Two years and four months ago, he played his last match in the Indian Wells qualifiers, losing to Emilio Gomez from Ecuador with a score of 6-3, 7-6(7). His last victory was achieved in the same tournament in October 2021, where he managed a reversal in two tie-breaks against Canadian player Braydena Schnura. After a long period of silence, many speculated about whether he would return to the tennis world. However, he was removed from the ATP rankings in mid-October 2022.
In June of the same year, 24sata revealed that Ivo Karlović (44) had quietly retired, and this Wednesday he made it official with a formal farewell message on platform X.
Karlović began his career in 1999, suffering a loss to Denis Glazov in his first senior tournament. Despite this, he won eight times at the ATP level, was ranked the 14th player in the world in 2008, played in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon a year later, and twice made it to the round of 16 in the Grand Slam. He also won the title with the Davis Cup national team in 2005 and made it to the final in Arena Zagreb against Argentina in 2016.
Standing at 211 centimeters tall, the tie-break specialist, also known as Doctor Ivo, retired with earnings of $10.16 million. He announced his intention to transition into coaching.
The following is Karlović’s complete farewell letter:
“To all my fans and friends, I hope this message finds you well and with a strong backhand! Some of you may have noticed that it’s been a while since I played a tournament. I get asked every day when I’ll return to the tour. I regret to disappoint you, but I am officially announcing my retirement with this letter.
I have had a very fulfilling, unique, and long career that started from extremely humble beginnings, especially for a tennis player. I grew up in Croatia during the 80s and 90s, a very different time, and I am very proud of my achievements and what I have overcome.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the coaches and individuals who contributed to my development as a tennis player. Without you, this incredible journey wouldn’t have been possible. My family has provided me with immense support and I love them dearly. I am looking forward to spending more time with them, doing things that are important and fulfilling for us.
To all of you who have been fans and supporters over the years, thank you for being a part of my journey. I love you all and hope to see you again. I will stay close to tennis and try to share my knowledge and all the remarkable experiences on the tour with the new generations of tennis players. The journey continues and the focus shifts. I’m grateful.”
