Fernando Verdasco will be up against powerful Croat Ivo Karlovic in the second round of the SAP Open

Fernando Verdasco began his ATP San Jose Open campaign with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win against Rajeev Ram on Wednesday, and remains on course to retain the title that he won here last year. He will now face world No. 122 Ivo Karlovic in round two, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Karlovic is a former world No. 14, but has slid down the rankings considerably over the last two years. He still has the strength and size to cause his opponents some trouble, but isn’t fancied to do well against Verdasco. Even so, Karlovic appeared to be in decent form in round one, where he claimed a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Ryan Sweeting.

Karlovic holds a 3-2 head to head lead against Verdasco, though at this moment of time it seems like the Spaniard will have the edge. This pairing last met in 2010 on the clay courts of Madrid. Verdasco won the contest 7-6(5), 6-3.