GORAN IVANISEVIC

Jason Goodall

For a player who was used to competing for honours at the very highest level, weeping and scowling as he watched Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras deny him a Wimbledon crown on three occasions, it was a sad state of affairs when Goran Ivanisevic entered Wimbledon 2001 ranked a lowly 125 in the world. Injuries had taken their toll on the 29-year-old Croat to the point whereby the three-time finalist applied to the Championships Committee for a wild card in order to compete in the main draw of the singles.

Given his great record at the event and his popularity with the general public his wish was quickly granted, allowing him one last shot at the title. Little did he know that the events of the following 15 days would cement his name in the annals of tennis history as one of the most remarkable tournaments in the history of the Championships unfolded.

Having beaten the likes of Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski and Marat Safin the British public were torn between supporting the former world No.2 and their home-grown hero Tim Henman in the semi-finals.

Could this be the year that the British No.1 finally delivered? Initially it certainly looked like it; Henman played some inspired tennis to lead by two sets to one at one stage, only for the match to be postponed twice due to rain. Upon resumption on the Sunday - the match had originally started on the previous Friday - Ivanisevic held his nerve and his serve to win in five sets, and afterwards declared; “This is destiny. God wanted me to win this game - he sent the rains.”

And so Wimbledon went into a third week - Ivanisevic would compete against Australia's Pat Rafter in the final on Monday, 'the Peoples' Monday.' At the time it was obvious how much it meant to him. “If some angel comes tonight in my dreams and says ‘OK Goran, you are going to win Wimbledon tomorrow but you are not able to touch a racket ever again in your life’ I say ‘OK, I rather take that and then never play tennis again.’”

The final with the former US Open champion was an epic five-set affair that tore at the heart strings of those courtside as well as the many millions watching on television. Ivanisevic eventually prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7, just about managing to serve out the match with tear-filled eyes to become the lowest-ranked champion and only wildcard ever to triumph on the lawns of the All England Club.

His most famous victory proved to be the pinnacle of a glorious career, and the celebrations lasted for days when he returned home to be greeted by almost 200,000 fans in his hometown of Split.

"This is what I've waited for all my life," explained the lefty at the time. "I came here and nobody thought about me, but here I am holding the trophy."

That title was his last, bringing his grand total to 22. But Ivanisevic’s life can’t be defined by just numbers; although as far as his serve was concerned he posted some incredible ones; in 1996 he fired down a record 1,477 aces throughout the course of the season.

He will be remembered for generations to come for far more than just his golden arm; his patriotic verve was constantly on display for all to see, as was his appreciation for the history of the sport which he so obviously loves, and perhaps more than anything else he will be remembered for his mischievous personality.

'In every game I play there are three players in me that could surface at anytime,” he explained with his trademark grin. “Good Goran, Bad Goran and Crazy Goran! They can all serve aces.'

10 years after his greatest triumph, all three have been sorely missed since he retired in 2004.

GORAN IVANISEVIC