Kubot advances to Belgrade final

BELGRADE, Serbia, May 9 (UPI) -- Little known Lukasz Kubot of Poland stunned No. 2 seed Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 at Saturday's semifinals of the inaugural Serbia Open in Belgrade.

Kubot, who will appear in his first career singles final, carried the "lucky loser" tag into the event because Belgium's Steve Darcis was forced to withdraw because of a nagging right shoulder injury. He has topped Serbia's Arsenije Zlatanovic, No. 3 seed Igor Andreev of Russia, who retired in the first set, Kristof Vliegen, and Karlovic, all without losing a set this week.

The 26-year-old Kubot overcame 14 service aces by 21st-ranked Karlovic, but broke Karlovic twice in the second set.

In Sunday's final, he will meet third-seeded Novak Djokovic, a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victor Saturday over fourth-seeded Andreas Seppi of Italy.

The Kubot-Djokovic winner takes home a $100,000 champion's check after their first-ever meeting.