The era of Ivo Karlovic in tennis has closed as he announces his retirement

Ivo Karlovic has officially declared his retirement from professional tennis after being absent from tournament play for two and a half years. The Croatian, standing at 2.11 meters (6 feet 11 inches), announced his decision in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. Reflecting on his journey, Karlovic, who will turn 45 next week, expressed gratitude for his lengthy and unconventional career, particularly considering his humble beginnings.

Karlovic's last ATP match took place in October 2021, where he suffered a second-round qualifying defeat at Indian Wells, California. Prior to that, his final appearance in a Grand Slam tournament was a first-round singles loss at the U.S. Open, approximately six weeks earlier. Over his 25-year career, he clinched eight singles titles and amassed a record of 371 wins and 346 losses, earning a total of $10.1 million in prize money. His highest singles ranking was No. 14, achieved in August 2008.

His most notable performance in a Grand Slam event occurred at Wimbledon in 2009, where he reached the quarterfinals. Additionally, he contributed to Croatia's Davis Cup victory in 2005, playing a crucial role in securing the country's first title by defeating Slovakia in the final.

Karlovic leaves behind a remarkable legacy, particularly known for his formidable serve. He concluded his career with a total of 13,728 aces, trailing only John Isner, who holds the record with 14,470. Notably, Karlovic set the record for the most aces in a best-of-three-set match, recording 45 aces at Halle in 2015. Furthermore, he became the sole player to achieve at least 40 aces in three consecutive matches, achieving this feat at Wimbledon shortly after.

Numerous figures from the tennis world, including six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker, have extended their congratulations to Karlovic. Becker praised Karlovic's serve as "the best in tennis."