Ivo Karlović keeps breaking records as he approaches 42nd birthday
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
ZAGREB, 9 January 2021 – Veteran Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlovic continues to break records as his 42nd birthday fast approaches.
Karlović, who will turn 42 next month, became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour match since Jimmy Connors (42) in 1995 when he beat No. 7 seed Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the first round of the Delray Beach Open.
The Croatian, who is ranked 148th on the ATP rankings, hit 27 aces in his first tour victory since last February.
“It’s true almost every match that I win, now at my age, it is history,” Karlović joked after his win.
Last January, Karlović became the oldest player to win a match at a Grand Slam in 42 years when he defeated Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in the first round at the Australian Open.
Tonight’s achievements for Ivo:
— Delray Beach Open (@DelrayBeachOpen) January 9, 2021
✅ Career-best ace record (27) at Delray Beach Open
✅ Oldest player to win an ATP main draw match since Jimmy Connors in 1995@ivokarlovic | #DBOpen pic.twitter.com/adOaEQXU9i
The last time a player over the age of 40 won a match at the Australian Open was Ken Rosewall back in 1978. Karlovic surpassed his own record then as he was the last player over the age of 40 to win a match at a Grand Slam when he beat Thomas Fabbiano in the first round at Wimbledon last year.
The Croatian has broken a number of records during his lengthy career. He officially held the record for the fastest serve recorded in professional tennis, measured at 251 km/h (156 mph), before being surpassed by Samuel Groth in 2012.
He also holds the all-time record for career aces and is one of only four players in history to surpass 10,000 aces and is the oldest ATP Challenger title winner in history.
