Serve versus serve, volley versus volley, Croat versus Croat. Yesterday, Mario Ancic took on Ivo Karlovic in the second round of the Aussie Open. Though Mario has arguably enjoyed a more fruitful career than him compatriot, coming to at least the quarters in both Paris and London, it was 25th seed Karlovic who was expected to walk into a 3rd round match against Simon.
The match began just as expected with monstrous serves, short points and both men charging the net. It wasn't until the middle of the first set until either won even a point on the opponent's serve, let alone had a chance to break. Ancic was the first to capitalise on a few of Karlovic's second serves, breaking at 4-3 to gain the first lead, but was unable to hold on and let Ivo break back twice to take the opening set 7-5. The second set was almost a duplicate of the first, with Mario finally able to break away -- this time he did not succumb to the nerves that prevented him from converting his first-set-points and won the second 7-5.
Karlovic found his setting again during the third set and barely gave away points on his serve the entire set and won it 6-4. Ancic returned the favour in the fourth and sent the match into the decider where he regularly found himself in the Karlovic-game and would earn a break to go up 4-3 and then once again, with a powerful return, to win the match.
Ancic, who was plagued by a severe case of mono for almost a year that halted his success, has arrived in Melbourne with the spirit and grace to rival any man. While I'm sure the rest of the draw is happy to have Ivo out, none should be too excited about battling this Croat instead.
The match began just as expected with monstrous serves, short points and both men charging the net. It wasn't until the middle of the first set until either won even a point on the opponent's serve, let alone had a chance to break. Ancic was the first to capitalise on a few of Karlovic's second serves, breaking at 4-3 to gain the first lead, but was unable to hold on and let Ivo break back twice to take the opening set 7-5. The second set was almost a duplicate of the first, with Mario finally able to break away -- this time he did not succumb to the nerves that prevented him from converting his first-set-points and won the second 7-5.
Karlovic found his setting again during the third set and barely gave away points on his serve the entire set and won it 6-4. Ancic returned the favour in the fourth and sent the match into the decider where he regularly found himself in the Karlovic-game and would earn a break to go up 4-3 and then once again, with a powerful return, to win the match.
Ancic, who was plagued by a severe case of mono for almost a year that halted his success, has arrived in Melbourne with the spirit and grace to rival any man. While I'm sure the rest of the draw is happy to have Ivo out, none should be too excited about battling this Croat instead.
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