No. 2 Karlovic falls, but top seed Verdasco advances in New Haven

World No. 434 Luka Gregorc scored one of this summer’s biggest upsets in New Haven on Wednesday, as he stunned No. 2 seed and 14th ranked Ivo Karlovic (pictured), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2. The win marked just his seventh career ATP singles win and only his third of the season. Despite six double faults, the Slovenian was a perfect three for three on break point chances. Gregorc, who spends the majority of his time playing in Futures tournaments (the lowest level of pro tournaments), now meets No. 7 seed Andreas Seppi of Italy. Seppi easily beat Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2.

Top seed Fernando Verdasco, meanwhile, continued his incredible tennis in New Haven. He defeated Ivo Minar, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to his third career Pilot Pen Tennis quarterfinal, also his sixth ATP quarterfinal appearance this season. Verdasco was impressive, breaking serve on four occasions, while winning fifty-six percent of the points off Minar’s first serve. Verdasco, one month removed from a title at the Croatia Open, will now take on Mischa Zverev for a spot in the semifinals. Verdasco owns a 3-0 record against Zverev with their only hard court meeting coming in 2007 in Tokyo. On Wednesday, Zverev was sluggish from the start of his match with American Robby Ginepri, but rebounded for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.

Lucky Loser Jesse Levine continued to make the best of his late main draw entry opportunity, and this time he didn’t need to put up much of a fight. Levine was leading Steve Darcis 2-0, when the Belgian retired with a back injury. Currently ranked No. 106 in the world, Levine is certain to crack the Top 100 when the new rankings are released on Monday. Levine now meets countryman No. 8 Mardy Fish who took care of No. 9 Marc Gicquel, 6-4, 6-3 in the evening session.

In other action, No. 4 seed and 23rd ranked Igor Andreev conquered No. 16 Victor Hanescu, 6-4, 7-5 to advance to his third quarterfinal in New Haven. Teenager Marin Cilic, meanwhile, advanced to his sixth quarterfinal of the year after surviving a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 classic over Olympic quarterfinalist Jurgen Melzer.