Sat Jun 21 15:28:47 2008

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Karlovic wins again in Nottingham

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Nottingham, England (Sports Network) - Ivo Karlovic made it two in a row in Nottingham, where he won the final of the Slazenger Open thanks to a hard-fought three-set battle with third-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Saturday.

The Croat Karlovic edged Verdasco 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-8), to win the event, a final grass-court Wimbledon tuneup, for the second straight year. The 29-year-old Karlovic improved to 4-2 in his career finals in his first title bout of 2008, while the 24-year-old lefthanded Verdasco fell to 1-4 in his ATP finals. Saturday's final was Verdasco's first one of the year and his first one ever on grass.

The 6-foot-10 Karlovic beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement in last year's Nottingham finale.

Karlovic has taken two of three career matchups, both on hardcourts. The Croat topped the Spaniard at the Paris Masters last year.

Karlovic will pocket $92,000 in prize money for the victory.