'Roddick Can Still Win Wimbledon' - Goran Ivanisevic

Goran Ivanisevic says that it could take three years for Andy Roddick to recover from his Wimbledon final disappointment, but he firmly believes that the American can still fulfill his dream and win the title. Roddick will play his first competitive match since that heartbreaking 16-14 final set defeat to Roger Federer last month when he meets either Robby Ginepri or Benjamin Becker in Washington tomorrow night, and Ivanisevic knows more than anyone how the American feels.

The Croatian, who returns to London to play in The Masters Tennis (1-6 December, 2009) where he could face Pat Rafter for the first time since their 2001 Wimbledon final, famously won the title at the All England Club as a wildcard entry having already endured three final losses - two at the hands of Pete Sampras, and one to Andre Agassi. Ivanisevic compares Roddick’s third Wimbledon final defeat to his own in 1998. In that match, Ivanisevic had chances to take a two set lead against the then World Number One Sampras. In the end, he watched the Wimbledon title slip from his grasp in five sets, just as Roddick did. It was the most painful defeat of Ivanisevic’s career.

"Losing that final was the worst feeling I ever had on a tennis court,” said Ivanisevic.

“I had two set points against Sampras for two-sets-to-love, and there was a shaky line-call. If we had Hawk-Eye back then I could have been leading by two-sets-to-love and that would have been so different. It took me three years to recover. I only recovered when I won it in 2001. I am floating on a boat enjoying myself now on vacation. If I had not won in 2001 I might have been underneath the boat instead!”

The Croatian watched every ball of the Wimbledon final this year, and felt Roddick’s pain.

“It was exactly the same for Roddick against Federer as it was for me against Sampras,” he said. “This year’s final was the best match I have ever seen Roddick play. He served so well, he played so well and if he had made that backhand volley in the second set Tie-Break, who knows what would have happened. He had 6-5 in that Tie-Break, and then he missed that backhand volley. He’s going to dream about that shot every night until the day that he wins the title.”

Ivanisevic is confident that Roddick can still win it.

“He is a good player and he can still win Wimbledon - if I could do it, so can he,” he said. “When I arrived at Wimbledon in 2001 I was 29 and just happy to have a wild card. I always thought, even then, that I had a chance with my serve, with my game, and look what happened. He is younger than I was, he still has some years left, but it could take him three years to recover from that backhand volley. Maybe two years because unlike me he had already won a Grand Slam title! But he can still do it.”

Ivanisevic could reprise his 2001 Wimbledon final at The Masters Tennis with Rafter also signed up to play for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall in London (December 1-6).

For tickets, please call the box office on: +44 (0) 208 233 5882, or visit the official website www.themasterstennis.com/tickets.asp.

To upgrade tickets to include hospitality, there are a variety of options available, including a pre-show package with the chance to meet tournament players. For more information call the box office on +44 (0)208 233 5880 or e-mail: themasterstennis@imgworld.com