In the Qatari capital of Doha, Ivo Karlovic was this evening unable to keep up his giant-slaying ways as he succumbed to 10th-ranked David Ferrer 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), despite striking 30 aces in the two hour 31 minute semi-final.

The match saw no breaks of serve from either side, with Ferrer saving two break points, Karlovic three.

Karlovic, who this week became just the third player in history to cross the 9,000 aces mark, had been serving bombs all week.

Asked how good he thought Karlovic’s serve was, Ferrer said: “Well, [his serve] is like a penalty.

“Ivo is serving unbelievable this week, no? First and second serve. He surprised me with the second serve, because he was serving 119mph and it was not easy to return him.

“It was a very mentally tough match.”

Ferrer entered his 47th final where he will face Tomas Berdych, who beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-2, 6-3.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in just under two hours to set up a last four clash with another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut.

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka survived a tough second set to beat Gilles Muller 6-2, 7-6 (7/4). The Swiss world No4 will take on David Goffin in today’s semi-final.