'Ivo on the significance of his almost two-year-old tattoo of a shark, crucifix and rose: 'Cross is cross and rose is like love and shark is mean.'I am mean, you know? I said that already 50 million times.' January 2000
"My dream is to have five minutes in one game," says Ivanisevic. "I mean, I'm going to be even more nervous because is not my sport. When they going to give me the ball, I going to get rid of the ball straightaway, just give it to the closest guy next to me--even if he's from the other team."
-August 2001
He has a lovely way of expressing himself. When you ask him about a plan to speed up matches, he explains: "Good. I like to play fast. Too many players bounce the ball, they look at me, they look at the ground. They bounce it 10 times. They look at the sky. They bounce it again an' I fall asleep."-1994
"I just don't want to shave," he said of the latest fashion statement. "I am lazy."
-1998
"I'm more relaxed. If I'm in a bad mood it gives me so much pleasure when I think about the day I won Wimbledon. It's like when I walk down the street a big stone has been lifted from my back. I don't walk heavy any more.
-2002
'I had four stitches in Australia in January,' Ivanisevic said, 'but that's another story.'
'It was the players' party and I was in a boxing ring with huge gloves
with (Spanish player) Jordi Burillo. In five years, nobody has ever gotten hurt. But he hit me with his elbow and I got four stitches here (indicating his left temple).' 'Nobody ever gets hurt but then I arrive and I get hurt for sure. It's never boring with me around.'-1998
Actually, I tossed it nicely, landed nicely, like airplane. No warning, beautiful. That's the art of throwing racquets.
-2001
"It was the happiest day of my life. It came out of nowhere, it was like a dream, a fairytale.. I went back to my home city Split to celebrate and nearly 200,000 out of a city of 350,000 turned up for me.
It was unbelievable. We were singing songs and I stripped in front of so many. I'd only ever stripped in front of my girlfriend before that!-2002
My fines? I pay more fines than some guys' career prize money on the tour.
-2001
'The worst I play, the people they like me more, I don't know why'
-2000
"Hopefully I don't get mad-cow disease. ... maybe I've got it already. Who knows? I'm still alive."
-2001
Actually, I'm opening my mail every day, and nothing interesting came yet. Disappointed, you know. Maybe the young guys, you should ask them. They don't want me anymore.
-2001
I was perfect, you know. No complaining, no throwing racquets, no -- even some calls, they were close, I didn't -- I went one step and then I came back, you know. The other Goran jumped in and said, "Go back." I went back.-2001
Sergio Tacchini is not happy because taking off your shirt is not getting any publicity.
Maybe I should make tattoo "Tacchini," if they pay me enough.
-2001
The between-the-legs half volley, is that 911?
It's a tough shot to do it. It's one of my best shots. When the ball comes so quick, you have to react somehow. I play '98 final Wimbledon that shot. Today I play twice. I won the point once. That's a great shot. If you miss, you know, it can hurt a lot.
-2001