Ivanisevic donates $250K for cancer research
27 December 2001
Zagreb, Croatia (Sports Network) - Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic donated $250,000 to cancer research at a hospital in his hometown of Split.
The news daily Jutarnji reported that Ivanisevic's mother Gorana presented the donation to the Split Clinical Hospital on Wednesday. Gorana serves as the president of a leukemia and lymphoma foundation.
The 30-year-old Ivanisevic is currently serving a compulsory six-month service in the Croatian military, but will be permitted to travel in order to play select tennis tournaments.
Ivanisevic's sister Srdjana contracted Hodgkin's disease during her first pregnancy at a time when the family was strapped for cash and a 17-year-old Goran was a struggling teenager in the world of professional tennis.
Ivanisevic reached the Australian Open quarterfinals as a qualifier in 1989 and earned $30,000 in prize money, which helped pay for Srdjana's treatment.
MONTHLY VOTE - Most Attractive man
26 December 2001
Vote for Goran as most attractive man of December 2001 at hellomagazine.com
He is way behind at the moment so get voting!!
What was the best sporting moment of 2001?
22 December 2001
You can vote for Goran winning Wimbledon at the following address:
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/readers/2001/moments.html
He is unfortunatly currently last - lets try and move him up a bit!
Thanks to Jaz for the infomation.
Goran fuming over CNN anthem gaffe
21 December 2001
Goran Ivanisevic has complained after CNN mistakenly played the Romanian national anthem over pictures of him swearing allegiance to Croatia.
He was just one of the thousands who complained jamming phone lines about the mix up.
Goran said a CNN crew was in the country several days to do the short news item on his six-month compulsory military service and filmed numerous rehearsals with the right music.
But stunned Croatian and Romanian cable and satellite TV viewers watched as Goran marched in Croatian army uniform, accompanied by a dubbed over Romanian national anthem.
Goran told army pals: "I know the Americans have little idea about Europe but you would think they could at least pick the right anthem if they are going to try and add sound effects."
CNN has declined to comment on the mix-up, or criticism over the use of extra sound effects to add more authenticity to the program.
A spokesman said: "We are looking into the matter."
Source: ananova.com
TENNIS ACE GORAN IS TO MARRY HIS MODEL GIRLFRIEND
18 December 2001
HE IS the lovably eccentric outsider whose dark good looks captured a million hearts when he stormed to victory at Wimbledon.
But today we have bad news for the army of female fans who admired heartthrob Croatian Goran Ivanisevic for more than his tennis skills.
The Centre Court champ is to marry his fiancee, model Tatjana Dragovic.
The news emerged as Goran, 30, and Tatjana attended a parade in which the multi-millionaire tennis hero paraded in his new guise as the most famous new recruit to the Croatian army.
As he took the national oath of allegiance after two weeks of basic training Goran announced: "Yes, I am going to be married".
The romantic declaration unfolded as Hare Krishna follower Tatjana, 21, stood proudly with Goran's father Srdjan watching their boy take part in a half-hour military parade. The uniformed spectacle took place at the Borongaj army barracks in Zagreb - where Goran is fulfilling his compulsory six months National Service.
But just like Elvis Presley and his army spell in the early 60s, Goran will be no ordinary GI Joe.
He is being allowed to spend time on his luxury yacht and return home to his exclusive apartment every night.
And while he is there at the crack of dawn square bashing with the rest of them - as well as joining his fellow recruits for the less-than-fantastic food - by 11am he is on the practice court.
Goran said: "I am doing well in the army and am having no problems with tennis practice, either. They let me go whenever I need to."
Goran added that he is "having no troubles shooting rifles and guns. To be honest, though, I am better at taking a Kalashnikov to pieces than putting it together again."
He was giving no clue as to when the wedding might be, although his dad said: "It's time he settled down."
After he overcame all the odds this year to beat Pat Rafter and stormed to the championship, Goran danced the night away in an evening of celebrations.
Ironically Tatjana, wasn't there and he was controversially photographed boogying on down with Slavica Ecclestone, wife of Formula One boss Bernie.
But clearly it was always Tatjana that Goran loved.
Game, set and love match
Source: mirror.icnetwork.co.uk
Ivanisevic announces wedding plans
17 December 2001
Goran Ivanisevic has revealed his plans to get married.
He made the announcement that he will marry model girlfriend Tatjana Dragovic after starting his national service.
The Wimbledon champion donned his Croatian national uniform and took the oath after completing his basic training.
"Yes, I am going to be married," Ivanisevic said after the parade which marks the start of his six months' national service.
His girlfriend was at the parade at the Borongaj army barracks in Zagreb, with Ivanisevic's father Srdjan Ivanisevic.
Officers asked journalists to leave when a group of women army officers wanted to take photos together with the country's most famous new soldier.
"I am doing well in the army. Having no problems with tennis practice either. They let me go whenever I need," said Ivanisevic.
But he added: "To be honest, though, I am better in taking a Kalashnikov to pieces than putting it together again."
Source: ananova.com
Soldier Ivanisevic pledges to protect homeland
15 December 2001
Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic pledged to defend his homeland Croatia with his life on Saturday, while taking oath as a soldier for a compulsory six-month service.
"I will defend and protect my country at the price of my life," a solemn Ivanisevic, clad in military uniform, shouted together with several hundred new soldiers lined up on a freezing morning in a Zagreb barracks.
"It was great, a great honour, though a bit cold," he told journalists after the admission ceremony.
"The army will allow me to follow my plans, go away and play tournaments," he said, adding he sought no other privileges. "I do everything other soldiers do, wait in line for food and all."
The 30-year old will lead Croatia in their Davis Cup tie against Germany in February. "It's going to be tough, although we have a slight advantage of playing at home," he said.
While still coming to terms with the military life he started with a two-week basic drill near his Adriatic hometown Split in November, the towering Croat said he liked the food but had no talent for weapons.
"I can dissemble an AK-47 (semi-automatic gun), but assemble it back together, phew, no way," he laughed.
Ivanisevic was formally drafted in September as a member of a sports squad, after passing a fitness test where he complained of poor eyesight which has forced him to consider wearing lenses.
But all in all, "this was absolutely the best year of my life".
Ivanisevic beat Patrick Rafter to win his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, after ending as the tournament's runner-up three times in the past decade.
Ivanisevic, who ended the year as 13th in the world, has said he aims to ignore shoulder pain and play for two more years before retiring.
Source: sports.com
Watch Goran at the Sports Personality Awards
9 December, 2001
Click here to watch Goran being interviewed at the Sports Pesonality Awards - 9 December 2001.
Goran is overseas champ
9 December, 2001
Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has won the BBC's Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award for 2001.
Ivanisevic picked up the first award to be presented in the annual Sports Review of the Year programme.
A former Wimbledon champion, Boris Becker, presented the award as Britain's Tim Henman looked on.
Henman lost to the Croat in the 2001 semi-final at the All England Club - and he was interviewed along with the two men who have both won the title he values most.
Becker, however, had reassuring words for the Englishman, telling Henman he had a "funny feeling" that he would win Wimbledon at some stage during his career.
Ivanisevic also said Henman had time on his side because he was still a relatively young player.
The current Wimbledon champ, on receiving his award, said: "I would like to thank the BBC for this unbelievable award.
"I am proud and honoured to be here tonight with all these great sportspeople."
Source: bbc.co.uk