Ivo Karlovic will begin his charge for the ATP Memphis Open with a first round match against Michael Russell

Ivo Karlovic is an outsider this week in Memphis, but might be able to launch a decent title challenge if he can get the most out of his serve on this pacy indoor surface. He will open his campaign against Michael Russell of the USA, and is expected to progress to round two. Even so, he has a lot of work to do if he wants to win this match, and even more to do if he has plans on getting back into the top hundred.

Russell is another player who has recently fallen from the top hundred, and the next few months will be crucial for French Open and Wimbledon qualification plans. Russell has made a reasonable start to the year, but doesn’t appear to be playing particularly dangerously right now. Karlovic should fancy his chances here.

Karlovic has a 1-0 head to head record against Russell, having beaten him in straights sets on the hard courts of New Haven in 2007. That said, Karlovic was at the height of his powers back then, and might struggle to double his lead over Russell in this contest. Russell is no youngster himself though, so Karlovic should still have the upper hand.