Tomas Berdych, the former Wimbledon finalist who hopes that 2014 will bring the Grand Slam title that has so far eluded him, began the new season with an immediate shock. The world number seven from the Czech Republic was edged out in two tie-break sets by Croatia's Ivo Karlovic in a first round clash at the Qatar Open which often seemed more like a Russian roulette shoot-out than anything else. Berdych, who had been seeded to reach the semi-finals, knew very well what might happen even before his staccato 7-6(9-7), 7-6(7-4) loss to the former world number 14. Karlovic hit a record 156mph serve two years ago, delivered a record 78 aces in one match in 2009, and served 961 aces and played 61 tie-breaks the year before that.