An amazing accomplishment for the 39-year-old tennis player from Zagreb!
Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlović became the oldest semifinalist on the ATP Tour in the last 25 years after defeating Nick Kyrgios 3:6, 6:2, 6:2 in Houston’s ATP quarterfinals, reports Index.hr and 24 Sata on April 14, 2018.
Karlović entered the semifinal at 39 years old and 44 days to become the oldest tennis player after the legendary Jimmy Connor, who advanced to the semifinal of the San Francisco tournament at 40 years of age in 1993.
“This is a huge victory because I have lost all the matches against him so far. I am happy for this success,” Karlović said, who had lost four matches against Kyrgios until now. The “bad boy” of tennis, as they often call the 22-year-old Australian, was better at Cincinnati and Miami last year, and at the Kuala Lumpur and Australian Open in 2015.
With an early break, Karlović led 3-0, securely defended his service – and in 47 minutes, the Croatian player came to 6-3 in the first set. In the second set, Karlović played far better and quieted the Australian player. Karlović took the service from his rival twice, at 3-2 and 5-2, and in 28 minutes, he won the second set.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=nsNf5OOvrCI
In the decisive third set, Karlović had two breaks in the second leg, and two in the lead 3-2, but Kyrgios saved them both times. The third chance came in the eighth game, and this time Karlović made no mistake, playing flawlessly for 5-3. Karlović, therefore, finished the set without losing a point and claimed victory over Kyrgios.
Karlović is on the way to the finals of the tournament where he celebrated in 2007. In the semifinal, Karlović will face Tenny Sandgren, who defeated Guido Pella 4:6, 7:5, 6:3 in the quarterfinal. It will be their first meeting.
“I’ve watched his game a little. He plays very well with the basic line, and he is a strong guy, so it will be a tough match,” said Karlović.
If Karlović enters the ATP final in Houston, he would become the oldest finalist in the last 41 years, after Ken Rosewall who won the Hong Kong tournament at the age of 43 in 1977.
