By Lauren Lynch
Photo Credit: Sean Bradley

(April 9, 2011) 6'10'' Ivo Karlovic has hit a total of 94 aces since he has been in Houston (out of the 290 aces he has hit this year alone) and used 24 aces to defeat fellow giant and friend 6'9'' John Isner 7-6(2), 6-7(2), 7-6(9) at the US Men's Clay Court Championships. Their head-to-head series is now 2-1 in favor of Karlovic. Did Karlovic prove that bigger is better?

Karlovic said, "It was really difficult. Now I know how is it to play against me. It was really not easy. I was just trying to stay confident."

Karlovic started the tournament as a qualifier to get to the semifinals after 6 completed match wins. Each point went by very quickly with few rallies. He was the US Men's Clay Court Championship winner in 2007 and now has 44 tournament record aces in a week for draw matches, which means he beat John Isner for the 2011 record. His highest tournament record aces in a week was in 2007 at Westside Country Club in Houston with 53 aces. Pete Sampras holds the most tournament record aces in a week at 60 aces in 2002. 

World No. 174 (and soon-to-be-climbing), Karlovic, goes on to play the American, Ryan Sweeting, who defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sweeting hit 5 aces and hit 75 total points. This is World No. 93 Sweeting's first ATP Tour semifinal. 32-year-old Karlovic has a 1-0 record against 23-year-old Sweeting after defeating him in San Jose in two sets this year.

Don't worry, you will likely see Karlovic and Isner together again. Karlovic said he hopes to play doubles with Isner for a second time if he can nab him from Sam Querrey.