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US OPENAugust 29, 2003Ivo KarlovicNEW YORK CITY MODERATOR: First question, please. Q. Can you just talk about what turned it around for you, you know, in the match. IVO KARLOVIC: In the match, well I started to serve much better. So I had better chance in the tiebreak. Q. It's hard to probably summarize, but since Wimbledon, have you gotten a lot more contacts from sponsors and from other people? IVO KARLOVIC: From sponsors, yeah. I am ranked which is the best for me now at the moment. Q. Can you describe what life has been like for you since Wimbledon. IVO KARLOVIC: Well, since, it's been pretty much the same because I was always on the tournaments. So it's been the same. Q. When you were down 2-4 in the tiebreaker in the fourth set, you seemed to lose your serve a little. Does that worry you, since your serve is such a big part of your game? Does that worry you at all? IVO KARLOVIC: Well, I mean, of course it worries me. But I am trying to stay focused to play as best I can. Q. You seem to take a little step towards the umpire's chair, clean off your racquet. IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. Q. You came back very focused with your serve. You really gathered yourself there, didn't you? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, of course. Q. Your ranking has gone up considerably since Wimbledon. IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, yeah. Q. Do you feel that soon you won't have to be playing qualifying tournaments? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, I mean, sure. I mean, it is my goal. I hope that it will be soon. Q. You won the GHI men's singles up in The Bronx. IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, and in the Hampton as well. Q. Did that really prepare you to come here? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure, because it helped my confidence. Yeah, it's been good. Q. Did you try for a wildcard here? IVO KARLOVIC: Yes. Q. They turned you down? IVO KARLOVIC: That's right. Because, I mean, no. Q. Were you surprised? IVO KARLOVIC: I mean, no, actually, not much. Q. You've done so well at Wimbledon and now here. What is it about Grand Slams that brings the best out of you? IVO KARLOVIC: Well, actually, I've been playing also in (inaudible). I don't know, it is also only my form. I mean, always, it's, I mean, the same. Q. Do you feel greater excitement at places like here? IVO KARLOVIC: Of course, yeah. I mean, sure. Q. Did it surprise you how much attention this match got with Hicham, with the crowd yelling, "Ivo" and "Hicham"? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. It's been nice. It's been good atmosphere. Q. Has Goran been in touch this week? IVO KARLOVIC: No, no. Q. Do you think he will? IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know, maybe. Phone call, I don't know. Q. Do you have to do military service still in Croatia? IVO KARLOVIC: No. I... Q. It's finished? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. Q. You did some, did you? IVO KARLOVIC: No. Q. Do you know that Dmitry also won, the runner up in the GHI? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. It shows that the level in the challengers is high. Q. Is your family over here? IVO KARLOVIC: No. Q. Will they fly here? IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know, no. No (smiling). Q. Depending how well you do? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure. Q. Schalken next. IVO KARLOVIC: Schalken, yeah. Q. Have you played him? IVO KARLOVIC: No, no. I haven't played him. I don't know how it's gonna be. I mean, if I serve good, I mean, anything can happen. Q. How do you plan to prepare yourself for the next match? IVO KARLOVIC: I will only practice little bit tomorrow and try to stay focused. That's it. Q. Do you find people recognizing you now wherever you go? IVO KARLOVIC: In the streets, yeah. Yeah, I mean... Yeah. My height... (Laughter). Q. You're the tallest player ever to play in this tournament? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. I guess so. Q. What about Arazi said it wasn't really tennis? IVO KARLOVIC: No, I don't know. Q. Said, "We didn't get to hit any balls." IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know. Q. You didn't let him hit enough balls. IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, I mean, of course because if I try to stay, I mean, if I hit back, I mean, he's much better. I just try to, I mean, go in front, forehand. Q. Were you surprised when he stood back against the fence to receive one of your serves? IVO KARLOVIC: No (smiling). It's normal, I guess. Q. It's happened before? IVO KARLOVIC: It's crazy, yeah, yeah. It's normal. Q. The weather conditions were pretty bad out there today? IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure. Q. How did you feel? IVO KARLOVIC: It was cold at the end. Q. Uncomfortable? IVO KARLOVIC: I was little bit, yeah, tired. End of FastScripts…. |
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