(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.

"I was preparing for this week, so I'm really pleased that I won here," said Karlovic. "It was really difficult, he was playing really well and in the end it was all about one or two points. It was a close match."

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.

"Tennis is like this," said Verdasco. "I know that if he had hit a double fault or I had made a lucky return in the tie-break the match was mine. But I was unlucky today. I try my best all the time, I tried everything and only by one point did he beat me."

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.







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