U.S. OPEN

September 1, 1996

Goran Ivanisevic

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I mean, it's not so nice when the guy calls me foot fault on the match point, I hit an ace, was so happy to hit an ace and a foot fault from nowhere. Then I had a double-fault. It's good thing I stay calm. I didn't tell him anything. I hit an ace next point and won the match.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Oh, yeah, I told him a lot of things (laughter).

GORAN IVANESEVIC: No.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: You have to because it's too important, this tournament. I came to the tiebreak 10-9, 9-8, I don't want to lose my mind then. That can happen. I think very bad umpire say this, especially lines people, they make so many mistakes and no overrules. You have to deal with that, you know. This is a court where a lot of mistakes. You have to try to stay cool. If you don't stay cool, you can lose the match.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I said, "Now just don't do double-fault," and I did a double-fault. "Now it's 10-All, you can't change anything, try to hit an ace." I hit an ace. I knew I was going to win the next point then.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Yes.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Sometimes when I'm 40-Love up, I go for the big one. Every time I go for big one, you hit a slow one. You try to hit hard as you can, your arm is falling, it's 110. Next point is 125, you just go for fun.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Not this tournament yet.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I don't remember. Maybe in the States some tournament, but this week not yet. Now he found the right moment. Even if I do foot fault, he can't call on match point.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: What do you mean?

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Maybe, maybe I would lose before, but today I just wanted to achieve my goal, to play Tuesday first time ever. I was so focused. I said, "No, no, no, you're still in there. You just have to keep cool, then maybe after the match you deal with the guy."

GORAN IVANESEVIC: But first time second week. Usually I was already back in Croatia watching TV. Now I going to stay Tuesday. Like I say, I wanted to be here second week. If I'm here second week, anything is possible.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Yeah. I serving very good. Today I didn't start to serve good, but after I served unbelievable. He didn't have too many chances. Anytime he had a breakpoint, I came up with a big serve. Really good serving.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Yeah. I was playing very badly before. I lose to guys I shouldn't lose before. I didn't have idea how to play. I was playing different tennis, you know. Until I realized I can play good on hardcourt, and this year I proved to myself I can play good. I beat good players. Now I believe I can play good and I can do well.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I just changed my attitude in my head. I had to have a press conference with myself (laughter). After I did the press conference, everything was work going.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I think they like a little action. They like action movies, so they like me. Always something interesting going with me when I play, some aces, a little talking to the people around, a little fighting, a little throwing the racquets. They like this. They don't like when somebody's too boring. They like American. I think I'm doing pretty well. I was surprised in Indianapolis, it was really nice.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: No, just the way I am. I'm not coming here to US Open to act. I'm not actor. I come here to play. This is how I play and how I win. It's different now; I can control all these things. I don't explode. Still I'm emotional, and that keeps me good.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: This is not America, this is different. New York is completely different. I always liked New York. Before I was so depressed. Before I come to New York, I cannot wake up when I'm in New York. Now I just like everything, even if I don't like a lot. I say to myself, "Everything is great, fine." (laughter).

GORAN IVANESEVIC: No difference. I mean, the toughest serve is to -- to return is like 100, sometimes 96, 97, wide to the backhand. If you hit hard one, easy to block. Sometimes I hit 125, I hit serve in Indianapolis 136, the guy returned, almost winner return. I was like, "What's going on?" It's not important to hit 128, 129. It's important to hit deep serve.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Even closer. Now I'm second week. Now I think I have a good chance to play, to focus. Now I achieve one goal, to be in the second week. Now I think I can play more relaxed. I think I can play good. I think this is the time that I prove that my game is back and I can do something big here.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I know. Everybody are tough. Doesn't matter. Today was tough. Tuesday is going to be tough. No more easy matches. It's who is going to be more concentrated, who is going to play better, survive.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Never. Yesterday, I was feeling so bad, when you're not able to return the serve. Now I understand how it is when I play good and when I serve, how it is to play against me.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: I understand when Philippoussis says he served every time ace, when he served to me. Now I understand when the guys play me and complain. I understand.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: It's tough to say. I felt great. I mean, I went into the match to win. You know, Andre, if he's playing good, it's tough to beat him. I think I had a chance, a good chance.

GORAN IVANESEVIC: Probably. Probably I wouldn't get injured and I would be fit. Then injury, you know, went a little down, I lost a little bit of confident. It's tough to come back.