GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 8, 1996

Goran Ivanisevic

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I had my chances first set, but I didn't -- first game I served four aces; then next game I didn't put one serve in the court, first serve, and then he broke me and with him you have to put pressure with your serve otherwise it is very dangerous. So I was a little bit up and down and I had breakpoints. He hit ace. And then second set he had breakpoint straight away, but then after I came back and a couple of crucial games that 3-1, Love-40; 4-2, Love-30, then I came up with big serves in the third set, I just served too good, and he didn't have any chance.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: With him, he has a game that I don't like. He gives you very dead balls and you think you can hit every one of them; then suddenly he just accelerates and he hits a winner. And then you give him the short one, a slow one, and he hits a winner. You never know what he is going to produce. He is a tough player. But I think I played good and -- because I won, because otherwise I wouldn't win.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I am very pleased with the way I am playing because I start to practice and I came here, you know, seriously when my coach arrived, so these couple of days of practice and two matches, I think I am playing good tennis and I can't complain. I can play only better.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: First time he supervised me after Wimbledon.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Quarters?

GORAN IVANISEVIC: It takes time, but, you know, I wanted to have my holidays and I don't want to think too much about Wimbledon, but then I go there and everybody ask me "you didn't win, if you didn't win this year, you are never going to win." You know, people are strange in my country and they write me on the car, "you are never going to win Wimbledon; you had the chance now." They don't understand. It doesn't matter who is in the draw. You have to beat everybody. I was disappointed, but I had a good time off and I recovered pretty quick.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: A lot. It is always negative. It is pretty negative city where I live. They are all negative. When you play good, "oh, oh great." As soon as you a little bit down, they don't ask you how you feel; if you are injured. You have to win and then they give you so much in the paper or people in the streets.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, they leave notes. Strange people. But the city like that, you have to be good, otherwise it is tough to go back.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Ooh, it is going to be tough, Davis Cup, for me, I better win. At least my matches, you know, it is going to be great support. It is going to be tough with Australia, but I better win.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: He or me?

GORAN IVANISEVIC: He did, yeah. I think I played better in the third set also from the back because first set I didn't move him too much left and right and then in the end, I think I played better. I played deeper and didn't miss so much and he had trouble. He missed a lot of easy balls which I was surprised, which I don't mind.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think I changed a lot this year a matter of this -- maybe before when I lose the set, I go a little bit down and not that I don't fight, but, you know, mentally go down and then I lose most of the matches. But this year, I think I improved that a lot and I proved that against Sampras in Key Biscayne which was killing me, 6-2, 1-0, no chance, and the rain came and I came back and I won the match. A lot of matches, I won this year like that. I think I am much better. So a lot of guys, they think, okay, I have to win first set, but he is gone. I think they are making mistake, I don't know.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: First I hope I am going to play night match and if I play night match, I will be good because we play in Key Biscayne. I like to play him. I think we have a lot of matches. He won a couple of times, and I won, but with him you have to win points, three times, he is never -- it is never over. Always the ball comes back, but I have my things when he doesn't like when he plays me, but he has to win first.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I am surprised. When I saw the draw I said, geez, it is pretty tough. Then Todd lost and I am in the quarters and beating Bjorkman and Karbacher, which are two good players; especially with this match today, I think I am pleased with the way I am playing at the moment.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, nobody ask me. I have to play whenever.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Actually I hate to play night matches, but I would like to play night matches this time.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, today was okay. After the first set a couple of clouds came and it was very nice to play, but yesterday was unbelievable. It was really tough; especially if you have to play Michael on the ground for one hour, it is going to be tough. But it doesn't matter, I am professional and you have to play wherever they put me and try to win.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Indianapolis is next week, so I am still here, so I will think when I come there, but as a tournament, I think it proved that it is the best tournament six, seven years in a row and I mean, they take great care. It is a little hot, but last year I had a good tournament, semis. I had a great fun there and probably going to be the same this year.