BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Ivo Karlovic, the world’s tallest tennis player, yesterday stunned world number one and top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia in three sets to reach the semi-finals at the $1.2m Qatar Open.
Ranked 27 on the ATP Tour computer, Karlovic produced a well balanced baseline game to beat Djokovic 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 on a windswept day at Khalifa Tennis Complex.
It was Karlovic’s second win over Djokovic who had arrived in Doha with a bout of fever. Currently the oldest player in the Doha draw, Karlovic made the most of his huge wingspan to quell Djokovic’s passing shots for his hard-fought win.
In the semi-finals today, seventh seeded Karlovic will take on fourth seed David Ferrer who crushed Dustin Brown of Germany in straight sets. Ferrer, the 32-year-old Spaniard, won 6-2, 6-2.
Also yesterday, third seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic hammered sixth seed Richard Gasquet of France 6-2, 6-1 in 57 minutes.
Berdych will meet Andreas Seppi of Italy in the semi-finals. In the quarter-finals yesterday Sepp beat Dodig 7-5, 6-4. Karlovic, 35, produced an overpowering baseline game to supplement his bullet-like serves to beat Djokovic in 2 hours and 15 minutes on the Centre Court.
Karlovic slammed 21 aces in the three-set thriller to seal his maiden semi-finals berth in Doha.
The 6’11’ tall Croatian has hit a total of 69 aces in the three matches so far.
Karlovic, who wears size 16 shoes, said he did not expect to reach the semi-finals at the season’s opening event.
“It is unbelievable. When I arrived here, I didn’t expect this,” Karlovic said.
“I was feeling the wind. I knew he could not show his full range of shots. I am really happy that I won today,” the tall Croat added.
“I was relaxed. I stayed calm. I was focusing on my game. I guess I was lucky and I am really happy. Tomorrow I have another match so let’s see,” Karlovic said.
In the first set, that lasted 12 games, there was hardly to choose from both the players as the two held their serves and forced the set into a tie-breaker.
However, Karlovic lost a bit of steam and failed to win a single point on all his serves as Djokovic calmly secured tie-breaker at 7-2 with powerful baseline shots.
In the second set with the world number one trailing at 6-7 in the tie-breaker, Djokovic returned wide as Karlovic drew level the in the match.
In the third set, Karlovic produced the much-needed - and the only - service break of the match in game seven to surge ahead 4-3 and then held his serve in games eight and 10.
The tall Croat successfully settled the match following a long return from Djokovic in game 10.
Earlier, world number 10 Ferrer braved a sandstorm to reach his second semi-finals at the Qatar Open after beating an error-prone Brown. Ferrer, seeded four in Doha, scored his third career win over Brown. Ferrer broke Brown in games four and eight to seal the first set in 30 minutes.
The Spaniard went one better in the second set breaking the German opponent in games two, four and eight to win in 69 minutes.
“It was very difficult to play.There was a lot of wind but I did not think too much about it and I tried to stay focused,” Ferrer, 32, said yesterday.
“I will be happy,” Ferrer said when asked how he would feel if he were to win his 22nd career title tomorrow. “I was in the semi-finals here two years ago. I will rest and be ready for the semi-finals,” he added.
The Peninsula
