WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2002

Mario Ancic

MARIO ANCIC: I'm feeling -- I feel great. I just play one of the best matches in my life, so how can I feel? I cannot feel better I think.

MARIO ANCIC: I came first time to play Centre Wimbledon, they put me on Centre Court for my first time. I qualified, I had nothing to lose. I was just confidence. I knew I could play. I'm young. I believe in myself and I just go out there and try to do my best. Just I didn't care it who did I play, it doesn't matter. I just went there and play.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, actually I spoke with him yesterday. And just I knew him from TVs. Some time I play Key Biscayne. That was my only big tournament this year. Otherwise I was in challengers. But I knew already how is he playing. I don't know that he knew how I'm playing, but that was my advantage. And, yeah, I knew I didn't have any tactics, just I was playing, enjoying.

MARIO ANCIC: We are from same town. When I was growing up, he was in Split and we always hit, even when I was 10. We were in Davis Cup together, we play in Olympics, doubles. I know he was always good to me. Sometimes I felt like he was my bigger brother in tournaments, and I know I can always relate on him. Like yesterday when I call him about tactics, you know. He's a great guy and also player as you saw last year.

MARIO ANCIC: I think he cannot watch too much other guys playing. He just sitting there. That's his character. But his arm is like -- it's not so great. He's now doing exercise. I hope and I think we all hope he come better next year.

MARIO ANCIC: He told me just he has great forehand, just stay away from him. He can serve good, but sometimes just attack him on second. He knows to, like, make pressure on my second so I have to be little bit aggressive with that one. And, you know, he was mostly slicing backhand, sometimes hitting it. But I knew there was my chance. And I was serving good today.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, it was a great experience to hit with him. We spoke about my game. We hit for one hour. He's still hitting good, I can tell you that (laughter). And, no, he just told me play my game just be relaxed. And that's it.

MARIO ANCIC: No, Goran is Goran. Not me. I just knew him for a long time. We are from Split; we are typical. So it's maybe some other guys in 20 years are gonna come maybe the same. That's our character. We are all not too much difference, with our temperament.

MARIO ANCIC: I'm still one (laughing). No, he's unique.

MARIO ANCIC: I just came from tournament, then I supposed to have off. But then from match to match I was just watching. And when he won, I cannot describe feeling. I just saw throwing everywhere from the houses, then you just see piece, crash, boom, bam. I say, "I cannot miss this." Then I went to him with the boat special and then we came in Split. I think everybody saw what happened yesterday.

MARIO ANCIC: Couple (smiling).

MARIO ANCIC: I don't know. We are four years. I think the best thing that he calm me down a lot and we are -- I think improving from every like day-to-day I think. I have to give 100 percent of each practice. And I think he calm me a lot in four years. In the beginning I had to do push-ups for every word I -- because he knew everything from Goran that was -- I was unlucky there. But then I get pretty strong soon and then I get little bit clever that I cannot stop with this. And I think I'm okay now.

MARIO ANCIC: No, no, when I was 14, then the guy who was managing me then was the same manager as Goran. Then they spoke and first I came, like, one week to Monte-Carlo and then after he was still with Kiefer, and then after and always he had time, you know, I was sparring a lot to Kiefer and other guys. And after when he wrote to Kiefer, it was normal, it was going normal. And we are still together.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, I played final of Juniors here two years ago. But I like grass. I'm big server, big guy. So it doesn't -- just few tips you need to know. Good thing, I was volleying exceptionally good today and just making pressure whenever I can. Because on grass you have to be always ready, prepared and focused always.

MARIO ANCIC: I'm... Everybody know that I'm different person. It was all the time since I grew up they were talking that I am second Goran. But Goran says one best sentence that describes everything, "Next Goran will be his son," next Ivanisevic. I'm Mario. I think everybody will know me like that. I'm Goran's friend and that's it.

MARIO ANCIC: I don't know. You have to speak with him. I don't know.

MARIO ANCIC: Yeah, I like. I like it.

MARIO ANCIC: I just broke them. I'm not too sensitive like him to talk (laughter).

MARIO ANCIC: I don't know. We are typical. There, just everybody gonna make great effort. If you lose, you are all -- again, they will say this guy isn't worth anything. So I don't know. I hope they gonna start. They started last year when Goran went to last 16. Before they thought, "Ahh, he's playing all year bad. We don't want to watch him." Then he beat I think Rusedski last 16, everybody started there and nobody was working anymore when he was playing. And after, was just crazy.

MARIO ANCIC: I think he like, because of me. Because he is a good guy. He's also -- he also care for everybody else, all Croatian players. And I think he will be delighted.

MARIO ANCIC: I didn't think like. I just... No, I thought I can -- I was pretty confident from the beginning that I can play with him because I play with -- I was sparring with lots of players on the tour and I didn't have fear of them. And I believe in myself, in my game. And I just didn't think. I just think, "Let's go next point, next point, next point," and just was like going like that.