When it comes to tennis records, Roger Federer is usually the first point of contact. In the summer of 2018, the Swiss in Stuttgart won the world's oldest number one ranking. And that was not all: Federer was until the end of 37 years and three months, the oldest player in the top 100. Since Monday, he is no longer: Because the Croat Ivo Karlovic, 39 years and eight months old, has in the past Weeks celebrated a remarkable comeback.
Karlovic, 2.11 meters tall and punished with shoe size 52, is the serve king of the tour. So far he has beaten 12,936 aces - more than anyone else - and won eight ATP tournaments. Since 2000 he is a professional, in August 2008 he was the number 14 in the world. His nickname: "Dr. Ivo", based on Dr. med. Evil from the Austin Powers movies.
Karlovic Tennis: Higher, faster, older
If Karlovic strikes, there is usually nothing to get for the backstabber. That's because of the speed of his service (the record is 251 km / h) - and the altitude. Because thanks to his height Karlovic drags of unusually high on the ball. His serves jump so high that you have to play the return at shoulder height - damn hard to play him flat from there. And if the setback is too weak, Karlovic lurks on the net and scores by volley.
The dilemma for the opponent: If he waits too close to the baseline, the serve is too fast. If he stands further back, Karlovic aims at the outer corners of the T-field. The Israeli Dudi Sela, 36 centimeters shorter than Karlovic, once grabbed the chair from the linesman after his defeat, dragged him to the net and stood on it to congratulate Karlovic. Following the motto: How else can you handle it? The video became an internet hit.
"He finds angles that others can not find - he serves consistently, has a strong second serve, and he can do it all day," says Roger Federer of Karlovic, who often plays marathon matches in Grand Slam tournaments. well into the fifth sentence. "It's like a goalkeeper in the penalty shoot-out: You have to guess the side, and in case of doubt the serve comes on the body - and you're delivered."
"Dr. Ivo" alone at home
In tour operation Karlovic has a problem: Nobody wants to train with him. Most pros practice long rallies with a lot of topspin - monotonous, but typical of a match. "They are not used to my game and can not find a rhythm," Karlovic says. "But I have no problem with that." And so usually the coach has ran. A crazy picture: After training Karlovic often lingers lonely in the square and makes his serves on the blank page. As a teenager: Because of his height they wanted to persuade him then basketball. But Karlovic did not feel like it. He preferred to sneak into a tennis court in the evenings - and made serveings for hours.
Although Karlovic has cult status: he is not a crowd puller. "Some tournament directors would probably pay him money if he takes his name back from the entry list," says a tennis insider. Spectacular rallies with Karlovic are scarce, the matches will be a test of patience for the opponent. Bringing your own serve games is a must. Often this succeeds because Karlovic's play from the baseline is mediocre. The backhand he plays as a slice, at the forehand he risks the quick point. Eventually, however, comes the moment in which Karlovic meets four times or the opponent does not pay attention. A break is usually enough for him, he almost always wins a tiebreak per match. And hardly a match goes by in which he does not play one.
The Methuselah of the tennis tour
The big advantage of his game the short rally: Karlovic also keeps up with just under 40. "As long as I get into the big tournaments, I'll continue," he said. In June, however, he crashed to rank 137. Last year injuries had plagued him, earlier this season they were motivation problems. "But that's behind me," Karlovic assured, as he began collecting points for the way back.
He did that on tournaments of the ATP Challenger Tour, the second tennis league. And at events that meet his game: in high climes, in hot weather. His serves hit even harder. As in the past few weeks, when he took 13 wins from 17 matches.
On the way to the tournament success in the Canadian Calgary (in more than 1,000 meters height) he played nine Tiebreaks, eight of which he won - and crowned the oldest ATP Challenger Champ ever. But more importantly: thanks to recent success, Karlovic is again 99th in the world rankings. His big goal he has achieved with the Australian Open in January, he is certainly in the main draw.