When it comes to service aces, nobody does it better these days than 6-foot-10-inch Croat Ivo Karlovic. On Friday, in the opening match of the Davis Cup semifinal against the Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek, Karlovic absolutely blew away his own record for aces in a match (55) by hammering down a staggering 78 aces.
Despite hitting 78 aces, Karlovic lost 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 16–14. The tennis marathon lasted five hours and 59 minutes. The match was the fourth longest Davis Cup match ever played. Stepanek also saved four match points in the win.
Karlovic hit 55 aces at this year’s French Open in a five-set loss to Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt. His new ace record is one of those records that you just can see getting broken.
“It was really tough, a long match. It could’ve gone either way,” said Karlovic in an interview with Davis Cup Radio after the match while the crowd in Porec, Croatia was still chanting and cheering.
“The match was going crazy. I stayed mentally strong,” said Stepanek after seeing ace after ace zip by him. When asked how it felt to see 78 aces go by him, Stepanek responded, “It feels great, to be honest. He can serve 90 [aces], if I win the match.”
The Davis Cup can bring about some incredible tennis buoyed by fan support not seen at regular tour events.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable, I’m surprised it was like this. It was a great experience for me,” said Karlovic.
Karlovic summed up his record-breaking performance. “I’m like Superman. I hit aces. That’s what I do.”
The Czech Republic, spurred on by Stepanek’s performance, went on to defeat Croatia. They will now face Spain in the Davis Cup final in early December.
