Ivo Karlovic shattered the US Open aces match record during a grueling five-set win over Yen-Hsun Lu at Flushing Meadows Tuesday evening. Karlovic fired 61 aces – including 22 in the second set – to eclipse the previous US Open record of 49 set by Richard Krajicek in a losing effort to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1999.
Karlovic won 91 per cent of first serves (105/116) in the 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(5) 7-5, win, converting the first of eight break point chances on match point to claim victory.
“I knew there were a lot of aces because there was a period [in the second set] when almost every serve was an ace. I knew there was a lot but I didn’t know it was this many,” Karlovic said of Tuesday’s haul.
Karlovic had three times previously served more than 50 aces in a tournament match (not including Davis Cup). His previous personal best was 55 in a losing effort against Lleyton Hewitt in 2009 at Roland Garros, 53 to defeat Alexandr Dolgopolov at Wimbledon last year and 51 when he lost to Daniele Bracciali at Wimbledon in 2005.
Coming into the US Open, Karlovic was second on the 2016 list of ace leaders according to Infosys ATP Scores & Stats. Karlovic had hit 774 aces in 38 matches (averaging 20.9 per match), second only to John Isner, who had hit 877 aces in 36 matches (averaging 22.5 per match).
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El Croata Ivo Karlovic establecio marca de aces durante su victoria en cinco sets sobre Yen-Hsun Lu en el US Open el martes en la noche. Karlovic logro 61 aces, incluyendo 22 en el segundo set, para superar la marca previa de 49 conseguida por Richard Krajicek en su derrota ante Yevgeny Kafelnikov en 1999.
Karlovic gano el 91 por ciento de sus primeros servicios 105-116 en su victoria 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, y 7-5.
Karlovic de 37 años tenia tres partidos previos con 50 o mas aces, con marca personal de 55 durante su derrota ante Lleyton Hewitt en el 2009 en el Roland Garros, 53 para superar a Alexandr Dolgopolov en Wimbledon en año pasado y 51 cuando perdió con Daniele Bracciali en Wimbledon en el 2005.
Karlovic llego al US Open como segundo en la lista de lideres de aces en el 2016, con 774 aces en 38 partidos, superado solo por John Isner quien tiene registro de 877 aces en 36 partidos.