COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 12, 1992

Goran Ivanisevic

GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, I was not nervous. It is okay.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: That is his biggest weapon, I mean, that he can play steady all the time like this. But I stopped to play after the first set. I didn't play for two sets. I was in the lockerroom for the second and third set and then I came back and then I played much better. But then, every time I lost my serve, it was with the new balls because I served to -- I didn't put a lot of slice on the serve. I didn't put a lot of slice on the serve. I was thinking too much what to do; whether hit forehands or backhand down the line crosscourt, every time I miss. I had so many chances in the fifth set to break him, but I didn't do it.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: This year was my best year by far and I am very pleased the way I play, but I lost two most important matches in my life this year.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Wimbledon and Frankfurt. By one point. I mean, they were all very close matches, but it doesn't matter -- I am happy the way I was playing the whole year. I was playing very steady and I hope I am going to continue to play next year like that.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: First I have to take some holidays now and then I am going to see what I am going to do next year. But it is planning to win a Grand Slam tournament next year. That is the biggest plan. I am going to concentrate on Wimbledon, mostly Wimbledon because I have the most chance there.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Because that serve was out and I wanted to show the guy it was out. But that racket was jumping and it was too far. I got a penalty point, but the guy is terrible. The guy didn't deserve to be there on the chair. He is not for the matches. I mean, he is too bad. He has to first do the juniors tennis and then something like this, because -- okay, I deserved that, but I mean, he has a lot of bad mistakes and he didn't overrule one point, matchpoint and then you can't overrule that. That is too bad.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, sure, I was mentally more stronger, but I was much fitter than last year. I was doing a lot of weights, with the ball, much stronger and my confidence was growing. I felt better on the court. That is why I play so good. Didn't have one injury this year, and was -- I am really -- I mean, now I have to continue to work like this for the next year.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: He is always-- that is his game. He is taking the ball very early and putting pressure on the other guy. Doesn't have to come in but he is also like that. He is one meter in and -- I mean, all Americans, they are playing pretty the same, because they used to play on hardcourt and they are playing the same tennis, coming in. They are staying one meter in and they are hitting the ball. They are putting pressure on the other guy.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think biggest one was Olympic Games for me when I won that medal for my country. That was the biggest thing I did this year.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. That was the tea time, you know. I don't know, I just stopped. Everything was bothering me on the court, off the court. So that is -- that just happens like that. When you are a little bit tired at the end of the year, that is always happening, but then I start to play good again and in the fourth set didn't have any chance and then I stop again a little bit. Then when I try to come back, I had some chances but it was already finished.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, it is a lot of money but I wasn't thinking about money. When you have fifth set like this, you are not thinking about money. You try to think how you are going to hit your shots. Otherwise I will be losing three sets and go home.

GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I was thinking, but I mean, it didn't happen. He beat me, so --