Karlovic wins second in row in Nottingham

NOTTINGHAM, England, June 21 (UPI) -- Croat Ivo Karlovic made it two in a row in Nottingham when he won the final of the Slazenger Open Saturday over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Defending champion Karlovic beat the third-seeded Verdasco 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-8).

Karlovic, 29, improved to 4-2 in his career finals in his first title bout of 2008, while lefthanded Verdasco, 24, fell to 1-4 in his ATP finals. Saturday's final was Verdasco's first of the year.

The 6-foot-10 Karlovic beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement in last year's Nottingham finale.