AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2003

Mario Ancic

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah. I didn't really start good. I was still sloppy from the Schalken match. I was trying to get work in my legs. He's really tough. He was moving me around. I was just running. That's not the game I'm playing. That's not the game that brought me to the third round. I was just concentrating to fight in my legs to do the right things. Slowly, first set I didn't really play good. Second set I started serve better. That help me to get my game back, especially first couple games. Then I started to play better and better. I just kept my rhythm through the whole match.

MARIO ANCIC: No, no, I think that help me really much because I was calm, didn't let that, because it's best-of-five. I was just focusing on things I had to do. I really didn't started good. But I just tried to do the best, do the things that I'm thinking that can win the match because I was just running all around. Me at 194 centimeters height, I cannot play like that. I was just trying to step in more and be more aggressive.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, that's calm (smiling). No, I was just trying to wake up because I was really sloppy in the beginnings. My legs didn't work. I was too far from the ball, too much behind the line. He was just stepping in and moving me all around. My serve didn't work. I really wasn't aggressive. I think that's the key that he won first set. Second set slowly I started to like little run and points before he served. Just serve really helped me a lot in the beginning. I think second set was crucial because then after that I really pick up my game and play the tennis that brought me to the third round.

MARIO ANCIC: Just middle of the second set, I first trying to step in, but not to make too many mistakes; if he has to win the point, let him into the right shot. That's why I was just trying to do that, especially tiebreak, because it's a pretty important moment. Going 2-0, it's very tough to come back. I focused really much on the tiebreak.

MARIO ANCIC: No, I just do that because all the support that I get because I play in Australia against Australia. Sometimes in the match I heard more Croatian songs than Australia's. As a young player, that really helped me a lot carrying me all the match. I done that for the Croatian fans because they're really supportive from the beginning of the tournament. I was really happy also for them. That's why I did that. Yeah, it's big thing for me. I'm just looking one match at a time and try to concentrate for next match.

MARIO ANCIC: I never put like any ranking. My main goal is to work hard, as I did in the tournament in Florida, because now everything is tough. The guys are playing really good tennis. You saw also today. No, just try to keep -- try to win as many matches as I can, develop my tennis. That's my really main goal.

MARIO ANCIC: It has to help because I beat that kind of level, because he's one of the best now in the whole game. It really helped me. But I practice with all top guys. I'm just believing in my game. I feel I can play with them.

MARIO ANCIC: I think there's big tradition here for Croatian community in Melbourne, Australia. There's also tradition because Goran was obviously playing very good here. That's why they started to come, they started to cheer us. I think that's very important for our young like Krajan against Roddick, and Ljubicic, our young guys, it's very important because we have big support behind us. It's very nice to see in such a long way from the home to see Croatian songs and that. I just really was happy today also for them because they carry me from the beginning of the match.

MARIO ANCIC: I was two years ago during the Sydney Olympic Games. Recently I didn't have time. It's really nice. That time was very good.

MARIO ANCIC: I spoke with him after Schalken match. We spoke. He's on preparation. He's really ready to play, hungry to play because he was just practicing last couple months. He says he's in best shape of his life. He says he never practice more than ever. I think he's like big name in the tennis. I think he really like to play and compete. That going to be the best thing for tennis also when he come back.

MARIO ANCIC: I don't know. I don't expect any. There's Niki Pilic who going to decide. I just like. I'm enjoying playing Davis Cup because it's something else. We are four guys together. Goran will be in the team, so it's going to be great atmosphere, like always. No, it's great fun to play Davis Cup.

MARIO ANCIC: No, he get the number and he called me.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, we spoke.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah. He's always positive. Me also as a person, I'm just looking one match at a time. I'm happy what I did, but I'm just concentrating for the next match, try to do the same thing there. I'm happy what I did now, but it's not finished. I'm still in the tournament. I'm looking forward because I'm playing good tennis, just keep it going.

MARIO ANCIC: In Croatia, we are from same town. Like all the guys there, we are very temperament. Maybe now I'm much calmer. But there's always this temper inside. Like when I started, I was really nervous, really throwing the racquets everywhere. But now everybody are playing and everybody are concentrated, so I get much more calmer. This hunger to win, it's always inside us.