Karlovic Opens Budapest Campaign With Win

Second seed Ivo Karlovic weathered a stern test on Wednesday at the Gazprom Hungarian Open, being pushed to the brink before reaching the quarter-finals 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 over Damir Dzumhur.

“I’m happy with the win today. Clay isn’t my best surface, but I can also have some good wins on it,” said Karlovic. “I haven’t been to Budapest in 13 years, but I remember that the structures here are unbelievable. It’s a nice town, so I was really looking forward to coming back.”

Karlovic went on a five-game run to take the opening set, but the Bosnian responded by grabbing the lone break of the second set at 4-3. Both men traded comfortable service holds throughout the decider, but Karlovic raised his level in the final game by breaking Dzumhur to take the win in one hour and 25 minutes.

Karlovic served a modest eight aces for a season total of 277 from 13 matches. Only John Isner (283 from 13 matches) has served more aces this season.

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The 38-year-old Croatian is through to his second ATP World Tour quarter-final of 2017, having opened the season by reaching the last eight in Doha. He also improves his FedEx ATP Head2Head over Dzumhur to 2-0.

Next up for Karlovic is qualifier Aljaz Bedene, who didn’t drop serve in defeating Robin Haase 6-4, 6-4. The Brit has been enjoying a rich run of form this month, having also won back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles on clay.

Fourth seed Fernando Verdasco ended the local hopes of a home quarter-finalist by defeating wild card Marton Fucsovics 7-6(6), 6-3. The Spaniard rallied from 4/6 in the first-set tie-break en route to claiming victory in one hour and 28 minutes. Verdasco opened his clay season earlier this month with a quarter-final finish in Houston.

“When you play a local player, it doesn’t matter what their [Emirates ATP Ranking] is. They’re going to be very motivated and pumped up,” said Verdasco. “I came out mentally prepared knowing that anything could happen. It was a very close match, so I’m happy with the way I turned things around and finished the match.”

He’ll next play qualifier Laslo Djere, who completed a remarkable 7-5, 6-2 comeback over Viktor Troicki. Djere rallied from 0-5 in the first set and saved a set point on his serve at 2-5 and 4-5. The 21-year-old Serbian won the final five games to reach his first ATP World Tour quarter-final in one hour and 45 minutes. He previously won his first ATP World Tour main draw match earlier this month in Marrakech.

DOUBLES

The lone quarter-final match of the day saw fourth seeds Brian Baker and Nikola Mektic defeat local wild cards Attila Balazs and Gabor Borsos 6-2, 7-6(2). The Hungarians served for the second set at 5-4, but Baker/Mektic saved two set points on the way to prevailing in 77 minutes. Baker/Mektic won their first ATP World Tour doubles title this February in Memphis. 

In first-round matches, Sam Groth and Robert Lindstedt reached the quarter-finals by sweeping through Borna Coric and Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-2 in 61 minutes. Next up for them is second seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi, who defeated Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus 6-3, 6-3. Haase and Dominic Inglot are also through to the last eight after beating Lucas Pouille and Gilles Simon 7-6(5), 6-1. Haase/Inglot will next play top seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.