• Qatar Open

Karlovic becomes third player to notch 9,000 aces

ESPN staff
January 6, 2015
Ivo Karlovic wants to surpass Goran Ivanisevic's haul of 10,183 career aces © Getty Images
Enlarge

Ivo Karlovic served his 9,000th career ace on Monday in beating Lukas Rosol 7-6(4) 6-3 in the first round of the Qatar Open.

The 35-year-old Croat joins retired players Goran Ivanisevic and Andy Roddick as the only three men to serve at least 9,000 aces in their careers.

"Now I'm in the club," Karlovic said. "It's definitely one of my goals to be No.1 in all aces. This year, maybe, I will do it."

Ivanisevic holds the record with 10,183 aces. Roddick, the former top-ranked American, trails with 9,074. Karlovic served 27 aces during Monday's match to take his tally to 9,022.

Needing five aces to reach the milestone, Karlovic only needed two service games to get there. He hit two aces in his first service game, and then dug out of a 0-40 hole in his second. In 2014, Karlovic put up a tour-leading 1,185 aces for the season.

Elsewhere on Monday's opening day, sixth seed Richard Gasquet advanced to the second round by beating Pablo Andujar 6-3 7-5.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close