Hewitt ends Ivanisevic dream
By Nick Crowther
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Goran Ivanisevic has played his last match at Wimbledon after losing to Lleyton
Hewitt in straight sets.
The 32-year-old, who won here in 2001 but had to delay his return because of
injury, was cheered on by the Centre Court crowd from the moment he walked out.
But ultimately the Croat veteran just could not match the devastating returns of
the 2002 winner.
Ivanisevic said he had no regrets after playing his final match at Wimbledon.
"I knew it was my last match and my last point but for me it was a victory to be
here and to play two matches and to play against a Wimbledon champion is
amazing.
"Everything was perfect - the weather, the crowd and the court. I enjoyed
myself. I am sad to leave but I am happy there's no more practising.
"Fifteen years I've been doing this and I've enjoyed every moment," he said.
Ivanisevic saved 11 of the 13 break points against him in the first set but,
after losing a crucial fourth game, was always up against it.
He struggled and slipped as Hewitt, 23, sent him scrabbling around the court.
And Ivanisevic looked on in despair as the Australian sent two
perfectly-delivered topspin lobs over his head, one to break for the second time
and take the first set 6-2.
The second set went with serve and there were always touches of the Ivanisevic
brilliance with his booming serve and delicate volleys.
But a single break put Hewitt 5-3 up and he served out for a 2-0 lead.
The third was another tight tussle but the Australian used another lob and sent
Ivanisevic diving for a volley before sending a forehand into an unguarded court
to break for 5-4.
Hewitt was unsentimental as he closed out a 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory but then spoke
with the Croat over the net for some time before Ivanisevic walked off to a
standing ovation, wearing his beloved Croatian football top.
Hewitt admitted that he felt awkward at ending Ivanisevic's rollercoaster career
at Wimbledon.
The seventh seed now faces Spain's Carlos Moya in the fourth round.
He said: "It was a weird feeling knowing that, if I won, one of the most
likeable guys on the tour who is loved by all the crowd would be playing his
last match.
"But I blocked it out the best I could knowing there was opportunity to get into
the second week at Wimbledon."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gamewatch: Ivanisevic v Hewitt
BBC Sport
(read from the bottom up)
Latest score: Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 4-6 Hewitt
All the action as former champions Goran Ivanisevic and Lleyton Hewitt do battle
for a place in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
*** THIRD SET ***
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 4-6 Hewitt
There is no fairytale finish to Ivanisevic's career as Hewitt serves his ninth
ace en route to a convincing victory. Ivanisevic dons a Croatia football shirt
as he milks the applause of the Centre Court crowd for one final time.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 4-5 Hewitt
A fantastic disguised lob is a further indication of Hewitt's growing
confidence, and he converts his first break point to move within one game of the
fourth round.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 4-4 Hewitt
Hewitt appears to be approaching the form that took him to the title two years
ago as he races to another service game.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 4-3 Hewitt
Ace number six in a powerful service game from Ivanisevic delays his final
curtain call for a while yet.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 3-3 Hewitt
Hewitt nets twice to give Ivanisevic a half-chance at 30-all, but a seventh ace
helps the Australian hold serve.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 3-2 Hewitt
Ivanisevic refuses to submit to the Hewitt barrage and wins his service game to
maintain hope of an unlikely comeback.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 2-2 Hewitt
Ivanisevic strips off for a change of shirt on the changeover, and is cheered
back on court from a supportive crowd. A delicate backhand volley gets him to
15-30, and then deuce, but Hewitt responds impressively to hold serve.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 2-1 Hewitt
Ivanisevic jokes with the crowd as he wins the first three points, and despite a
double fault holds serve on what could be his final Centre Court appearance.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 1-1 Hewitt
Ivanisevic appears to be in pain after stretching to try to avoid Hewitt winning
the final point on his own serve.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 1-0 Hewitt
Ivanisevic, who intends to retire after the tournament, gives himself a fillip
by taking the opening game of the third set.
*** SECOND SET ***
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-6 Hewitt
Hewitt wastes no time in claiming the second set with less than an hour played.
Ivanisevic faces an uphill task to avoid a straight-sets defeat.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-5 Hewitt
Ivanisevic serves his seventh double fault and Hewitt pressures him into
conceding three break points. He saves the first two but a backhand return sees
Hewitt let out a familiar "Come on!" as he earns the break.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-4 Hewitt
Hewitt is looking in impressive form as he reels off another service game.
Ivanisevic 2-6 3-3 Hewitt
Ivanisevic finds more fluency on his own serve with a more comfortable game to
stay in touch.
Ivanisevic 2-6 2-3 Hewitt
Hewitt produces another good service game to maintain the pressure on his
opponent.
Ivanisevic 2-6 2-2 Hewitt
Ivanisevic plays a shot through his legs only to lose the point, but some heavy
serving sees him hang onto Hewitt's coat-tails.
Ivanisevic 2-6 1-2 Hewitt
The 32-year-old Croatian is struggling to make any headway on Hewitt's serve,
the Australian winning another game to love.
Ivanisevic 2-6 1-1 Hewitt
Hewitt's speed around the court is making Ivanisevic work for every point, but
he manages to hold serve.
Ivanisevic 2-6 0-1 Hewitt
Hewitt wastes no time pressing home his advantage, finishing his service game
with a wristy winner from the baseline.
*** FIRST SET ***
Ivanisevic 2-6 Hewitt
Hewitt swiftly gets himself to 15-40 for two break points, but Ivanisevic saves
both of them. He then serves a double fault followed by an ace, before Hewitt
forces a fourth and then a fifth set point. He takes the latter with another
superb lob.
Ivanisevic 2-5 Hewitt
Ivanisevic forces Hewitt to deuce for the first time but the number seven seed
holds his nerve and his serve to move within one game of taking the first set.
Ivanisevic 2-4 Hewitt
Two double faults put Ivanisevic in trouble at 15-40 down, but a fifth ace helps
him avoid a second break of serve.
Ivanisevic 1-4 Hewitt
Hewitt rams home his advantage with a solid service game, sealed with another
superlative backhand lob.
Ivanisevic 1-3 Hewitt
Hewitt forces six break points on the Croat's serve, with two sublime lobs and a
couple of winning passes. Ivanisevic saves five of them with his big serve, but
Hewitt finally gets the first break with a backhand crosscourt return.
Ivanisevic 1-2 Hewitt
Ivanisevic tries to attack Hewitt's second serve but is narrowly long with a
couple of attemped passes as the Australian holds his serve to love.
Ivanisevic 1-1 Hewitt
Hewitt wins the opening point on the Ivanisevic serve, but two aces help the
2001 champion to a comfortable service game.
Ivanisevic 0-1 Hewitt
Hewitt, the 2002 champion, starts off tentatively on serve, producing a double
fault, but composes himself to take the opening game.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eurosport.com
Live commentary
Lleyton Hewitt def Goran Ivanisevic
June 25, 2004
(read from the bottom up)
18:21 CENTRE COURT: Goran picks a Croatian football shirt out of his bag and
puts it on... the crowd applaud... his career is over!
18:20 CENTRE COURT: Lleyton Hewitt needs only one for a 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory over
Goran Ivanisevic...
18:18 CENTRE COURT: DOUBLE MATCH POINT for 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt
18:11 CENTRE COURT: Ivanisevic is within a couple of returns of breaking the
Hewitt serve, but the former world number one seems to be getting out of trouble
with deep first serves... Goran leads 4-3
18:06 CENTRE COURT: Going through the motions really... Hewitt waiting for his
time to break, Ivanisevic gestures that he would like it to rain, so to prolong
his time on the court, 3-2 to the Croat, third set
17:56 CENTRE COURT: Goran begins to enjoy his last match on the world's most
famous tennis court, the crowd are playing their part, and so too the Croatian's
opponent Lleyton Hewitt... Ivanisevic leads 2-1 third set, on serve
17:47 CENTRE COURT: Lleyton Hewitt wraps up the second set as Goran Ivanisevic
nets a forehand... 6-3
17:34 CENTRE COURT: Ivanisevic and Hewitt continue on serve at 2-2, will Goran
take any risks?
17:24 CENTRE COURT: Lleyton Hewitt wins the first set against Goran Ivanisevic
6-2, coming to the net on four occasions...
17:14 CENTRE COURT: Lleyton Hewitt proving his class against Goran Ivanisevic,
who has suffered terrible shoulder injuries in recent years... the two time
world champion is pumped up, he leads 4-1, first set
17:09 CENTRE COURT: Hewitt breaks Ivanisevic with a forehand pass... 3-1
17:06 CENTRE COURT: A titanic struggle even in the early stages... Ivanisevic
serving at 1-2 to Hewitt, who is playing on the baseline
16:52 CENTRE COURT: Lleyton Hewitt gets his third round match with Goran
Ivanisevic underway... play!
16:46 CENTRE COURT: Up next, Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 champion, versus his
successor for the Wimbledon title, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia
Loveable Goran bids farewell
By Matthew Engel
Published: June 25 2004 20:08 | Last Updated: June 25 2004 20:08
Financial Times
Tim Henman played on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Friday, and the place came
alive. These two events, however, had nothing to do with each other.
Feverish patriotism being suddenly - if only momentarily - out of fashion, the
English sporting public reverted instead to affectionate nostalgia which,
frankly, suits them better.
After Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, the 2002 champion, had smacked one last
winner, a packed house rose to acclaim his vanquished opponent, Goran Ivanisevic
of Croatia, the Wimbledon champion in 2001. Ivanisevic had finally come back,
two years late, to defend his title, without much conviction but with a great
deal of élan.
Since winning the title, injury has meant he has played so little tennis he has
even been expunged from the official guide: until this week he had won the grand
total of four matches in 2004. But he wanted to say goodbye properly, and on
Friday he said it. Having played very respectably to reach the last 32, he came
up against Hewitt, knew the game was up and set out to enjoy the occasion.
So did everyone else. Even during the most virulent outbreaks of Henmania, there
is always some spectator supporting his opponent. This time the crowd were of
one mind: there was not an Aussie flag or a boxing kangaroo in the house. But
this was a day when nationality never mattered. It was a day to salute a man who
made winning seem like a lark and losing seem, well, not all that bad. It was
not so much that everyone wanted to see Goran win; that was never plausible. But
they wanted to wallow in the farewell.
It lasted just 96 minutes, and Hewitt won 6-2 6-3 6-4, without once having his
service broken. Most of the time Ivanisevic the champion was on view: kicking up
chalkdust with 125 mph swinging serves, climbing into the stratosphere to send
overhead smashes into the distance, feathering stop-volleys with an impudent
touch.
But most of the time is not enough against a ratlike scurrier and service-returner
of Hewitt's quality. In earth-years he is only 32, but Ivanisevic has been
coming here since he was a teenager, and his body is far older than that. Quite
often, he roused himself for the biggest serves - in the first set he saved five
break points early on, and then four set points. At other times he hardly
bothered to move, let alone chase.
But the smile was never far away. He encouraged the shouts of "We love you,
Goran", then looking theatrically bemused when a masculine voice said the same.
(If there is another Croat comedian with finer comic timing, he has not yet made
it on to British TV screens). Tennis is always enjoyable when you don't care
whether you win, at least if you've gone and done your winning in the past. Oh,
the difference between being Goran and being Tim!
And then, in the sunlight of a mild, very English, June afternoon, it was over.
"You kicked my ass very well," Ivanisevic told Hewitt. "You're a great champion,
and it's an honour to play you," came the reply. Meanwhile, the crowd rose and
applauded unanimously. The old maestro stood arms akimbo and surveyed the scene
then joined in the applause himself. On this occasion he did not remove any of
his garments, instead he put on a Croatian football shirt: the No. 10, belonging
to his oldest mate Zvonimir Boban, captain of the 1998 World Cup team.
He might play another professional match, just to say goodbye in Croatia. There
is a home Davis Cup match against Belgium coming up, and if there is a dead
rubber singles then he will turn out. Otherwise it's over. He said afterwards he
is glad to be rid of the practice, the exercise and the pain-killing injections.
He will, however, miss the Teletubbies on TV during rain-affected Wimbledon
days.
And so Hewitt marches on, though maybe not beyond the quarter-finals since
that's where he is due to come up against the number one seed Roger Federer. A
round before that, if the seedings work out, Henman - who Ivanisevic famously
beat in a soggy semi-final on route to his 2001 championship - would face Mark
Philippousis, last year's beaten finalist. And that could be nasty too.
Presumably, if and when that happens early next week, footballing chauvinism
will reassert itself for one last hurrah of the summer. But the Henman match
yesterday was played in a respectful hush, for that most unHenmanian of reasons:
he was winning too easily.
Such contest as there was did not really involve his opponent, Ivo Heuberger. It
was all part of the ongoing Henman psychodrama. But after a nervous and erratic
first set, he began to do what the number six in the world is meant to do:
squash number 137 as though he were a snail, not a wasp.
Quite rightly no one got very excited about it. Out on Henman Hill, the bank in
front of the big screen, the moment was marked by a dozen people getting up to
applaud, presumably to stretch their legs, and two women waving St George's
flags (Going cheap! Hurry, hurry while stocks last!).
Ivanisevic ended his press conference with a mellow thank you to the press.
"Thank you for all these 15 years of my career, for writing good, for writing
bad, for writing whatever you write. I had fun, you had fun. Enjoy." Now if
Henman, a few years down the track, can go out like that - that will be
something. It can probably only happen if he's Sir Timothy the champion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curtain falls on Ivanisevic
(Filed: 26/06/2004)
sport.telegraph.co.uk
Lleyton Hewitt has brought Goran Ivanisevic's career to a close with a
straight-sets victory on Centre Court.
Ivanisevic received a standing ovation after the 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, defeat, while
Hewitt maintained his perfect record against the Croatian.
Hewitt has not lost a set to Ivanisevic in their two previous meetings, both on
grass, and swiftly had the upper hand.
The Australian, who succeeded Ivanisevic as Wimbledon champion in 2002,
eventually took advantage of his fourth break point with a superb backhand
winner cross-court in the fourth game.
Hewitt, 23, then broke again to take the first set in 30 minutes.
Ivanisevic, 32, had already defied the odds by beating number 31 seed Mikhail
Youzhny and Filippo Volandri to reach the last 32, coming back from two sets to
one down in the second round.
That was his 600th career victory, but it looked like being his last as he too
often found his once untouchable serves returned with interest.
A crucial call went against him - a return which Ivanisevic chose not to volley
dropped right on the baseline to give Hewitt a third break point - and a
backhand winner and four serves later Hewitt had taken the set 6-3 for a two
sets to nil lead.
There was no doubt who the majority of a partisan crowd wanted to win, but
Hewitt was in no mood to extend the match and broke serve for a 5-4 lead as
Ivanisevic slipped, not for the first time, on the grass.
The Australian then served out to love in ruthless fashion to complete victory
in one hour 26 minutes.
The players then exchanged lengthy congratulations at the net before Ivanisevic
paused for a moment to enjoy the ovation, pulling on a Croatian football shirt
before exiting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 2-Wimbledon-Goran leaves with love in his heart
Fri 25 June, 2004 19:11
By Ossian Shine
LONDON, June 25 (Reuters) - In tennis parlance "love" means, quite literally,
nothing. Try telling that to Goran Ivanisevic.
The big man with the easy smile and twinkling eyes said goodbye to Wimbledon on
Friday amid scenes of heart-warming adoration and generosity from all except his
opponent Lleyton Hewitt.
If ever Hewitt has felt like a villain, this was the day. He beat the Croatian
6-2 6-3 6-4 to end the tennis career of one of the most popular champions in
Wimbledon history.
Ivanisevic, though, was undaunted.
"It was strange, you know. I knew it's last match, last point, but for me, like
I say, it was a victory for me," the 32-year-old Ivanisevic said.
"Everything was perfect. Everything was right the weather, the crowd, the court.
"I just enjoyed myself. I'm happy. I'm happy and sad. I'm sad that I have to
leave, but I'm happy that it's no more practising. Was really great, 16 years. I
really enjoyed every moment of my career."
There were flashes of brilliance but the old warhorse, patched up for one final
appearance on his beloved Centre Court, could coax no more magic from his weary
bones.
Three-times a losing finalist in the 1990s, to Andre Agassi in 1992 and Pete
Sampras in 1994 and 1998, Ivanisevic became the first wildcard to win the
world's most prestigious tournament in 2001 following a fortnight of magic.
Few players can boast such a colourful romance with the small patch of grass in
southwest London.
When the moment came for him to say goodbye he stood, hands on hips, blinking
back tears and surveying the scene of so many triumphs and disasters.
It was a difficult moment after 16 years but the Croatian managed it in his own
unique style.
The big man with the easy smile and twinkling eyes donned a Croatian soccer
shirt and waved to all corners of the court.
WIMBLEDON DEBUT
Hewitt knew his place on this day, walking back to his seat and leaving his
vanquished victim on centre stage.
When Ivanisevic made his debut at the All England Club in 1988, Swede Mats
Wilander was world number one.
The tennis world was a different place. Things have changed since then. Not even
Ivanisevic, no stranger to Wimbledon miracles, could bridge the years on Friday.
Hewitt's speed confounded him and the Australian's legs out-lasted him.
Still capable of the set-saving ace or the flying forehand pass to pull the
crowd to its feet, the bread and butter of tennis is harder to come by for
Ivanisevic these days and it is in that department that Hewitt excels.
The man who inherited the injured Ivanisevic's Wimbledon crown in 2002 withstood
some withering blows on Friday and waited for the cracks to appear in the
Croatian's rusty game.
He did not have to wait long. Hewitt's fan club -- girlfriend Kim Clijsters and
his agent -- yelled encouragement from the stands.
The rest of the crowd, including Formula One maestro Bernie Ecclestone, willed
the Croatian on.
It was never going to be enough.
Some exquisite lobbing drained the energy from Ivanisevic's legs and Hewitt
grabbed a break in the fourth and eighth games of the opening set to seal it
6-2.
A scream of "Come on Goran" solicited a "Yeah, yeah, yeah" from the brooding
showman but he struggled to comply.
CONQUER ALL
A whipped backhand return past the advancing Ivanisevic on set point in the
second set put the match beyond him.
Hewitt sensed it and broke the hushed atmosphere with a roar of encouragement
before trotting to his seat.
Ivanisevic sat in his seat remonstrating with himself, sensing the end was nigh.
Another scream of "we love you Goran" from a woman high in the stands put a
smile on his face and was followed by a "we love you too" from the other side of
the stands. He answered with a punched forehand volley and a grin in the
direction of his admirers.
If love could conquer all, Ivanisevic would have walked away with victory at a
canter.
Screams of delight greeted his bare chest as he changed his shirt at the change
of ends, Chants of "Goran, Goran" echoed round the court, soccer stadium style.
But Hewitt was having none of it. He walloped a 112 miles per hour (180.2 kph)
serve -- Ivanisevic's last in tennis -- back past the Croatian for a break for
5-4 and served out with ease.
Hewitt braced for Goran
www.supertennis.co.za
25 June 2004
Lleyton Hewitt knows he will have the weight of a Wimbledon crowd against him
when he faces sentimental favourite Goran Ivanisevic in Friday's third round.
However, the feisty Australian will have bigger things to worry about on Centre
Court if the 2001 champion gets his mighty serve firing.
"I think he saves his best for this tournament," the 2002 winner said.
"Obviously, this is his last time coming here and he's going to throw everything
he's got at it.
"I'm going to have to step it up a notch and hopefully I can get over."
Ivanisevic, who has not played at Wimbledon since beating Hewitt's good friend
and Davis Cup team mate Pat Rafter in that 2001 final, has nothing to lose and
knows it.
He is retiring from tennis after this tournament and wants to go out with a
bang.
"It's a match that I have nothing to lose. He's one of the best players in the
world. Okay, lately he hasn't been playing well but his form is coming back,"
the Croatian said.
"If I win, it's great for me. I'm just going to go out and enjoy myself here.
"I'm going to have to serve well and volley very well. I'm going to be under
pressure all the time.
"We've played twice already, both times on grass and both times I didn't win a
set. He's the favourite for sure but with me you never know. When I have my day,
then I can be dangerous."
The crowd will be firmly behind Ivanisevic.
"Oh, doesn't worry me, mate," the combative Hewitt said. "I go out there, just
going to focus on my game.
"I think he saves his best for this tournament. Obviously, this is his last time
coming here and he's going to throw everything he's got at it.
"He's fortunate that he's got that kind of game that suits a grass court so
well. So he can go out there and win off his serve, you know, a lot of cheap
points.
"He's only got to play a few good games on the other guy's serve and he's got a
set here and there."
- - -