Golden oldie Ivo Karlovic speaks of delight after breaking two Roland Garros records
Ivo Karlovic has got his hands on a pair of records after he outlasted fellow veteran Feliciano Lopez to advance into round two.
The 40-year-old Croatian came out on top 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5 to become the older player to win at Roland Garros since Torben Ulrich in 1973.
Karlovic will also share a record with Lopez, as their combined age of 77 was the oldest in a Grand Slam match in the professional era.
“It means a lot. Even though it’s in the record books as the oldest one, at least it’s in the record books, so I like it,” Karlovic said.
“I was out for almost two months, so I am really happy that I was able to win today.”
Next up for Karlovic is Australian youngster Jordan Thompson, but he insists it doesn’t matter to him who he faces.
“Right now I’m just happy with any match that I win,” he added.
“Even if it’s against older guys or kids, whatever. I just like to win.”
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