Goran Ivanisevic (w) vs. Sebastien Lareau
Monday, August 3, 1998
1st Round
Interview with Goran Ivanisevic
7-6 (12), 7-6 (4)

ATP: Goran Ivanisevic, the 7-6, 7-6 winner in the first round tonight over Sebastien Lareau. First question for Goran.

QUESTION: Goran, how upset do you get when you hit three
double faults in a row?

IVANISEVIC: Usually I don't do three double faults on this hard court or clay. Maybe I can do indoor or grass and I go for it, but I didn't go for the big second serves and I made three double faults which cost me the break. I cannot afford to do that against anybody, so I made three double faults and gave him a break, which then luckily he played another similar game that I play and he put me back into the match.

QUESTION: You had an exceptional tiebreak record at
Wimbledon. Since then two tiebreaks again today. You look very
comfortable in them. Do you have an extra confidence because of
how well you played at Wimbledon tiebreak wise?

IVANISEVIC: Today I serve very good in tiebreak. I mean
even I was losing in the first tiebreak, the first point I didn't
do anything wrong. He played a good point, but then I continued
to serve well and usually always in the tiebreak, advantage is the
guy who's serving better and bigger, which in this case it's me
and especially if I can produce those big serves, and second
tiebreak I make a couple of good returns and I was never scared
that I can lose this match in tiebreakers.

QUESTION: Do you feel different this week, Goran? Last
week was the first one back. Do you feel that maybe you can have
a little better tournament this time?

IVANISEVIC: I can. You know, it's just a question of if
I can get my motivation 100 percent, which I'm not finding yet
after Wimbledon. It's not easy. This final got me pretty well
this time, and when I practice, I have to push myself so hard that
for one hour practice, and today I had to push myself. I always
think about -- halfway in the match I was thinking about
Wimbledon, not about what I have to do in the match. So if I can
find motivation and keep my head, this court is pretty fast. The
balls are flying and this is a perfect court for me and if I just
can win one more match, I'm going to play better and better and
anything is possible.

QUESTION: You mentioned after Wimbledon that you felt
like someone died. Do you still feel that way and does improving
your ranking and winning other matches and tournaments help or
must you win a Grand Slam to feel satisfied?

IVANISEVIC: I mean I have to win something, you know.
It doesn't matter what. Or maybe win a couple of matches or make
final or semis, something, but I don't think so much about it
anymore. But if I'm not able to do it, I still gotta think, but
still I have to find the motivation to come there. It's not easy
the last couple of weeks, but still when I step on the court, I
always think every time and I practice return I think about these
two returns. If I make one of these two, I win Wimbledon, and I
make in the practice yesterday ten of these, but who cares about
practice? And when you get the chance, two weeks when I play my
best tennis when I know that I didn't do anything wrong except
missing that return and when I still didn't win, but hopefully
it's going to go away, you know. It's not going to be easy, but I
choose this life and I'm professional and I have to get over it.

QUESTION: Talk a bit about the crowd tonight. That must be a very nice feeling seeing the flags. You're playing against a Canadian and a popular one at that. And knowing the people are pulling for you as much as they are must be positive.

IVANISEVIC: Yeah, a lot of Croatians live here and it
was great atmosphere, a lot of people and a great night for
playing and I had great support, and which looked like I was
playing at home, so hopefully it's going to be even more Croatians
next match and it's nice to play when you know somebody is behind
you all the time.

QUESTION: Goran, you made the semis at the U. S. Open
two years ago. Don't you think you can play well on the hard
courts? Like Rusedski made the final last year. Can't you use
that as an inspiration?

IVANISEVIC: I can play on any surface. It's just a
question how I play how good I want to play. I played the semis,
I played the final Key Biscayne and I was not able to play the
final with my neck. And when I play good tennis, not a lot of
guys can beat me. They have to play better, which is not easy,
but when I play good, I believe I can beat anybody and I can win.
And I play best tennis when nobody expects anything from me, like
Wimbledon. I don't think anybody talked about me before quarters,
semis that I might do something. I just showed up from nowhere.
So it's good, you know. And I mean I think by now that they are
to learn that I am like Jekyll and Hyde, you know. With me, it's
all thrillers my matches, you know. You never know. I can lose
to some guy ranked 500, then I can beat five Top 10 guys in a row.
So for me that's why people they like to watch. Even I don't know
what's going to happen the next point or next game. So it's
pretty interesting.

QUESTION: In your draw here you've gotta go through
Agassi and Sampras to make the semis. It's not easy.

IVANISEVIC: It's not easy. Super 9 tournament. You
cannot look at the draw. You're going to play tough round from
the first to the final if you get there. So match by match and I
have to win next round and if I win, I have to play Andre and
Pete. It doesn't matter. If I play good tennis, like I said, I
can beat anybody.

QUESTION: It may happen here, may not. The next time
you play Pete, will that feel strange after Wimbledon?

IVANISEVIC: Well, yeah. I mean next time if I play him,
I'm going to try to beat him. So nothing is going to feel
strange, but hopefully one day I'm going to beat him in that
Wimbledon final.

QUESTION: Goran, a lot has happened in your country
since you've turned professional and I know you've done a lot to
work with young Croatians through your charities. Do you see a
light at the end of the tunnel and do you think we'll see some
young Croatian tennis players in the future?

IVANISEVIC: It's pretty dark and I don't see -- there is
one very good. But he's still 13 years old and he just won
European Championship under 14 and he's coming from the same city
I am. But he's too young. He's 13, and his result shows he is
one of the best 14-year-old players in the world, maybe best one
and I mean so he has a chance, but who knows how he's going to
develop. But otherwise we're not looking great. Also Davis Cup
and I'm not playing because I had a fight with Federation. So it doesn't look very well. Women's tennis is much better. They are in the semis for
the Federation Cup and we have Majoli. We have young Lucic, which
in my opinion she's one of the talented, most talented young girl.
So she can be pretty soon Top 10 and girls tennis is much better
in Croatia.