Behind 41 aces, old-man Karlovic into third round

1:19 PM ET

PARIS — Sixteen years ago, a spidery 24-year-old from Zagreb, Croatia, stunned top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt, who was trying to defend his Wimbledon title, in the first round.

It was the first (and last) time that happened at any event in the Open era and the unlikely career of Ivo Karlovic was properly launched. He was 6-feet-11 and, from that lofty perspective, he hit serves you could barely see.

Last year, Karlovic was still a serviceable player, ranked No. 23 at year’s end, with his sixth title, at Delray Beach. That victory, at the age of 36, made him the oldest ATP World Tour champion since Jimmy Connors won at Tel Aviv in 1989.

Ivo Karlovic socked 41 aces in a five-set win Wednesday at the French Open. Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

Wednesday at Roland Garros, Karlovic joined Connors in another soon-to-be-AARP-sponsored milestone: Karlovic reached the third round of this French Open with a monumental 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 12-10 victory over Australian wild card Jordan Thompson. In doing so, Karlovic, now 37, became the oldest man to reach the third round of Grand Slam since Connors mesmerized the tennis world at the 1991 US Open.

“It’s the only time when being old is OK,” Karlovic said …

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