The 44-year-old Croatian, former ATP No.14, professional tennis player Ivo Karlović announced his retirement from tennis, hanging up his racquet. “Some of you have noticed that it’s been a while since I played a tournament and still ask me on a daily basis if and when I’ll be returning to the tour. I’m sorry to disappoint, but with this letter, I want to make it official and finally announce my retirement.” said by Karlovic on X (former Twitter)
Karlović enjoyed a remarkable 25-year career on the ATP tour, clinching a total of 8 titles. His impressive journey includes a memorable run to the quarterfinals at the Wimbledon Championship in 2019, marking his best performance in a Grand Slam event.
Undoubtedly, Karlović is renowned for his towering height and huge serves. Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, he amassed an impressive 13,728 aces throughout his career, securing the second position in the all-time ace count, just behind John Isner’s 14,470 aces. Similarly, John Isner, another ace specialist, retired from tennis in 2023. Karlović also boasted a remarkable serve speed of 251 km/hour (156 mph), which stands as the third-fastest serve in tennis history to date.
For tennis fans, a memorable post-match handshake occurred between Diego Schwartzman, standing at 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm), and the towering 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm) Ivo Karlović at an ATP tournament in 2018. Schwartzman, faced with a significant height difference, ingeniously fetched a chair and positioned it at the net. Standing atop the chair, he reached up for a hug with Karlović, creating a humorous and endearing moment captured by the camera.
Ivo also expressed his gratitude to all his fans and supporters, promising to continue inspiring the younger generation of tennis players:”To all of you who were fans and supporters throughout the years, thank you for being a part of my journey. I love you all and I hope to see you again. I will stay close to tennis and try to share my knowledge and all of the incredible experiences on tour with new generations of tennis players. The journey continues and the focus gets redirected. I am grateful.”
Let ‘s wish Ivo Karlović all the best in the new chapter of his life.
Backhandev 
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