Basilashvili stuns Karlovic in Memphis

Basilashvili stuns Karlovic in Memphis – Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili upset Croatian top seed Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Memphis Open.

A week shy of his 25th birthday, the world number 67 won all 37 of his first-serve points and took only 69 minutes to dispatch hard-serving 37-year-old Karlovic, ranked 20th.

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Basilashvili, seeking his first ATP crown, advanced to the last eight at the indoor hardcourt event, where he will meet Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden, who downed US teen Taylor Fritz. 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after one hours and 42 minutes.

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin dispatched Barbados qualifier Darian King 6-3, 6-0 in 70 minutes to book a quarterfinal spot against US fourth seed Steve Johnson, who rallied to oust compatriot Tim Smyczek 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

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Kukushkin connected on 65 percent of his first serves and won 82 percent of his first-serve points while King managed to take only 36 percent of his first-serve points.

Friday’s other quarterfinals send US second seed John Isner against compatriot Donald Young and American Ryan Harrison against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.

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