Karlovic makes quick exit in Zagreb

Playing on home soil has done little to aid Ivo Karlovic.

The second-seeded Croat was an unlikely upset victim Tuesday, losing to 209th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in the opening round of the $370,000 PBZ Zagreb Indoors.

This is the third straight year that Karlovic has played at this hardcourt event and he’s done progressively worse on each occasion. The 28-year-old was a quarterfinalist here in 2006 before losing then-world No. 179 Stefan Koubek, and was upset in the second round here last season by Michael Llodra.

A native of Ukraine and a virtual unknown on tour, Stakhovsky is playing as a lucky loser here, having replaced Llodra who withdrew at the last minute.

It marks just the seventh tour victory for the 21-year-old, who has spent most of his time on the Challenger circuit.

Another local favorite, top-seeded Ivan Ljubicic had better luck in his first match, claiming a 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win over Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis.

After reaching the semifinals in Doha to open the year, the 28-year-old Ljubicic had lost three straight matches, including a first-round exit at the Australian Open.

He is now 10-1 at this event, having captured the title in 2006 - the first year of this tournament. Ljubicic reached the final again last year but lost to Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.

Also bitten by the upset bug Tuesday was Italy’s Andreas Seppi, who lost a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) decision to Russia’s Rik de Voest. Third-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon of France avoided problems with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory over Pavol Cervenak.

First prize is $59,100.

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