Ivo Karlovic fired 35 aces en route to a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over Gilles Simon on Monday at the Western & Southern Open.
The big-serving Croat, who registered his best result at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati 2008, survived after two hours and 28 minutes, following a rain delay.
Karlovic’s 35 aces against Simon marked his highest total in a best-of-three set match since striking a three-set record 45 in the Halle quarter-finals (d. Berdych).
At 36, he is continuing to set the serving standard on the ATP World Tour, and is already closing in on countryman Goran Ivanisevic’s record haul (since 1991) of 10,183. Karlovic joined Ivanisevic as the lone players in the 10k club with victory over Milos Raonic last week in Montreal – his 50th at the Masters 1000 level. His updated total brings him to 10,058.
Having now hit 1,063 aces from 46 matches this year, the Zagreb native is also chasing Ivanisevic’s single-season record of 1,477, attained in 1996. He is averaging 23 aces per match in 2015.
Year Aces
2015 1,063 in 46 matches (23 avg.)
2014 1,185 in 64 matches (19 avg.)
2013 485 in 28 matches (17 avg.)
2012 506 in 33 matches (15 avg.)
2011 632 in 37 matches (17 avg.)
2010 472 in 26 matches (18 avg.)
2009 890 in 46 matches (19 avg.)
2008 961 in 57 matches (17 avg.)
2007 1,318 in 64 matches (21 avg.)
2006 647 in 36 matches (18 avg.)
2005 730 in 40 matches (18 avg.)
2004 842 in 44 matches (19 avg.)
2003 281 in 16 matches (18 avg.)
2002 30 in 5 matches (6 avg.)
2001 16 in match (16 avg.)
The World No. 21 is set to face Martin Klizan in the second round. He is one match win from notching his 30th in a season for just the fourth time (2007-08, ’14). It will be his first meeting against Klizan.
*Note: ATP began keeping ace statistics in 1991. Statistics include aces served at ATP World Tour and Grand Slam only. Does not include Davis Cup.
Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/cincinnati-2015-monday-karlovic
Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Cincy Tennis, Gilles Simon, Goran Ivanisevic, Ivo Karlovic, Sports, Tennis News, Western & Southern Open
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