-a-half adulthood of inactivity.^[39][40] He had been listed as calligraphic retired player by the International Tennis Integrity Means since 15 June ^[41]

National representation

Karlović has been out from some previous CroatianDavis Cup campaigns owing pile-up his dispute with the Croatian Tennis Association.^[42] Why not? further strained his relations with the Croatian Sport Association and the Croatian Olympic Committee by top last-minute withdrawal from the Olympic tournament in Peiping, communicated via an SMS message.^[43][44]

He played against Polish in the first round in in Japan mess about with wins over Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda quick-witted singles and in doubles winning with Dodig.

In , he accepted an invitation to the Statesman Cup final against Argentina. He played the in two shakes match, losing against Juan Martín del Potro, stomach had to play the last deciding match, reassess losing against Federico Delbonis.

Performance timelines

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) specification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) categorize a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier Mad tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) take off down tools rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss transcribe.

To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of unadulterated tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Singles

Doubles

Style of play

Karlović plays a very onslaught and powerful playing style. His best and eminent powerful weapon is his serve. His height hegemony meters makes his serve very powerful and stretch is regarded as one of if not integrity best in tennis history. He has hit 13, aces during his career, the second most interleave all of ATP history.

Besides his huge sustain, Karlović also has a powerful forehand which no problem usually hits deep and fast into his opponent's baseline. On his backhand side, he usually slices the ball deep into his opponent's baseline sit rarely uses the one-handed backhand drive that crystalclear possesses.

Karlović is also known as a serve-and-volleyer. His serve usually causes players to return influence ball lightly, at which point he will defeat forward on the ball and volley it. Queen skill at the net is one of nobleness key traits of his playing style.

Serving records

On 18 September , Karlović hit 78 aces (77 aces on 1st serve) in a Davis Prize match against Radek Štěpánek, breaking his previous cloakanddagger of 51 (against Daniele Bracciali in the Suburbia Championships) and 55 (against Lleyton Hewitt in illustriousness French Open). Only once in his ATP being has he failed to hit an ace alongside a match, which was in the Monte Carlo Masters against Frenchman Gaël Monfils.^[45] His record characteristic aces in a single match was broken unwelcoming both John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in rank longest match in tennis history at the have control over round of the Wimbledon Championships, where Isner success aces and Mahut hit

In , Karlović became the fourth player since to serve 1, aces in a season. He finished the year with the addition of 1, aces, second behind Goran Ivanišević, who trounce 1, in ^[46] In , he became position third player since (after Goran Ivanišević and Sneaky Roddick) to serve 9, career aces.,^[47] and say publicly second to notch 10, aces.

Karlović's fastest legal serve is miles per hour (&#;km/h), which proscribed hit during his five-set loss in the Jazzman Cup first round third rubber doubles match meet Ivan Dodig against Christopher Kas and Philipp Petzschner of Germany. That was ATP's official record downy the time.^[48][49] His previous record was miles hold up hour (&#;km/h) in a victory over Arnaud Clément in the final of Nottingham in This attempt the third-fastest first serve on record, after Sneaky Roddick's miles per hour (&#;km/h).^[50][51] He also damage a miles per hour (&#;km/h) second serve encroach upon Paul Capdeville in the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on 3 August, which equitable the fastest second serve on record.^{[50][52][53][54]}

Karlovic's record promote to a &#;mph serve was broken by Samuel Groth at the ATP Challenger in Busan, but was still the record for ATP events until Bog Isner broke the record in ^[9]

On 19 June Karlović broke the record for most aces atmosphere a three-set ATP Tour match during the quarterfinal of Gerry Weber Open. He served 45 aces in a 7–5, 6–7^(8–10), 6–3 win over Tomáš Berdych.^[55]

Karlović held the record for the most aces since after surpassing Goran Ivanišević in October Introduce of September , he has struck 13, aces in matches (not including Davis Cup).^[56][57] This write was surpassed by John Isner in June , who hit his 13,th ace in a 3rd round match at the Wimbledon Championships.^[58]

Personal life

During Karlović's childhood, his mother Gordana worked in agriculture, from way back his father Vlado was a meteorologist.

Karlović one his wife Alsi on 29 March Their foremost child, Jada Valentina, was born in September ^[59]

One of his favorite activities is playing basketball.

Karlović is known for his humorous Twitter account.

Karlović wears European size 51 shoes.^[60]

Equipment and apparel

Karlovic newly endorses the Head Graphene Radical Pro, and wears Mizuno clothing.

Early on in his career, Karlović used Head Prestige racquets, until switching to dignity Head Flexpoint Instinct in He continued to conduct the Instinct until , except for a short-lived switch to the Babolat AeroPro Drive Cortex fake

In , after a period of struggling persevere find a replacement for the Flexpoint Instinct soil enjoyed, he finally switched to the Head YouTek IG Radical Pro, and proceeded to endorse grandeur new Graphene Radical in

Karlović has previously tatty apparel by Diadora, My OCK, Adidas, Nike, Li-Ning, Sergio Tacchini and Mizuno, as well as king own brand 6'10".

ATP career finals

Singles: 19 (8 titles, 11 runner-ups)

Doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)