Journeyman serve king Ivo Karlovic can be a frustrating nut to crack for his opponents. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was the latest to feel the agony of getting overwhelmed by the giant’s serve, and both of his break points were erased in a 6-4, 7-6 (9) loss at the Western & Southern Open on Tuesday.
There were too few opportunities for the eighth-seeded Tsonga to extend rallies or finish points with a flourish, like this flick backhand that mirrored the touch of the Swiss Maestro.