THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 21, 1997

Goran Ivanisevic

GORAN IVANISEVIC: More pressure in the beginning of the year. After Australian Open, I knew at Key Biscayne I have to defend two thousand something points. That's a lot. Good thing happen that I defend my first title in Zagreb. I never did that in my career, so that helped me, I got more confident, played good in Dubai, Milan, Rotterdam. I mean, I just playing good tennis. Indian Wells I was a little too tired. I just came here, try to do well. I try to do maybe better than last year, if it's possible.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think it was from all this playing and all the stress what I had. I was too tight. I don't know. I think I was too tight, too many matches, thinking how I could win, I didn't sleep well, maybe did a movement in my sleep.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: No. I mean, I never had that in my life. Just happens.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I had actually a couple.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: No. I don't thinking about it. I can do it, but it's just not my priority goal (laughter). Doesn't do me well. I think I be okay. Actually I just had one penalty point. Last year I never had a penalty point. A warning here or there is not too big thing. It depends what kind of warning you get. Sometimes they give me warning for nothing, you know. Maybe they look me differently than the other guys because I have like reputation, then everything what I do, what I say is warning for me. But I never thought about setting a goal that I don't get a warning.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Sure. Always this is my priority, my goal in my career, try to win a Grand Slam. I have three more this year to go, next year another four. I going to try to do it, if it's possible. I mean, I was twice very close in Wimbledon last year, very close in the US Open. I was maybe a chance. I mean, I try. I mean, I'm not going to now think, "Can I win Wimbledon now?" I'm going to get too crazy till Wimbledon comes. I just going to try. It would be nice if I can finish my career with one Grand Slam tournament.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: It surprise me. Sometimes I think I won '92 Wimbledon, but then I see it's not me (laughter). Maybe not. Maybe I was not -- maybe I still didn't produce my best tennis in the finals. Have to be also lucky. You have -- Grand Slam is a two-week tournament, like two tournaments. The first week is one tournament, the second week another tournament. You have to be very concentrated. You see Pete, you know, he's always struggling first week. Then second week, it's very tough to beat him, almost impossible. Hopefully I can manage to do that.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think I'm getting better. I think I can play -- I mean, I proved it last year with this run of a couple months, I played unbelievable. This year I defended almost all my points. I can play. I'm much more concentrated. I'm getting older. I'm getting like one of the oldest guy on the Tour, you see all these young guys 19, 20, I'm already eight, nine years on the Tour. I think I learned a lot of things.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Ask him. I don't know. He had that problem in early rounds, almost lost the match, then was finished. He just puts himself into the tenth gear. You have to play unbelievable, hope he misses a couple points. He doesn't give you anything free. When he's on the top, you're out.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Maybe be a journalist (laughter).

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I would like to win Wimbledon, it's a special Grand Slam. Centre court, everything around Wimbledon. I would like to win. Maybe I have a best chance if I concentrate, if I playing well, then I will have a chance.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: It's still here.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: All right.