GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP - 9 August 1996
CINCINNATI, OHIO
August 9, 1996
M. CHANG/G. Ivanisevic
6-3, 7-5
Interviewers - black
Goran - sage.
How do you feel you played today, Goran?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I didn't play very good. But he didn't do anything, I start pretty wild, you know, I start -- I didn't keep to his game, but everything went in. Today was opposite everything he was just putting the ball in, two balls and then third one was going 10 meters long, plus I had a chances 4-2 to break back, 5-3 another break back, and what surprised me today he served very good. He never served against me like that and that is what made the big difference.
Do you see any differences in his serve or he is just hitting it harder?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: He was hitting very hard and very accurate, on the lines, deep. I couldn't do too much. Every time I have breakpoint, he put first serve in. I had a chance the second set and another two breakpoints, another two big serves and no chance.
What was going through your mind in the second set were you sort of saying to yourself "this is my chance? I will play better?"
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I started to serve much better. I did have chances and then I lost concentration at 4-All, but I managed to win that game with a couple of big serves. And 5-All, I played a terrible game, 40-15 and then I hit four forehands with the frame. I mean, without any -- he didn't put any force. I mean, he just put the ball back and I hit four easy forehands, and with him, you cannot afford to do that. I gave him too many easy mistakes today, which against Chang, if you do that, there is no way you can win.
What caused you to lose your concentration?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I mean, I am still not playing my best tennis. I won two rounds here which I was surprised the way I played. Today I was not in my best and I mean, I am pretty happy with this tournament, but today I didn't -- if this went in, all the things, it would be a different story, but everything was going long and a lot of close calls, close to the line and every time they call it long, so --
You say are not playing your best tennis right now. What is wrong?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Nothing is wrong. I had some 20 days off before Atlanta and I didn't practice so much, so it is still a lot of things to improve in my game.
GREG SHARKO: Anything else for Goran? Okay. Thank you.