The six-foot 11-inch, 35-year-old Karlovic, the tallest and oldest
player on the main tour, won 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to make the
semi-finals.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic often appeared affected by the conditions, especially with his ground strokes, but that did not prevent Karlovic hammering down another 21 aces, making 67 for the tournament so far.
That took him to within 12 of Andy Roddick's 9,074 aces, the second highest ever.
Djokovic was sufficiently exasperated to fling down his racquet in the second set and to sling it along the floor in the third, eventually settling for a smile and congratulations to Karlovic.
"I can't say if it was surprising or not, but he served very well," Djokovic said.
"But you could expect that. I was coming into the match knowing that I will have very, very few chances. I was hoping that these conditions and the wind would kind of give me some second-serve opportunities, but it didn't look this way."
The most crucial moments came at 3-3 in the final set when Djokovic saved one break point with a serve, volley and smash combination, but then slipped to break point down again by mistiming an inside-out forehand drive into the net.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic often appeared affected by the conditions, especially with his ground strokes, but that did not prevent Karlovic hammering down another 21 aces, making 67 for the tournament so far.
That took him to within 12 of Andy Roddick's 9,074 aces, the second highest ever.
Djokovic was sufficiently exasperated to fling down his racquet in the second set and to sling it along the floor in the third, eventually settling for a smile and congratulations to Karlovic.
"I can't say if it was surprising or not, but he served very well," Djokovic said.
"But you could expect that. I was coming into the match knowing that I will have very, very few chances. I was hoping that these conditions and the wind would kind of give me some second-serve opportunities, but it didn't look this way."
The most crucial moments came at 3-3 in the final set when Djokovic saved one break point with a serve, volley and smash combination, but then slipped to break point down again by mistiming an inside-out forehand drive into the net.
Source: World Sports News and View more Cricket Live Score
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