Alejandro Falla will be bidding for his first career ATP title when he takes the court in front of a home crowd on Sunday in Bogota. The final hurdle comes in the form of big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.
Alejandro Falla and Ivo Karlovic will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the first time in more than five years when they clash in the final of the Claro Open on Sunday. Their only previous encounter came at the 2008 French Open, where Falla survived a 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 thriller.
Fast forward to 2013 and the two veterans are still going relatively strong in–presumably–the latter stages of their careers. Karlovic is rounding back into form after a bout with viral meningitis, which kept him out of action from mid-April until mid-July. The 6’10” Croat reached the quarterfinals last week on the grass courts of Newport and so far in Bogota he has defeated Juan Ignacio Londero, Igor Sijsling, Adrian Mannarino, and Kevin Anderson. Prior to Newport, Karlovic had not won an ATP-level main-draw match since Indian Wells.
A similarly-resurgent Falla had lost six of his last seven matches prior to this week. However, the 122nd-ranked Colombian is on the fast track back to the Top 100 thanks to Bogota scalps of Xavier Malisse, Matthew Ebden, Janko Tipsarevic, and Vasek Pospisil. Falla is a solid 14-13 at the ATP level this year, which includes a quarterfinal showing in San Jose and a third-round performance in Miami.
Karlovic has put in at least 70 percent of his first deliveries in all four of his matches this week and he has not been broken a single time. That is bad news for Falla, especially on a hard court. The crowd favorite will continue to be inspired at home, but he has never played in an ATP final whereas Karlovic has captured four titles in seven tries. Based on his current serving form and his experience, Karlovic should have a slight edge.
Pick: Karlovic in 3
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I like Dr. Ivo as well, esp on hard courts!!!!
Go Ivo !