KEY POINTS:
Roger Federer struggled to tame Croat Ivo Karlovic for the second time in five days before beating him 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters yesterday.
The world tennis No 1, who had already been made to work by the 2.08m Karlovic for a 7-6, 7-6 win in Basel on Saturday, had further problems against an opponent with an awkward style and a formidable serve.
The Swiss, finishing the season in top spot for the fourth consecutive year, broke in the sixth game of the first set and went on to take it with a forehand winner.
Karlovic fought back in the second set, earning three set points in its 10th game. Federer saved two but hit a forehand long on the third.
An early break in the decisive set helped Federer regain control where he stayed until Karlovic, who fired 16 aces to bring his 2007 total to 1318, bowed out by missing a drop shot on the first match point.
Federer's reward will be a meeting with another familiar face, David Nalbandian, the man who upset him in the final of the Madrid Masters last month.
- Reuters