During the entire match Karlović had no break points, while facing only one break point by the opponent

Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlović made a victorious start of the new season, defeating Ukrainian Ilja Marčenko 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0) after an hour and 35 minutes of play in the first round of the Doha ATP Tour, Jutarnji List reported on January 3, 2017.

This was the second encounter by Karlović and Marčenko and the second win for our veteran which he snatched without once breaking the service of the opponent. In fact, during the entire match he had no break points, while facing only one break point by the opponent.

In the first set Karlović won only three points facing Marčenko's service, but in the tie-break he won four points on the Ukrainian's service and compensated for his somewhat weaker serving.

The only break point for Marčenko in the match was in the sixth game of the second set, but Karlović wiggled out of the situation and went on to dominate the tie-break completely, 7-0.

In the second round Karlović will play Russian Karen Hačanov.



