WIMBLEDON

July 3, 2004

Mario Ancic

MARIO ANCIC: Well, obviously the first rain delay from yesterday to today helped a lot - I broke him straightaway, broke him second time, win a set. You know, I was up Love-40 the next game. So, I mean, that was good. But I don't think why it was the second rain delay. I watched, all the courts were still playing. But rain came later. You know, I mean, doesn't really matter. I was get out and just started to focus again. That's it. I mean, doesn't really -- I was just trying to stay warm. Didn't really affect me too much.

MARIO ANCIC: I mean, it was a pretty big match, and I think in those kind of matches, it comes down to three, four balls. I really have to congratulate him. I think he played better. Like I said, I mean, I had Love-40, I had couple breakpoints - didn't use them, which he did. I was a little bit struggling with my serve fourth set, but I was fighting good with my volleys and everything. Just like couple breakpoints I didn't use, he did really good. Some unforced error, unnecessary. I was enjoying playing in this kind of matches. I have to say today he was a little bit better.

MARIO ANCIC: Well, I think I'm already improved from when I played Queen's with him because now I was rallying much better from the back. I knew what to expect. I was returning way better than in Queens, volleying, serving and volleying better also. It's great to see I already improve in last three, four weeks. It's great that I, you know, manage. Also help me a lot that I went through, you know, first two rounds couple tough matches. I think that is what's going to give me confidence. It's nice to see that I'm still improving.

MARIO ANCIC: Well, I mean, for sure I think I played a great tennis this year. Also two years ago I beat Roger on this kind of court. So, I mean, I think I'm playing good here. You know, fast courts are good for me. But I think, like what I said, you know, last year, I think I improved a lot. I was hardly serving and volleying, and this year I was much more aggressive. But, you know, now is going to come to a couple small details and I'll try to even improve there. So, you know, these kind of matches I'll win in the end - maybe not next year, but over the years.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, it's a big court. It's a nice court. I mean, Centre, Court 1, it's great to be out there. Crowd was really spectacular today. I was really enjoying it.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, didn't really -- Roger was already 3-2 up or something with a break. They didn't want like for two of us that, you know, Roger is maybe finished and we didn't even started. So I think it was a good move from them. Otherwise, you know, they both finish. You know, Andy won it today, so they're both fresh for tomorrow. So I think it was a great decision.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah. I was, you know, like I said, much better returning. I was putting much more returns in, playing I think pretty good from the baseline. I mean, in this kind of matches, it's just like two, three -- I had Love-40, I had a passing shot, he did a great volley. Love-30, I had to make a slice. It was like this out (indicating a small amount). I had a couple passing shots 15-30. I felt really till the end that I'm in this match and, you know, I believe I can win it. I was really fighting, fighting till the last point. You know, I cannot say anything. I gave this tournament all, so.

MARIO ANCIC: I mean, I don't know when I come back. I think I'll watch it to see, you know, how I can just learn from watching the match.