I’ve only just hobbled my way past 30, and already my knees sound like the staircase of an abandoned cabin in the woods.

I guess that’s not the case for everyone though, because 37-year-old Croatian Ivo Karlovic just became the oldest man in 25 years to reach the French Open third round.

Karlovic defeated Australian wildcard Jordan Thompson in a marathon five setter, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (4/7), 12-10, which means he will more than likely need six to seven hours on the massage table before he can get out of bed tomorrow.

More from France24:

He unleashed 41 aces and 102 winners and goes on to meet second seed Andy Murray who needed five sets to defeat French wildcard Mathias Bourgue…

Karlovic is also the oldest man to make the third round of any Slam since Connors, at 39 years and six days, reached the same stage at the 1991 US Open.

“It’s the only time when being old is okay,” joked Karlovic, who has never beaten Murray in six career meetings.

Friday’s match will be just the second time that Karlovic has reached the third round in Paris and comes in a season where he missed two months with a knee injury.

You go, old man.

As if we needed more reasons to root for the underdog he’s up against Andy Murray next, who’s about as likeable as an ingrown toenail.

[source:france24]

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