TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 23, 2000

Goran Ivanisevic

GREG SHARKO: Questions.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, it was interesting match. It was a good match actually, some good points. It's going to be not easy match. He's not playing very well lately, but it's okay. You have to beat everybody, anybody, whoever you play. He's a good player. I'm looking forward for that match.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Some pretty stupid guys in the crowd, so I had fights with everybody. They piss me off, I serve a couple of aces when I needed. It was okay for me, actually.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Mind is fine, clear, playing a little golf. Actually, hitting the ball well. It's just I'm losing the matches which I shouldn't lose. Last week I had so many breakpoints, I shouldn't lose that match. I was already up. I play bad, I come back, third set I should win easy, instead I'm losing the match. Then the thing happen never happen to me in 12 years, on the breakpoint the ball hit me in the leg, which is disaster.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: 4-3 in the third for Costa, I hit a good serve, 30-40, the ball is going like (indicating), hit me in the leg.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know what I was doing, watching.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yes. All this year, a lot of matches I lose close, have a lot of chances, a lot of breakpoints, a lot of opportunities. So some way, somehow, I have to win those matches and break through. A couple of wins is going to help me. But I'm playing three times better than I play last year, hitting the ball better, my concentration is much better, I'm not doing so many double-faults. I'm more happy as a player. But I just need -- I don't know when it's going to happen, those matches, but should happen, otherwise is not good.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. Practicing is not going to help me because I'm practicing, trying everything, doing everything. I don't know. Just maybe tough it out, then I get more confident. You don't miss the balls on these important points which I'm missing at the moment. Just try to tough it out. I'm capable to do that. We see.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think I still have two, three good years to play. I believe that. With my physic, I'm not getting fat, I'm not getting slower; I'm getting older. Serving still a lot of aces. Everything is working fine. I'm enjoying on the tour, you know, having fun. The worst I play, the people they like me more, I don't know why (laughter).

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. I just don't want to be injured. In this time of the tennis, it's not easy not to be injured. They slow the courts so badly. Now the fastest courts are hard court, Indian Wells and here, much faster than indoor. The balls are so heavy. Everything is so heavy. Every week is almost different balls, different court. I mean, they complaining, big servers. Now they have a lot of rallies, a lot of injuries. It's tough. Sometimes you play a night match when it's cold. You try to hit these balls, your shoulder is going, you know, for a couple of days. So heavy, these balls. It's not easy. No more free points; no more easy matches.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: My back is not so good. I have a lot of things that hurts me, but it's just I don't like to complain too much. I start to complain when is too late. Just thanks God, everything is fine so far.