By Alex Perry BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Karlovic beat Hewitt in four sets

If Ivo Karlovic ever decides to give up life on the tennis tour then a career as a professional poker player must be an option.

His face at his post-match news conference gave no indication that he had just produced one of the most momentous victories ever at Wimbledon.

The only time the 6ft 10in Croatian raised a smile was when he was asked whether his mother or father were also very tall.

"No, average. Maybe the postman is," he joked.

IVO KARLOVIC FACTFILE DOB: 28.02.1979 HOME: Zagreb Career prize money: $155,772 Highest ranking: 165 Current ranking: 203

But this was the sole moment of levity in an otherwise difficult debut in front of the world's press.

Karlovic was clearly ill at ease - but given his lack of experience on the big stage it is hardly surprising.

This was his first ever match at a Grand Slam and only his 11th on the tour.

A search on the ATP's website for his career highlights gives the response: "Information not available".

That will not be a problem for much longer.

But apart from his inexperience in dealing with the media, Karlovic's job was made all the more difficult by a debilitating stutter.

Facing Lleyton Hewitt on Centre Court was clearly a walk in the park compared with dealing with the press in his broken English.

"I am not afraid of anything on the tennis court," he said. "Only speaking."

But Karlovic will get a deal more practice if he continues to produce this sort of form.

He was always my idol, and I hold him as a God Ivo Karlovic on Goran Ivanisevic

Despite a nervous start, Karlovic said he always believed he could beat Hewitt.

"I saw him play last week, and he didn't play anything special.

"I was prepared to win.

"The first set I was scared. But after I saw that I can beat him, I started to play better."

Inevitably the comparisons with his compatriot, 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic, will be made.

Karlovic said that Ivanisevic had called him straight after the match to congratulate him.

"He was always my idol, and I hold him as a God," he said.

With Ivanisevic in the twilight of his career, Karlovic has taken his first giant stride towards becoming the inspiration for the next generation of Croatian tennis players.