Karlovic defeats Cilic in evening sun

Ivo Karlovic has reached the final of the Ricoh Open in a very close and exciting match. The tall Croatian defeated his fellow contryman Marin Cilic in three sets: 7-6(4) 5-7 7-6(2).

As predicted by many, this match between these powerful servers, was decided by just a few points. Notably topseed Cilic won more points than his third seeded compatriot: 120 – 119. Karlovic also lost a service game and could not turn it into a break. A tiebreak was deciding. The tallest of the two players took a mini-break advantage and kept the break.

Karlovic will meet Gilles Muller in the Final. The left-handed Luxemburger and the losing finalist  of 2016 defeated Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal: 7-6(5) 6-2.