Karlovic, a winner last week at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, came close to becoming the oldest man to win back-to-back ATP singles tournaments since 43-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1973. Karlovic was serving for the match while leading 5-4 in the second set but Monfils broke and prevailed in the tie-break. The break was the first time Karlovic failed to hold serve on 54 occasions in the tournament. “I was serving for the match. If it was normal match, I would win it right there,” Karlovic said. “My service stopped at that moment. It happens, I guess. I’m not used to that. But it happens.
"I was going to win, and then I lost my serve. That is tennis.” Monfils added another service break early in the third set to take the momentum and pushed on for the win.
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(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
