Ivo Karlovic has retired from tennis at the age of 44 with the former World No.14 who held the record previously for the fastest recorded serve in professional tennis and was considered one of the best servers on tour standing at nearly seven foot tall ending a 24 year career.
Karlovic won eight career titles and reached the Quarter-Finals of Wimbledon in 2009. He hadn't played though since 2021 when he entered qualifying for the US Open and reached the main draw. He lost in the first round to fifth seed, Andrey Rublev. On social media, he said that he wanted to end the questioning and has officially called time on his career in 2024.
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"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 Karlovic on social media.
"I’ve had a very gratifying, unorthodox and long career coming from extremely humble beginnings, especially for a tennis player. Croatia was a very different country in the 80s and 90s when I was growing up, and I’m very proud of my accomplishments and what I’ve been able to overcome.
I’d like to thank all the coaches and people who were involved in and contributed to my development as a tennis player.
"Without you this fortunate journey would not have been possible.
My family provided tremendous support and I love them immensely. I’m looking forward to continuing to spend time with them doing things that are important to us and that fulfill us.
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."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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