Giant who stunned Hewitt retires 21 years later

Ivo Karlovic, the towering Croatian known for his booming serve, has announced his retirement from tennis more than two years after playing his last tournament match.

The 211cm Karlovic said in a post on X that “I’ve had a very gratifying, unorthodox and long career coming from extremely humble beginnings, especially for a tennis player”.

The 44-year-old Karlovic — he will turn 45 next week — played his last ATP match in a second-round qualifying loss at Indian Wells, California in October 2021. His last grand slam tournament match was a first-round singles loss at the US Open about six weeks earlier.

Karlovic first made a name for himself in 2003 after coming through qualifying at Wimbledon and defeating defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in the first round at the All England Club.

Ivo Karlovic and Lleyton Hewitt shakes hands after their famous 2003 Wimbeldon clash.

It was Karlovic’s first match at a grand slam tournament and the result made Hewitt the first defending Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round since the start of the Open era in 1968.

“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,” Karlovic wrote.

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but with this letter, I want to make it official and finally announce my retirement.”

Karlovic finished his 25-year career with eight singles titles and a record of 371 wins, 346 losses and $15.4 million in prize money. His highest singles ranking was at No.14 in August 2008.

Six-time grand slam singles champion Boris Becker was among those to congratulate Karlovic on X, calling his serve “the best in tennis”.