Karlovic ousted in Vienna

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:04

The fourth-seeded Croat suffered his second straight loss after he was also upset by 31-year-old Spaniard Carlos Moya in the second round at Metz last week.

Both Ferrero and Moya are are former number one players and neither has ever lost to Karlovic, who is ranked 14th. Moya has won all four of his meetings against the 29-year-old and Ferrero has won both of his.

Karlovic drilled 17 aces in the match, upping his ATP-leading total to 865, but Ferrero was equally effective on his first serve, winning 42 of 49 points.

Additionally, the 28-year-old saved both break points forced by Karlovic, whose year has been highlighted by a title at Nottingham and a win over then-number one Roger Federer in Cincinnati.

A finalist at this tournament three years ago, Ferrero could face another Croat in the second round. Ivan Ljubicic, the 2005 and 2006 champion, will meet Austria’s Jurgen Melzer for the right to face the former French Open champion.

Another former champion already is through to the second round as unseeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez beat Argentina’s Augustin Calleri, 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4).

Guillermo Canas, who lost the 2004 final to Lopez, also advanced to set up a meeting with fifth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Moya moved through to the second round as well, topping Germany’s Michael Berrer, 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (8-6), in the final match of the day.

Czech qualifier Jan Hernych rallied for a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5), triumph over Croatia’s Roko Karanusic and could face top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland next.

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