Interviews
Q. Boris, before your match started over there on the side court, in the stadium court, they said to the crowd, they said, "An old friend is about to begin play on the other court, Boris Becker." Do you feel old?
BECKER: Old friend is, you know, they realize that I was winning here 16 years ago; that meant more an old friend. But no. I mean, other than that, this afternoon for me, we're back playing out on the court. Unfortunately, we played against the best doubles team in the world so there wasn't really much we could do together. But overall, I was happy to be back here.
Q. How long did you guys have to practice together as a doubles team? Because you just got here when?
BECKER: I mean, none really.
Q. None really?
BECKER: No. But he's a natural serve and volley player. I'm a natural serve and volley player. We both have won doubles tournaments in our lives before so that usually doesn't take that long of an adjustment.
Q. Could I ask Goran about yesterday's single's match? How much did the crowd help? You became the crowd favorite instantly.
IVANISEVIC: A lot, because I didn't felt well. The third set, I don't know how I won in the end. I just was working and serving big, and this helped me. And the crowd was really great behind me. That's why I don't move so well today, because I still, you know, don't feel great.
Q. Were you having trouble with the heat yesterday?
IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I had trouble with the heat and I didn't play tennis for a long time, you know, first tournament, and it was really hot yesterday.
Q. Why do you think the Cincinnati crowd was so loving towards you? It's the only way I could describe it.
IVANISEVIC: I don't know.
BECKER: He's the Wimbledon champion. Come on, I mean.
IVANISEVIC: Actually, you know, I am pretty good with a crowd, you know, because they never know what to expect from me. So they like that.
Q. Goran, what happened with your shoes? You threw them in the trash can.
IVANISEVIC: Broke.
Q. Just part of the shoe did?
IVANISEVIC: Yeah.
Q. The heel of it?
IVANISEVIC: Part of the shoe just snapped.
BECKER: The tension was so high today that the shoes just couldn't hold it. Too much pressure going on in the court.
Q. That doesn't happen very often, does it? Just curious.
IVANISEVIC: Doesn't happen after three days of the shoe, you know. But it happens at times.
Q. Boris, talk about your schedule a little bit, playing these kinds of events. I know you're trying to get ready, you know, looking forward to a few tournaments on the senior tour. This is all part of that preparation. How many of these events are you going to play?
BECKER: It depends how quickly my form is coming. I was really pleased today, got here four days ago, practiced. Good match. That's the only way to come back; go out there, play competitive tennis, practice with the best in the world, you know. When I'm home, you know, you practice hard. It's just not the same, you know, not the same players. Therefore, it really depends how quickly I find my form. I feel physically ready for it. As you said, next week I play my first event. I have three or four matches, singles matches. So it's going to determine a lot afterwards where I'm standing and how much more of this type of events I need to do.
Q. Do you think there's pressure being put on you, not pressure per se, but you're being counted on, you and McEnroe, to carry the torch for the senior tour. Has John talked to you about that?
BECKER: John carried it for a long time. Connors was the first one so John took over, and he's the dominant player now the last couple years, but he's also now past 40, and, you know, players now have arrived who retired a couple years ago, and I'm the first, let's say, from the guys who are a little younger, was the first one to play. And I think it's important, because the idea is good and it gives us tennis player
mid-thirties, it's not too old to play tennis. The crowd enjoys it as much. We may not be as fast but we have a great sense of humor on the court. And I hope I can convince other guys like Stephan Edberg, Thomas Muster, players of my generation to come back and to be playing in those type of tournaments.
Q. Is that something you thought about doing, or you just recently, you know, figured hey, I might as well?
BECKER: No, I always had the intention to play that type of tournament. It's just by rule, I have to wait for two years from my last singles on the ATP tour to my first seniors match; so therefore, I couldn't do it before. Plus my age, I'm not the oldest yet. Therefore, I also have to wait a little bit.
Q. Goran, how are you looking at the tour these days? Because you had a, kind of a rough patch before Wimbledon; and after Wimbledon, you were quoted as maybe thinking about retirement.
IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I was thinking it's changed. Everything is no more big name, no more big stars like Boris, you know.
Q. So you want to be the top dog?
IVANISEVIC: Yeah. But, you know, you see all these young guys that play the same, you know. They hit the ball as hard as they can, they come to the net to shake hands, and they do a lot of gym. And if you want to keep those guys, you have to work the same. You have to go to gym, you have to practice hard. It's not easy. And you can lose to anybody. It's no more easy matches. You come on the court, you play some guys you never heard, you have a bad day and he beats you easy. So it's becoming very tough. Before you have one, two easy match maybe indoor. Now they slow down indoor, very slow. I mean, so many Spanish guys in the semis, in the finals of the indoor
tournaments and everything changed. So no, no more easy matches. Nothing is easy.
Q. So are you going to stay with the tour for a while?
IVANISEVIC: Yes, I'm going to have operation end of the year; and hopefully, next year, I still going to play. And who knows? If I feel fine, I play. If not, I leave.
Q. What kind of operation?
IVANISEVIC: My shoulder.
Q. Did that change, winning Wimbledon change your outlook about how much longer you'd want to play?
IVANISEVIC: Sure, when for two years you don't win a couple of matches and you're out, your ranking is under 28 before Wimbledon and then you win and you go back to 16, you know, then you look different. My confidence is high and my expectation is higher and, you know, I have more fun, you know.
BECKER: You're ranked 16 now?
IVANISEVIC: No, I'm 19. I dropped two places.
BECKER: Still okay, huh?
IVANISEVIC: Still okay.
MODERATOR: Anything else?
Q. Well, I am covering this also for a radio station in Mostar, BiH, and they asked if you could give them a quote in your language, either Croat or Bosniak.
IVANISEVIC: Bosniak, I don't know Bosniak. My language, what do you mean?
Q. Just how you're feeling right now.
IVANISEVIC: What language, my
language?
Q. Your language.
IVANISEVIC: How I feel? (Speaking in foreign language.)
Right, the disclaimer. The interviews do not belong to me and are not being used for any form of profit on my behalf. Just to feed our craving for Goran.