Ivo Karlovic Becomes Oldest Player to Win ATP Title Since Jimmy Connors in ’89

Ivo Karlovic Becomes Oldest Player to Win ATP Title Since Jimmy Connors in ’89

  • Posted: Feb 23, 2015

karlovic4 Ivo Karlovic Becomes Oldest Player to Win ATP Title Since Jimmy Connors in 89

 

On Sunday afternoon, Ivo Karlovic became the third player over 30 years old to win a title on the ATP World Tour that day when he defeated America’s Donald Young to win the Delray Beach Open.

The towering Croatian defeated Young 6-3, 6-3 in a straightforward match to lift the title. He struck 13 aces, and denied the American all of his seven break point opportunities to win the match. According to the ATP World Tour, Karlovic struck 91 aces this week, a tournament record.

Karlovic, 35, is now the oldest player to win a title on the ATP World Tour since Jimmy Connors won the Tel Aviv Open in 1989.

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“It is unbelievable,” said Karlovic, who trains in nearby Plantation. “It was really satisfying also for me to do this at my age, and it gives me a boost of confidence when I go into the other tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.

“Last year, I was in four finals and I lost all of them, so I really wanted to do this one good. I was focused; I was doing my thing and it paid off.”

Karlovic earned $84,250 and 250 Emirates ATP ranking points for his first title win since the 2013 Bogota Open. He went 0-4 last year but was able to deny Young’s maiden title on the tour this week in Florida.

“He played well. He beat me. I didn’t play the best I wanted to play, but all credit to him.”

http://www.stevegtennis.com/2015/02/ivo-karlovic-becomes-oldest-player-to-win-atp-title-since-jimmy-connors-in-89/