DAVIS CUP FIRST ROUND, CROATIA vs. USA

March 3, 2005

Ivan Ljubicic

CAPTAIN PILIC: Well, in one point, I don't see the difference because America want to win and we want to win. America has very strong team, extremely strong, and I think we have very solid team which at the moment is in good form. I think Patrick McEnroe think how he will make three points and my thoughts are also how I can make three points. So in that subject, there is no big difference.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Probably, yes. For us is very, very important. I guess for our Federation, it's also very important to win that match. In America, obviously there is probably a lot of sports that are also very, very important. But for Croatia, I think in that regard it's much more important to win than probably in America, for (indiscernible) anyhow.

CAPTAIN PILIC: I don't think so there is any more difference if Mario or Ivan playing. The most important is if somebody win the first match. Maybe Ivan had a chance to win the first match if he play good. So, I mean, really it's not big difference who is playing, Mario or Ivan.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Why he's not in the team? Because I don't think so he wants to play.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Yeah.

CAPTAIN PILIC: No.

CAPTAIN PILIC: No, I don't think so. I have a history of Croatian people, and I'm very good in geographic. I knew that a big community is in San Pedro, like 34,000, and in all California is 183,000 Croatian living. One of my far family was also somewhere, I don't know, 70, 80 years coming also in California.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Well, some of the people will be I think pretty loud (smiling).

CAPTAIN PILIC: Well, I guess. Americans are not stupid, they tried to get the best surface for what suits them, like we did a couple years ago in Zagreb. We took the best surface which is good for us. Thanks God that both of my players playing on very similar surface one week before. So there is no big difference.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Sorry, I didn't understand the question.

IVAN LJUBICIC: We have four, too.

CAPTAIN PILIC: We have four, too.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Well, depends. Depends. If something happen on Friday that the matches are very, very long, and let's say four hours each match, which happen in Hartford that we have against McEnroe and Mayotte, 11-hour day. So take the guy off and somebody else will play doubles. We have four guys, not two.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Yes, yes. But this is our tactic.

MARIO ANCIC: Well, I mean, both times when I play with him, it was extremely tough match. You know, was couple balls now and then when he played better. But now I feel for sure much more experienced in these situations, and now I feel I'm a better player than when I played before. You know, it's going to be much slower court than where we play. We play both time on grass. No, like I said, I'm feeling extremely good. So, you know, we'll see tomorrow. There's couple things I saw in those matches which I'll try to play on. You know, Ivan play against him, so we talk little bit. But, you know, there's not too many new things. Just playing good on the day.

MARIO ANCIC: I don't think I only spend lot of time with him. All here spend lot of time with him. Unfortunately he's not here. It would be really nice. We all here could learn a lot of him. He was great inspiration for us - not only for me. Maybe will be more expose because we're from same town, but we're all four of us here can learn a lot of him. He's great guy and we had lot of fun with him also.

CAPTAIN PILIC: Well, Davis Cup could be inspiration for him. But average to take 10 matches, definitely he is not in a level that he was six years ago. But in Davis Cup, probably a guy like him can raise his game on a top level. You never know that. I mean, we will know that on Sunday afternoon late. You can never say a guy like that, that he will play bad or something, because he has lot of experience. I saw him playing many matches against us when I was captain of Germany. I think he is great player, great personality. I would say that these people are always very dangerous because they can raise the game in a high level through the experience.