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Karlovic prevails in record Australian Open marathon match

Croatian veteran Ivo Karlovic has come from two sets down to beat Horacio Zeballos in the second-longest match in Australian Open history.

The 37-year-old Karlovic prevailed 22-20 in the fifth set in a five-hour 15 minute marathon.

The fifth set alone lasted two hours and 37 minutes.

Karlovic prevails. Image: Getty

Time-wise, the match fell just 38 minutes short of the longest in Australian Open history, the five-hour and 53 minute final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in 2012.

By number of games played - 84 - it was the longest Australian Open match since the introduction of tiebreaks in 1971.

Mutual respect. Image: Getty

Karlovic set a new Australian Open record, crashing down 75 aces.

Even more remarkable was the fact the match started in 37 degree heat on Tuesday afternoon, but finished well into the evening.

Such was the serving dominance in the final set, the pair eked out just one break point each in the first 41 games.

It actually pails in comparison to the longest match in history, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut's 11-hour and five minute 2010 Wimbledon match.

Karlovic is no stranger to marathon matches.

The big-serving Croatian edged a classic 12-10 in the fifth over Australian Jordan Thompson at last year's French Open.

Among 22 five-setters, he also lost a four-hour classic at the 2009 French Open to long-distance specialist Lleyton Hewitt.

He plays another Australian, Andrew Whittington, in the second round on Thursday.

Watch the Australian Open LIVE on the screens of Seven including the 7Tennis App and PLUS7.