Karlovic’s Victory Highlights Tuesday’s Qualifying Action

Ivo Karlovic defeats Brayden Schnur

An incredible first round ATP Tour qualifying matchup greeted fans on Stadium 7, as grizzled veteran Croatian Ivo Karlovic narrowly defeated Canadian upstart Brayden Schnur 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7).

Karlovic, who is the tallest player in ATP Tour history at a towering 6feet 11inches, delivered his signature booming serve throughout the match to keep Schnur on his heels. As one of only five players in history to have over 10,000 career aces to his name, Karlovic is consistently one of the most difficult players on tour to break. While Schnur managed to do so in the opening set, he couldn’t replicate his success throughout the final two frames.

In a heated final set, the 42-year-old battled back from a 3-6 tiebreaker deficit to rattle off three straight points to tie the score, before ultimately winning the match a few points later. It was a tough end for Schnur, who put up a promising fight and had multiple match points.

With more experience than almost any other player throughout the men’s field, Karlovic will surely be a tough out for whoever he faces in the first round of the main draw.

Martina Trevisan [2] defeats Reese Brantmeier  

For the second day in a row, Italian Martina Trevisan outclassed her qualifying opponent here in Tennis Paradise. The World No. 66 downed American Reese Brantmeier 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and sixteen minutes of total match time.

The first match to finish on the second day of WTA Tour qualifying, Trevisan welcomed the crowds to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with a stellar performance on Stadium 3. Converting 79% (34/43) of her first serves as well as winning 74% (25/34) of her first service points, she gave Brantmeier little chance to garner any momentum throughout the speedy contest.

Trevisan is most certainly a name to watch as main draw play gets underway this week, as she currently holds her career-high ranking and is playing some of the best tennis of her career. The 27-year-old has long been searching for her WTA Tour breakthrough performance, as she hopes to replicate an accomplished ITF career that includes 10 singles titles.

For Brantmeier, this is simply the start of what looks to be an extremely promising career. At just 16-years-old, the American put together a surprising upset performance in defeating Katie Boulter in her first round qualifying matchup.

Kateryna Kozlova [15] defeats [1] Jasmine Paolini

World No. 136 Kateryna Kozlova delivered an upset over No. 63-ranked Jasmine Paolini on Stadium 8, needing less than an hour and a half to claim a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

While the Italian Paolini was considered one of the favorites to advance to women’s main draw, she was unable to replicate her success on Monday and continue forward in this year’s tournament.

The 27-year-old Ukrainian followed up her straight-set victory over Tatjana Maria on Monday with another strong performance in Tennis Paradise. Kozlova gave the top-seeded qualifier fits throughout the afternoon with her impressive service game and relentlessly consistent pace. Her performance was a testament to her fitness level, which Kozlova will need to continue to rely on with high temperatures expected to continue throughout the tournament’s first-ever fall edition.

As an unheralded newcomer to those in Tennis Paradise, Kozlova now will look to make a name for herself during her first career trip to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Ernesto Escobedo [13] defeats Denis Istomin

During the late afternoon on Stadium 2, American Ernesto Escobedo took on Uzbek Denis Istomin in what was expected to be a tightly contested matchup. In reality, it was the American Escobedo’s day, as he upended Istomin 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round of men’s qualifying.

Escobedo, who is a local Southern California native and currently resides in nearby Los Angeles, is looking to improve upon his best career finish in Tennis Paradise: a second round berth at the 2018 tournament. He looked like he has all the makings to do so on Tuesday, with a stellar performance highlighted by saving 83% (5/6) of Istomin’s potential break points as well as converting a perfect 100% (4/4) of his own break opportunities.

Next, the American enters a wide open 2021 men’s main draw that features a more balanced roster than the top-heavy big three the crowds at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden are used to seeing. So how far can the 25-year-old American go this year? Only time will tell.