Veteran player Ivo Karlovic continues to prove that age is just a number after defeating Spain’s Pablo Andujar 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in the first round of the Delray Beach Open.
Fans didn’t have to wait long to see a break point in the match as Karlovic was put under pressure early at 1-1 when he served an untimely double fault. Luckily the next point he served one of his 27 aces in the match to save it. He was up to his usual tactics serving big and attacking the net whenever he had the opportunity.
A couple of games later at 3-4 the Croat had his first two break points of the match but this time it was Andujar who was up to the task of saving them. Karlovic would earn a third break point and get the first break of the match when Andujar would serve a double fault to take a 5-3 lead and serve for the set.
The Croat would serve out the set but it wouldn’t be easy as Andujar would save two set points before getting lucky on the third to take the first set 6-3.
Into the second set the Spaniard was determined to even the match and not lose in straight sets. After holding serve in the first game he would set up two break points with a brilliant passing shot with the Croat at the net.
Karlovic would double fault to give Andujar the first break of the second set to take a 2-0 lead. The Croat would pushback in the next game earning some breakpoints to go back on serve, the Spaniard would save two before being broken once again on the third break point to go back on serve at 2-2.
The rest of the set stayed on serve until 5-6 with Karlovic serving to force a second set tiebreak. He serve a double fault at the worse possible time to set up two set points for Andujar. He would take the second set after Karlovic would send a return volley into the net and sending the match into a deciding third set.
Andujar was determined to get the early break in the final set and after holding the opening service game he went on the attack and earned the first break point of the set.
Karlovic had no issues saving it with his big serve and the set continued on serve until 2-2 when the Croat had three breakpoints and would break after the Spaniard hit four unforced errors in a row.
From there it was a serving clinic and Karlovic was able to close it out not facing another breakpoint for the rest of the match. He would serve it out to send him into the second round.
This victory makes Karlovic the oldest player to win a main draw match on the ATP Tour since Jimmy Connors in 1995.
“Of course it’s special, even if it’s that age. In any sentence that you are with him, compared, it’s nice,” Karlovic said of the milestone.
“It’s good. When you win, it’s always good,” he later added. “It was pretty fast here. It’s always fast, but never like this. It’s really good for my game.”
Day 2 results
- Roberto Quiroz beat Noah Rubin 7-6,6-3
- Bjorn Frantangelo beat Kevin King 6-2, 6-2
- Cameron Norrie beat JC Aragone 6-2, 6-1
- Frances Tiafoe beat Donald Young 6-3, 6-4
Day 3 Preview
Day 3 features the number one seed Christian Garin taking on Christian Harrison while the number two seed John Isner gets his campaign going in the last match of the day playing Thiago Monteiro.
