Biofile with Ivo Karlovic

Status: ATP #41. Winner of four ATP singles titles. Highest singles rank was #14. Member of Croatia’s Davis Cup team. Has wins over Federer, Hewitt, Roddick, Blake, Djokovic, Stepanek, Fish, T. Johansson, Wawrinka, Simon, Del Potro, Tsonga, Verdasco, Haas.

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230 pounds.

DOB: February 28, 1979 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Hobbies/Interests: “You know, it is difficult to have like a real hobby because like every week we are on the road and professional tennis takes a lot of time. But I like basketball, movies and music. (How about boxing?) Oh yeah, actually, because when I was younger, when I was 16, I was a little bit practicing it. So yeah, I also like it. (How did you do?) It was only amateur, I was never actually in the ring but I liked it. And because of my long arms, the trainer who had this local club was really, really interested in me changing sports [smiles], to change from tennis to boxing. But it didn’t happen.”

Nicknames: “Ivobek. And also Karlo. (They also call you Dr. Ivo.) Yeah, Dr. Ivo, yeah. I heard that also.”

Favorite Movies: “The Shawshank Redemption and Kill Bill I & II.”

Favorite TV Shows: “It’s a lot of them. I like comedies mostly.”

Childhood Heroes: “It was probably (Boris) Becker and (Toni) Kukoc, basketball star.”

Musical Tastes: “I can listen to everything, cool music, from hip-hop, rap, to rock ‘n roll. (Name some names.) Pearl Jam I like. Snoop [smiles].”

First Tennis Memory: “When I was young my dad (Vlado) said that I was gonna be in some sports. And he said that it would be tennis because it’s no injuries. So he was dragging me to the tennis court. And I was like, No, no, no. I don’t want to go [smiles]. But after, I like it. So I stayed with it.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Try to stay relaxed and not have a lot of pressure on me. And try to have fun.”

First Job: “Job [smiles]? Tennis.”

First Car: “Opel (silver).”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Favorite Meal: “I like lamb when it’s like really nicely cooked.”

Last Book Read: “You got me there [laughs]. Last book…I have to think…Coelho…(Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist?) Yeah.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Every day that I win is unbelievable feeling. And every day if I lose it’s unbelievable shit feeling [smiles]. So, it depends. If you lose, it is here [puts hand low], if you win, it is here [puts hand high].”

Most Painful Moment: “Well, tennis is not something that can really hurt me if I lose, so I cannot say right now.”

Favorite Tournament: “I like to play Washington is really nice. (Why?) Because I like this area, it’s really nice. Wimbledon and New York.”

Closest ATP Friends: “There is [Victor] Hanescu, [Jan] Hernych, (just at this moment Tommy Haas walks by and says, ‘Me.’ Ivo smiles and says ‘Not you.’), [Teimuraz] Gabashvili now. Because I went on road trip with him from Indianapolis (to) here in the car. (You’re friends now?) Yes, we are friends now [smiles].”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Ivanisevic had to be one of them. Zovko — you don’t know him. (Lovro Zovko?) Yes, Lovro Zovko.”

Toughest Competitors: “Probably it was Roger and Roddick I think.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I cannot think of it right now.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty and unselfishness.”

Childhood Dream: “Grand Slam winner.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “The other day this lady said, ‘Oh my God, you are so tall, you can be a rower (like boat rower).’ So, I don’t know, it was unusual comment [smiles].”

Family: Wife, Alsi; daughter, Jada Valentina.

PHOTO CREDIT: Henk Abbink.

Dr. Ivo almost became a boxer

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