Ivo Karlovic has won 40 years in a match on the ATP Tour. So he pulls into a small, elite circle of well-known tennis pros such as Jimmy Connors. To the the Croat does not think to Stop for a long time.
The Australian Matthew Ebden was not to be envied. Finally, this serves as cannon shots flew him around the ears. 18 aces had served Ivo Karlovic, 80 percent of his first serves won. And thus, in the first round of the ATP tournament in Indian Wells (1000 series) his first Match with 40 years of won. An almost biblical age in the sport of tennis.
“I am glad to be the oldest player. I’m still here and I still do what I love the most. I want to be the oldest player ever in the Top 100,” said Karlovic a few weeks ago, as he advanced to the beginning of the year in the Indian city of Pune to the oldest of the finalists on the Tour since 1977. Last year, Karlovic won in Calgary as the oldest professional ATP Challenger. A career at the end of plays in his thoughts.
Pragmatists on the Court
Thus, Karlovic moves into a small, elite group of players who have done it to him previously. Jimmi Connors, broke up in 1995 in a hall of this age sound barrier. Or John McEnroe, who won at the age of 49 years, even a ATP doubles title (in San José). Karlovic has, however, not quite as much of this irrepressible fighting spirit as “Jimbo”. And not nearly as much feeling for the ball known as the “Super-brat”, as McEnroe once called because of its foul-mouthed behavior of many tennis fans.
Karlovic goes on its games has always been pragmatic. The 2.11 Meter giant on the beats, as if there were no Tomorrow. 251 Km/h were measured for leg one of his premiums, the value has not been officially recognized. Charge losses must complain Karlovic is extremely rare. In a Five-set Match, served “Dr. Ivo” 78 aces. On this strength, he can rely on. “It is as if a tree hits,” said the former number four in the world, Todd Martin.
The longer the ball avoid
And in the not very frequent cases, in which the opponent plays the Ball back over the net, Karlovic at the net and finished with his Albatross-range Volley of the Rest. Serve-and-Volley is the game that is on the ATP Tour, now almost extinct, the Karlovic but persistently practiced. His one-handed backhand has become a dying breed in the pros.
However, if ever extended the ball, then Karlovic also attracts due to its size and the resulting limited mobility is often the Shorter. Therefore, he always tries to keep the rallies as short as possible. Ash is not covering, therefore, be Favorite.
Ancient (Tennis)?
With these almost ancient (Tennis), he has catapulted in the year 2008 to number 14 in the world rankings. In the meantime, he is still in space 89. Financially worth it, has his approach all. Alone in prize money Karlovic has recorded about 9.4 million dollars, since then, he has gone in the year 2000 as a professional on the Tour.
Karlovics size, however, requires special measures. If he sleeps in European Hotels, he must usually place a chair behind his bed, so he can drop to his feet. With Shoe, size 52, in which he takes special orders. The Zagreb-born Croatian now lives either in Florida or the Bahamas. With a German sports car Karlovic can’t cruising by his home to Sunny: “A Porsche is too small for me,” he says. He needs a spacious sedan.