SPLIT WELCOMES GORAN IVANISEVIC, CROATIA'S HERO

SPLIT, July 10 (Hina) - Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic landed in his home town of Split in a private jet, provided by Slavica Ecclestone, the Croatian wife of Formula 1's boss Bernie Ecclestone, at 18.21 hours Tuesday.#L# Before landing, the plane carrying Ivanisevic made a celebratory circuit above the southern Adriatic city's waterfront, the "Riva". Goran was welcomed at the airport by his mother, sister, and closest friends, including the mother of late Croatian basketball legend and NBA star Drazen Petrovic, to whom Goran dedicated his Wimbledon victory of Monday. More than 150,000 residents, tourists and people from across Croatia gathered in downtown Split to give an unforgettable welcome to Goran, whom Croatians proudly call a national hero. Many wore T-shirts reading "I am a genius", a famous quote Ivanisevic gave to tell off John McEnroe who claimed he was a serve- only player. Toni Kukoc, three-times NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, who also came to Split's "Riva" to welcome Goran, said Ivanisevic's success was one of the greatest achievements in Croatia's 10-year history. Also present were numerous Croatian state officials and their envoys -- Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic, Split mayor Ivica Skaric, Split-Dalmatia prefect Branimir Luksic -- as well as famous Croatian athletes -- soccer player Zvonimir Boban of AC Milan, Croatian champion Hajduk players, numerous basketball players, swimmers, waterpolo players... Deputy PM Antunovic said Ivanisevic had done a wonderful thing, not only for himself but for the whole Croatia. "He showed us that when one has enough persistence and belief in oneself, anything is possible," Antunovic said. Goran received messages of congratulations from across the world, including a fax from American tennis player Andre Agassi. Agassi beat Ivanisevic in the 1992 Wimbledon final. "He knew what I was going through, what it all means," said Ivanisevic. "I knew Andre was a great player, but now I know he is a great person too." "This is the best day of my life, this is going to be the best night of my life," Ivanisevic told a television interviewer after his arrival to Split. "I expected a great welcome, but this is beyond my expectations. Thank you Split, thank you Croatia, I couldn't have done this without you!", said Goran before stripping to his underwear and jumping into the sea. (hina) it