| Posted by Stojanovic on May 29, 1998 at
04:12:20: Some of you might have seen this article before, because it has been on the internet before, but for those who hasnīt seen it here it is. I donīt like everything in this article, but Iīm afraid that itīs the true and some of it is actually pretty funny. Everything is risky with me : Ivanisevic By Robin Chatterjee When athletes retire, it is only natural that those who have written about them make an attempt to put their careers into perspective. At that point, years of work can be encapsulated into one single sentence. Funny who in case of Goran Ivanisevic the review of his career is complete, even before retirement. A great player who never delivered. Finishing out of the top 10 for first time since 1991, Ivanisevic is now talking a more philosophical view towards his career. He is beginning to accept his shortcomings. " My main goal is to try to win a Grand Slam and get back to the top 10, where I think I deserve to be," he said. When I asked which goal would be more difficult to attain, he replied candidly, " The first one". For the moment, Ivanisevic consoles himself by hoping to emulate 30-years-old Grand Slam winners, more recently Petr Korda, and making a dig at himself. The effect is painful to watch. " I think I still have a chance," he confessed. " See Korda, 30 years old, nobody expected him to win the Australian and he gave everybody a tennis lesson. So itīs never over. Boris did it at 29 ( the Australian Open) Andre Gomez. Probably, I donīt play any more Grand Slams till Iīm 30, and then I arrive and say ÓK, Iīm here`." It has never been easy to fathom Ivanisevicīs brand of tennis. He doesnīt understand it himself. How to review a player who fired 46 aces against Magnus Norman at Wimbledon, in 1997, and went on to lose the match (14-12). Or who saved four match points from Richard Krajicek, in the semifinal at Vienna, going to beat him ? A tournament win in Croatia and a first exit at the Dubai Open are also points to ponder over. But Ivanisevic is a paradox. Heīs also highly injury prone during certain stretches of the year. As he confirmed, " Everything is risky with me. My father always telling me, īdonīt play basketball, donīt play football, donīt play tennis, and donīt play this,īand then last year I am going out of my apartment and I close the door over my finger and break it three places. I was home for six weeks. " With me everything is dangerous. A walk is dangerous. In Australia I was in the boxing ring having fun and a guy hit me with the elbow and I got four stitches. With me itīs dangerous even when I sleep. I can fall out off the bed. I have some parts of the years when Iīm dangerous to9 myself. Itīs boring for me to stay without injury." Today, Ivanisevic is famous just for being famous. As Jimmy Connors once said, " When most players get rich they lose just enough of their drive that they canīt take it to the next level." Perhaps, Ivanisevic isnīt driving enough. Which is why in tennis terms, he is best described by one word: almost. Itīs sad, but still a lot of it I true. But we donīt wants to remember Goran with that word. Show them that they are wrong Goran, because you still have a chance. I hope that Goran gets his fight will back, I wants to see a glimmer of the way he used to be, because he hasnīt been that way for so long time. I wants to see the old Ivanisevic, the Ivanisevic who never gave up and always believed in himself. I wants to see him play as he did once. There is still time to get back. Stojanovic |