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Dr. Ivo Refuses To Retire, Wins in Indian Wells
7 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
It was widely expected the 42 year old Ivo Karlovic was going to pack it in at the US Open.
But Karlovic won three qualifying rounds at the US Open and reached the main draw where he lost to Andrey Rublev in three sets.
It was the first time in two years Karlovic won more than two matches in a row at an ATP event. His ranking rose from 223 to the present 200. So with a surge of confidence, Karlovic decided to proceed with his ATP career which has earned him over $10m in career prize money, eight singles titles and 371 match wins in singles.
Yesterday Ivo defeated Canadian Brayden Schnur 46 76 75. Today he will take on Emilio Gomez for a spot in the main draw. Karlovic defeated Gomez in 2018 in Houston in straight sets.
At US Open Karlovic, who reached a career high raking of 14 in 2008, expressed mixed emotions about hanging up his tennis gear. “This week I did really well and I enjoyed being on the court,” Karlovic said. “But going back to the Challengers, it is something I would have to decide if I want to do. I would say it’s 50-50. I don’t know yet, I have to decide after the US Open. I need to draw the line, see what my ranking is and what I want to do.”
The popular Croatian has decided there is still plenty of fire, gas and aces in his tank and it’s all systems GO for another push to save and extend one of the most unique careers in modern ATP history.
Indian Wells Notes: Wildcard Stefan Kozlov beat Jason Jung 63 36 52 ret. to set up a match with Chris Eubanks for a main draw slot. Kozlov defeated Eubanks twice recently at the Lexington and Cary Challengers but both matches were close contests.
Ernests Gulbis resurfaced in the qualies draw but lost 64 62 to Thai-Son Kwiatkowski.
Ernesto Escobedo beat Denis Istomin 63 62.
American 16 year old Reese Brantmeier won in IW qualies vs. Katie Boulter 75 62 but then lost her second Q match to Italian Matea Trevisan. Peyton Stearns, in her second year at University of Texas, won her first WTA match by beating veteran American Coco Vandeweghe in straight sets.
BNP Paribas Open · Dr Ivo · Indian Wells · Ivo Karlovic · Peyton Stearns
Scoop Malinowski · October 7, 2021 at 11:05 am
Ivo lost to Gomez 63 76, could it be the last ATP match for Ivo?
Doug · October 7, 2021 at 6:33 pm
Scoop can you imagine the scandal if two atp greenhorn rookies made it to the finals of the US Open? Could our rating system or general incompetancies reduce our sport to the equivelent of a tough man event? Sexism aside,what am i missing?
Scoop Malinowski · October 7, 2021 at 8:55 pm
Doug it will never happen in atp. the top players are too tough, too greedy, too stingy, too obsessed with winning.
Doug · October 8, 2021 at 8:30 am
If the wta system is suspect and merits equal money, on what grounds would we let it continue to underserve its players and the public?
Scoop Malinowski · October 8, 2021 at 10:11 am
Emma is going to save the wta, best superstar prospect to emerge since Bouchard or the Williams sisters.
Doug · October 8, 2021 at 1:34 pm
So fresh flesh is all you got?
Let me think about that.
Works for me!
Scoop Malinowski · October 8, 2021 at 10:56 pm
Raducanu began strong with a good hold to start the match, she was intense, showing fists after points won and saying Cmon after winners in that first game. But then she lost three games in a row and she lost confidence. She made many errors. She could not believe the errors she was making. Sasnovich played well and was very dtermined to make sure the new queen does not get too big for her britches. 62. Second set Emma lead 42 but then she faltered with those error spurts again. She could not believe the errors were happening. She is definitely a little off and the new pressure to win everything now is bothering her, she will have to adapt to being a star under the microscope. 62 64. Halep will beat Sasnovich next round.