WASHINGTON - Ivo Karlovic, seeking back-to-back titles on different surfaces at age 37, advanced to the ATP and WTA Washington Open finals on Saturday by defeating US fifth seed Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4. Johnson, ranked a career-high 25th after taking his first ATP title last month at Nottingham, had won three of four prior matches with Karlovic, including a third-rounder at Washington in 2014. Karlovic, who averaged 22 aces in his first three wins at the US capital, has not surrendered a service break this week. Monfils, ranked 17th, is 2-0 versus Zverev, including a February quarter-final win at Rotterdam, as each seeks his third ATP final of the year. In the next game, Karlovic rocketed a service return forehand winner past Johnson and then dropped a slice backhand winner on the line to break for a 2-1 lead.

Source: Bangkok Post July 23, 2016 20:37 UTC