If you’re looking for anyone to prove that age is just a number, look no further than 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic. The Croatian saved two match points in a second-set tie-break to oust former World No. 5 Tommy Robredo 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 6-4 on Monday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, winning his first match at the event since his run to the 2006 quarter-finals (l. to Wawrinka). It is Karlovic's first appearance in Barcelona since 2008. The 6'11" right-hander has not let slip the momentum of an impressive run to the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship semi-finals two weeks ago. Karlovic extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead against the 35-year-old Robredo to 4-0 thanks to a...
Watch highlights as Guillermo Garcia-Lopez survives an intense two tie-break battle against Yuichi Sugita, while Benoit Paire and #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas also advance at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Monday. Photo Credit: Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
It may have taken five years, but reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov is back where it all started. The Bulgarian, who spent time training in Spain as a junior and received his first qualifying wild card into an ATP World Tour event in Barcelona 12 years ago as a 16-year-old, is competing in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell for the first time since 2013. “Now that I’m back here, it brings back so many good memories,” Dimitrov said. “I practically spent my junior years out here, so it’s just pretty much coming back to the same courts where I used to practise and of course hang around, and just be a kid.” The World No. 5 will hope...
Pablo Carreno Busta discusses what it is like to play a big event like the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at his home club and what it's like to have such a strong field competing.