Hewitt felled by giant giant-killer
( 2003-06-24 09:42) (Agencies)
Towering Ivo Karlovic starred in his own fantastical Wimbledon fairytale on
Monday, beating champion Lleyton Hewitt to create history on the world's most
famous tennis stage.
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Hewitt reacts after losing the
match | Standing 6 foot 10 inches (2.083 metre) in his bare
feet, Karlovic is the tallest man to have played the grand slam in its 127-year
history.
But despite this, he barely registers on the tennis radar.
Until
Monday's first round match he had played just 10 matches at full Tour level --
and never at a grand slam.
But in front of a spellbound Centre Court crowd,
the Goliath downed the Australian top seed 1-6 7-6 6-3 6-4.
It was an
incredible result and one which left Hewitt saddled with the unwanted tag as
first champion since tennis turned professional in 1968 to lose in the first
round.
"I was a little bit lucky, but that's life," Karlovic
stuttered.
Clearly enjoying his new-found celebrity, he added: "I really
enjoyed playing this. I am excited... (but) I believe I'm going to realise some
other day that I won."
SEVERE STAMMER
Karlovic struggles with his speech, suffering from a severe
stammer, but on Monday needed no words at all to carve his own piece of sporting
history.
The fairytale finish was more outrageous than even the plots of the
Rocky movies from which Hewitt draws inspiration, but Karlovic made it happen in
front of a spellbound Wimbledon Centre Court.
Karlovic told reporters that
within moments of his victory he had received a call from compatriot and 2001
champion Goran Ivanisevic.
"He was always my idol and I always saw him as a
God," the 24-year-old said. "I spoke with him just now and he congratulated me
on my win."
Hewitt left court shell-shocked, beaten by a man who had scraped
together just four full Tour level wins and $155,772 in three years hacking
round the circuit.
But all the Australian's millions and tournament titles
could not save him from his fate.
Only once before in the tournament's
126-year history had a champion lost in the opening round. That was in 1967 when
Manuel Santana lost to Charlie Pasarell, and Hewitt will have much
soul-searching to do.
"It's hard to say now that I will go away and learn
something from this but yeah, hopefully I will," Hewitt said.
"Sure as
defending champion it is disappointing but I'd be disappointed losing first
round at Wimbledon any time."
LONG-TERM GIRLFR
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