IN JULY, GORAN IVANISEVIC REACHED the finals at Wimbledon for the third time in his career (losing to Pete Sampras). While he has yet to win a Grand Slam, his run at Wimbledon signaled to the world that he is back. Ivanisevic had been in a slump, finishing outside the top 10 in 1997 for the first time since 1991.

Q: Where have you been the last two years?

Ivanisevic: My name was here, but I don't know where I was. This year, the way I played at Wimbledon, the way I have kept my focus, the way I was thinking, has really been a big step forward in my tennis career.

Q: Breaking your finger [ in may of 1997] couldn't have helped. How did it happen?

Ivanisevic: Only I could break my finger this way. I went home, but I forgot what I went home for. So I went [back] out to the car, then I remembered what I came for. So I went back in but I closed the car door on my finger. I smashed it and broke a couple of bones.

Q: Did it hurt?

Ivanisevic: No, it was very nice. I'm going to do it again .

Q: What is your favourite word in the English language?

Ivanisevic: F---

Q: What's the first word that comes to mind when I say the name Pete Sampras?

Ivanisevic: Great champion

Q: Marcelo Rios?

Ivanisevic: Weird guy

Q: Goran Ivanisevic?

Ivanisevic: Strange Guy

Q: What do you think of the phrase: The best active player to have never won a Grand Slam?

Ivanisevic: That hurts.

Q: Would you prefer 1999 Wimbledon champion?

Ivanisevic: Oh, Yeah. But only if I beat Sampras in the final.

Tennis Magazine