Analysis for Karlovic-Stakhovsky (ATP Indian Wells)

Head-to-head record 0:2

Sergyi Stakhovsky will play Croatian bomber Ivo Karlovic for the third time in his career. He has beaten him in both previous matches. In the season opener in Doha, Stakhovsky lost in the quarterfinals to number 3 seed Andy Murray. In Zagreb, as defending champion, he once again made the quarterfinals, losing to Viktor Troicki. Stakhovsky played Andy Murray once more in the first round of the ATP Dubai event, and after being one set up and with a break in the second, he twisted his ankle whilst trying to volley. Unable to finish the match, Stakhovsky retired hurt. As the leading player in the Ukrainian Davis Cup team, Stakhovsky defeated Chris Eaton on the opening day of the Europe/Africa Zone Playoff versus Great Britain in Scotland and partnered Sergei Bubka Jr in closing out the tie by winning the doubles in five sets. He was an ambitious player who has not met his potential yet but this year, he played several good matches and we think he is able to defeat Karlovic for the third time in a row. Ivo is taking advantage of his height. He is heavily reliant on his serve. With a more acute angle from his racquet to the service line, his first serves have a higher chance of coming in, thereby rendering many of them unhittable, let alone returnable. With bad returns from his opponents, he normally just has to put the ball away for a winner without the need of a proper volley. We think he will not make his mark being a serve-only player and even when he already defeated many top players, he can easily loose to big underdogs as just a few points usually decide his matches. This year, he hasn’t shown anything special and we will go against him once again.