RCA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

August 16, 1996

Goran Ivanisevic

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I didn't serve great, especially when I was up, 3-2, break, terrible, 5-4 again, 6-5, again the same thing, always I am losing these first two points; then it is tough to come back. Then I try to force too much, tiebreak, same story. No first serves, and it is tough, you know, he is getting everything back and then I have to run with him from the back and I didn't put a lot of forehands in everytime when I try for the big one, forehand I missed it and then I think he got a little bit -- he thought I am going to maybe give up, not give up, but go a little bit down and -- but I think I surprised him. I hang in there. I start to serve better; played tiebreaker better than him and then third set, I was playing better again; another mistake on 1-0, doublefault, first point, again easy game I lost, but then I think the key point was 2-1, 15-30 when I hit ace with the second serve. Then I said, no, it is over now, it will be 6-1, 6-2, that was it.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Sure. Maybe be 6-2, 6-3, second set. I just have more fun to play this year. It doesn't matter I lose or win. I have more fun; especially when you are tired, you can't do anything, but now it was pretty hot, but I felt okay and I had fun. I say okay, maybe it is going to turn something, you try to hang in there and you never know, so when I won the second set I knew I had a better chance than him.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Balls are terrible. Balls are very bad and they get so heavy, so big.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Then I start to force too much my serve, and doesn't go anywhere, plus he is returning very well and it is even worse, I was just serving -- I didn't mix serve - one serve all the time and after I start to mix it and I serve much better.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, I won singles and doubles in Milan indoor.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: It is getting better. It is not -- still not the way I played Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, but it is getting better because after that I couldn't find my form. I just struggling and these tight matches, I am not able to win, so it is getting better. I am starting to win these close matches and starting to play better and hopefully I can at the U.S. Open, I can imagine to play like that.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: That was really unbelievable tennis that I play. I mean, I was like so confident, so relaxed, like believed that no one can beat me at that time and it was really like that. It was -- I was playing Pete in the semis, losing easy, but I still had fun in the locker room during the rain delay and it was really I was going to win; then I won. Bad luck. I didn't play Andre in the final, but hopefully he is -- I am going to get another chance.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Sometimes, yes. I think on indoor and hard court it helps you, but clay, just makes you more tired. Here, I think you can hit a lot of volleys; you can hit a lot of practice returns which is -- which helps.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I had to play Friday after Key Biscayne with my neck problem against Ukraine the Davis Cup because we had to win and all the pressure is on me and I was still in pain, but I had to play. Nobody asked me if I have pain or not. You have to because you are playing in Croatia so I was playing, but it was not good that I play, but I had to play. It was a little worse. Then I got sick and then I was not ready for the clay season and too many Spanish guys there (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER) Too much running too and I was not there, I was not ready even close to do anything and then I hoped Wimbledon came, I hope I can, but I was only good for the quarterfinals, not more.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: It is okay, balls are bad. It doesn't matter. I better not complain and try to put in my mind that the balls are great and perfect and I am going to play good with these balls.