Memphis - Arab Today
Croatian fifth seed Ivo Karlovic advanced to the second round of the ATP Memphis Open on Tuesday, blasting 23 aces to defeat Slovakian Lukas Lacko 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
Karlovic, ranked 25th, had won their only prior meeting in the first round at Wimbledon in 2009. The big-serving 35-year-old will next face US qualifier Austin Krajicek, who outlasted Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (10/8).
Also booking a date in the round of 16 was Australian Bernard Tomic, who rallied to oust Dutchman Igor Sijsling 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Tomic, a 22-year-old German-born Aussie ranked 49th in the world, surrendered two service breaks in the opening set but saved 5-of-6 break points over the final two sets while breaking four times, three in the final set.
Tomic, who also won their first meeting last month at Sydney, advanced to a matchup with Ukranian fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov, who received a first-round bye along with Japanese top seed Kei Nishikori, South African second seed Kevin Anderson and US third seed John Isner.
US qualifier Ryan Harrison reached a second-round matchup with Nishikori by defeating Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/1).
Source: AFP