Croatian beanpole Ivo Karlovic upset top-seeded compatriot Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the grasscourt Nottingham Open on Wednesday.
Unseeded Karlovic, the 2.08m serving machine who reached the final of the Stella Artois Championships on Sunday, swept through the third-set tiebreak 7-1 to continue his impressive Wimbledon [Images] preparations.
In the last eight he faces Belgian seventh seed Olivier Rochus who overcame Slovakia's Karol Beck 6-4, 6-3.
Second seed Thomas Johansson of Sweden beat Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6, 7-6 to set up a quarter-final with American fifth seed Taylor Dent, who battled to a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory over compatriot Travis Rettenmaier.
Defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan [Images] of Thailand will meet French teenager Richard Gasquet in the quarter-finals after they both beat their second round opponents on Wednesday.
Paradorn overcame Czech qualifier Jan Vacek 7-6, 7-6 and Gasquet, who turns 19 on Saturday, advanced 6-4, 6-1 against Jonathan Marray of Britain.
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