Ivo Karlovic, the towering Croatian tennis player, has officially announced his retirement from professional tennis after a hiatus of 2½ years from tournament play. The 6 foot, 11-inch athlete shared the news in a post on social media, reflecting on his remarkable and unconventional career that began from humble origins.
At the age of 44, soon to turn 45, Karlovic bid farewell to the sport after his last ATP match in a second-round qualifying defeat at Indian Wells, California, in October 2021. His final appearance in a Grand Slam tournament was a first-round singles loss at the US Open just weeks prior.
Over his illustrious 25-year career, Karlovic clinched eight singles titles and amassed a record of 371 wins, 346 losses, and $10.1 million in prize money. His peak singles ranking was No. 14 in August 2008.
One of his standout performances came at Wimbledon in 2009, where he reached the quarterfinals. Additionally, he contributed to Croatia's Davis Cup victory in 2005, a historic moment for the nation as they triumphed over Slovakia in the final to claim their first title.
Known for his powerful serve, Karlovic leaves behind a legacy of 13,728 aces, ranking second only to John Isner with 14,470. His prowess on the court was evident in setting the record for the most aces in a best-of-three-set match with 45 at Halle in 2015. Notably, he became the sole player to achieve at least 40 aces in three consecutive matches at Wimbledon shortly after.
Following his retirement announcement, Karlovic received accolades from fellow tennis legends, with six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker hailing his serve as 'the best in tennis.'
