Isner Downs Karlovic to Advance at Hall of Fame Championships
July 12, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Two-time defending champion John Isner fired 23 aces to cut down fellow big-serving giant Ivo Karlovic and reach the quarterfinals of the 2013 International Tennis Hall of Fame Championships, 7-6(3), 7-6(3). Isner and Karlovic combined to serve 37 aces in their first grass-court meeting ever. Karlovic is playing in his first ATP World Tour tournament since Houston in April, after being sidelined with viral meningitis in late April-May.
"I said the other day that this match would come down to a few points here and there and those few points were in the tie-break,” Isner said. “I felt like I got a lot of good returns back and he came up with some good volleys. I made some good shots when I needed to."
Isner awaits the winner of the match between Lleyton Hewitt and Jan Hernych to determine his next-round opponent.
