JOE LYNCH: Goran Ivanisevic
is into the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Byron Black. First question
for Goran, who has the most wins on Tour with 25 this year, just like last
year at this time.
Q. You had a very good start
last year, too. Is there any difference this time in what you're
doing?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: More pressure
in the beginning of the year. After Australian Open, I knew at Key
Biscayne I have to defend two thousand something points. That's a
lot. Good thing happen that I defend my first title in Zagreb.
I never did that in my career, so that helped me, I got more confident,
played good in Dubai, Milan, Rotterdam. I mean, I just playing good tennis.
Indian Wells I was a little too tired. I just came here, try to do
well.I try to do maybe better than last year, if it's possible.
JOE LYNCH: Be careful how
you sleep this year.
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Hopefully
I can. I'm not still sleeping good, but I'm getting there.
Q. Did you ever find out
what caused that? Was it the sleeping that caused that last year?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think
it was from all this playing and all the stress what I had. I was
too tight. I don't know. I think I was too tight, too many
matches, thinking how I could win, I didn't sleep well, maybe did a movement
in my sleep.
Q. Nothing like that ever
since?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: No.
I mean, I never had that in my life. Just happens.
Q. Goran, have you been assessed
any code violation warnings this year thus far?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I had actually
a couple.
Q. Have you ever thought
about setting a goal for not having any for the entire year?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: No.
I don't thinking about it. I can do it, but it's just not my priority goal
(laughter) Doesn't do me well. I think I be okay. Actually
I just had one penalty point. Last year I never had a penalty point.
A warning here or there is not too big thing. It depends what kind
of warning you get. Sometimes they give me warning for nothing, you
know. Maybe they look me
differently than the other guys because I have like reputation,
then everything what I do, what I say is warning for me. But I never thought
about setting a goal that I don't get a warning.
Q. Goran, for a couple years,
you've been very close, knocking on the door at the big tournaments.
You keep your enthusiasm for the Grand Slams? Do you make them any
more important as time goes on? Do you have a different attitude?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Sure.
Always this is my priority, my goal in my career, try to win a Grand Slam.
I have three more this year to go, next year another four. I going
to try to do it, if it's possible. I mean, I was twice very close in Wimbledon
last year, very close in the US Open. I was maybe a chance. I mean,
I try. I mean, I'm not going to now think, "Can I win Wimbledon now?"
I'm going to get too crazy till Wimbledon comes. I just going to
try. It would be nice if I can finish my career with one Grand
Slam tournament.
Q. You started so young and
you've had good opportunities. Are you yourself a little surprised
that even if you were maybe not lucky one time and had one little
break that maybe would have given you the title, does it
surprise you you haven't won a title?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: It surprise
me. Sometimes I think I won '92 Wimbledon, but then I see it's not
me (laughter). Maybe not. Maybe I was not -- maybe I still
didn't produce my best tennis in the finals. Have to be also lucky.
You have -- Grand Slam is a two-week tournament, like two tournaments.
The first week is one tournament, the second week another tournament.
You have to be very concentrated. You see Pete, you know, he's always
struggling first week. Then second week, it's very tough to beat
him, almost impossible. Hopefully I can manage to do that.
Q. Do you feel you're getting
better with your concentration in that way?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think
I'm getting better. I think I can play -- I mean, I proved
it last year with this run of a couple months, I played unbelievable.
This year I defended almost all my points. I can play. I'm
much more concentrated. I'm getting older. I'm getting like
one of the oldest guy on the Tour, you see all these young guys 19, 20,
I'm already eight, nine years on the Tour. I think I learned a lot
of things.
Q. Why is it that Pete is
able to do that in the second week of Slams? Has he just figured
out how to time his concentration?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Ask him.
I don't know. He had that problem in early rounds, almost lost the
match, then was finished. He just puts himself into the tenth gear.
You have to play unbelievable, hope he misses a couple points.
He doesn't give you anything free. When he's on
the top, you're out.
JOE LYNCH: One or two more
questions for Goran.
Q. Goran, this is a question
for the official program of the French Open. If you had not been
able to become a tennis player, physically able to become a sportsman,
what kind of job would you have liked to do?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Maybe be
a journalist (laughter)
Q. Which is the Grand Slam
you have the best chance of winning, do you think? Would it still
be Wimbledon?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I would
like to win Wimbledon it's a special Grand Slam. Centre court, everything
around Wimbledon. I would like to win. Maybe I have a best
chance if I concentrate, if I playing well, then I will have a chance.
JOE LYNCH: Thank you.
Q. How is your elbow?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: It's still
here.
Q. How is it feeling?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: All right.