Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlović joins Čilić, Ćorić, Martić, and Vekić in the 2nd round of Roland Garros after celebrating in the oldest duel in the history of the Grand Slam tournament in Paris. The 40-year-old Karlović defeated 37-year-old Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 7- 7 (7), 7-5 after three hours and six minutes of play, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on May 28, 2019. 

Karlović and Lopez played an excellent match in which Croatia’s veteran played better for the most critical points and achieved his eighth victory in their twelfth encounter.

Although Lopez consistently threatened Karlović’s service in the first set, at 0-30 twice, and once at 15-30, he did not have a single break point, while Karlović won only five points in six of Lopez's service games. In the decisive game, Karlović had his chance, and Karlović won the only point that went against the server in the tie-break. 

In the first part of the second set, Lopez was still the better player, and at 2-2 and 3-3 he had two breaks, though he missed the latter, which ultimately cost him the game. At 6-5, Karlović reached his first two break points in the match, while Lopez sent a forehand out to give Karlović the 2-0 lead in the sets.

During the third set, both players kept their first strike and left the excitement for a tie-break in which Karlović missed two match points before Lopez used his first set point. After Lopez missed a volley at 5-5 and offered Karlović a match point, it seemed that the end of the match was near, but for the next point, the Spaniard hit a backhand to return and had an 8-7 advantage.

In the sixth game of the fourth set, Lopez finally managed to take Karlović’s lead, confirmed the break and lead 5-3 - and it seemed that the winner would be decided in the fifth set. But Karlović disagreed with that scenario, and at 5-3 he returned the break, leaving Lopez without a point, and then once again took the Spaniard’s service for 6-5 and serves for the match. Not even the last game could pass without drama - Lopez reached a break point only to have Karlović hit two aces in a row. Karlović realized his third match point. 

Ivo Karlović will play against Australian Jordon Thompson in the 2nd round of Roland Garros. Interestingly, Karlović and Thompson played each other in Roland Garros two years ago, and Karlović won 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 12-10.

Thus, Karlović is the oldest male player to win a match at Roland Garros in 45 years. He is also the oldest to win a Grand Slam game since Ken Rosewall in 1978 at the Australian Open. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

May 27, 2019 - Roland Garros, also known as the French Open, kicked off at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. Croatia’s tennis representatives, including Marin Čilić, Borna Ćorić, Petra Martić, and Donna Vekić have all advanced to the second round. 

Marin Čilić skipped the first obstacle at this year's Roland Garros. Croatia’s best male tennis player and the 11th-seed of the tournament defeated Italian Thomas Fabbiano, the 98th best tennis player in the world, in three sets - 6:3, 7:5, 6:1.

Marin played a solid match and had the most issues at the end of the second set when he lost his service at 4:4 and Fabbiano served to equalize 1:1. However, Čilić immediately returned the lost service, and by the end of the duel, won nine of the 10 games. In the third set, the Italian led 1:0 after a break and then lost six games in a row. Čilic achieved 13 aces and realized 58 percent of the first service, and made 36 unforced errors (Fabbiano 34). Čilić will play Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 64. 

In just over an hour, Petra Martić advanced to the second round of this year's Roland Garros after defeating Tunisian Ons Jabeur (WTA-56)  6:1, 6: 2.

Petra took the service of her rival six times and lost two games on two occasions. Jabeur made 27 unforced errors (Martić 8). Martić also realized 65 percent of the first service and easily made it to the 2nd round where she will face French player Kristina Mladenović. 

Donna Vekić, the 23rd-seed of the tournament, made it to the 2nd round of this year's Roland Garros. Croatia’s best female tennis player was too strong for the 'lucky loser' of qualifications, Russian Liudmila Samsonova(WTA-159) - 6:2, 6:4.

The Osijek-native settled the first set after breaks in the third and fifth games, while in the second set she only took Samsonova’s service in the third game. Samson had just one break-point (the fourth game of the first set) that she did not take advantage of during the match. Vekić finished the game without a double fault and with 59% of the first service and 17 unforced errors (Samsonova 35). Donna will play in the 2nd round against Swede Rebecca Peterson (WTA-63). 

Borna Ćorić will play in the 2nd round of Roland Garros for the fifth time. After almost three hours, the 22-year-old Zagreb-native defeated Slovenian Aljaž Bedene who took the duel to the fourth set - 6:1, 6:7(4), 6:4, 6:4.

During the match, Bedene lost his service to Borna on five occasions; Borna did not succeed only in the second set, which went to a tie-break in favor of Bedene. On the other hand, he saved all three of Bedene's breaks. In the round of 64,  Ćorić will play against South African Lloyd Harris. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

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Borna Ćorić and Petra Martić are in the second round while Ivo Karlović and Ana Konjuh were knocked out in the first. Donna Vekić players her first round match today, and Marin Čilić hits the court tomorrow against James Duckworth.