At 40 years old, Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlović has advanced to the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 series tournament in Indian Wells. Karlović continued defying his age and defeated 29-year-old Indian player Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6:3 and 7:6 (3) after an hour and 13 minutes in the third round, reports HRT on March 11, 2019.
Against the little-known Indian rival, Karlović played an excellent match with great serving, was strong playing at the net where he managed stunning volleys and was able to press his opponent at the right time in the return. He continued his winning series without a lost set.
The only two breaks in the match against Gunneswaran came in the first game, when it was 15:40 and after Karlović missed three of the first four services. But with two service winners, the Croatian tennis player pulled out of an unpleasant situation. On the other hand, when Gunneswaran found himself in trouble in the eighth game of the first set, Karlović used it and scored a break that brought him the first set of the match.
Karlović had the only break in the third game of the second set, but Gunneswaran was excellent, and the winner was decided in a tie break.
Gunneswaran made too many errors in the decisive game, while Karlović hit three aces – and there was no longer any uncertainty about who would move on. Karlović led 6:1, Gunneswaran reduced the lead to 6:3, but then Karlović secured his 16th ace of the game for an impressive victory.
In the fourth round, Karlović will play against 25-year-old Austrian Dominic Thieme, while Novak Djokovic would most likely be waiting for Karlović in the eventual quarterfinal.
Marin Čilić will play his round of 32 match against Canadian player Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday evening (Central European Time). Mate Pavić and doubles partner Oliver Marach will play on Wednesday.
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