LONDON, July 9 (Hina) - Croatian wildcard Goran Ivanisevic made his dream come true Monday by beating Australian Patrick Rafter 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7 in the Wimbledon final saying he hoped he was not going to wake up.
LONDON, July 9 (Hina) - Croatian wildcard Goran Ivanisevic made his
dream come true Monday by beating Australian Patrick Rafter 6-3 3-6
6-3 2-6 9-7 in the Wimbledon final saying he hoped he was not going
to wake up.#L#
"I don't know if it's a dream and I'm going to wake up and someone is
going to tell me I didn't win Wimbledon again," Ivanisevic said.
The Croatian player, ranked 125 in the world and a three times
losing finalist in Wimbledon, said he must thank the organisers of
the tournament for his victory.
"I want to thank the Club first for giving me a wildcard or I
couldn't have done it," he said.
The Ivanisevic-Rafter finals was played in five sets, after Rafter
won the fourth set with 6:2.
"I was so tight -- there were so many match points...the racket felt
like it weighed 50 pounds," Ivanisevic said.
"I came here and nobody even talked about me and now I am holding the
trophy. I was three times a loser here. Now I want to thank my
father. His heart would definitely have exploded if I had not won."
Ivanisevic dedicated this match to the late Croatian basketball
legend and his friend, Drazen Petrovic.
"Back in 1993 I wanted to dedicate my victory in Wimbledon to
Drazen. I didn't have a chance. Now I do. This one is for you Drazen!
I hope you can see me!"
(hina) it