Goran Ivanišević | ||
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Country | ![]() |
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Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco | |
Date of birth | September 13, 1971 | |
Place of birth | Split, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | |
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | |
Weight | 81 kg (180 lb/12.8 st) | |
Turned pro | 1988 | |
Retired | 2004 | |
Plays | Left-handed; two-handed backhand | |
Career prize money | $19,876,579
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Singles | ||
Career record: | 599–333 | |
Career titles: | 22 | |
Highest ranking: | 2 (4 July 1994) | |
Grand Slam results | ||
Australian Open | QF (1989, 1994, 1997) | |
French Open | QF (1990, 1992, 1994) | |
Wimbledon | W (2001) | |
US Open | SF (1996) | |
Doubles | ||
Career record: | 263–225 | |
Career titles: | 9 | |
Highest ranking: | 20 (6 January 1992) | |
Mixed Doubles | ||
Career record: | {{{mixedrecord}}} | |
Career titles: | {{{mixedtitles}}} | |
Highest ranking: | {{{highestmixedranking}}} |
Goran Šimun Ivanišević ( IPA: [ɡǒran iʋanǐːʃɛʋiʨ]; born in Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia on 13 September 1971) is a former professional tennis player from Croatia. He is best remembered for being the only person to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon as a wildcard. He achieved this in 2001, having previously been runner-up at the championships in 1992, 1994 and 1998. Ivanišević is famous for his strong serve, which is one of the greatest to date. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 2 (behind Pete Sampras) in 1994.
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Ivanišević turned professional in 1988 and later that year, with Rüdiger Haas, won his first career doubles title in Frankfurt.
Ivanišević made his first significant impact on the tour in 1990, knocking Boris Becker out of the first round of the French Open men's singles; he went on to reach the quarterfinals. Becker reportedly remarked about Ivanišević that "even God could not have played any better". He was also, with Petr Korda, the runner-up in the French Open men's doubles. At that year's Wimbledon, Ivanišević reached the semifinals, where he lost to Becker in four sets. Ivanišević also won his tour first singles title in 1990 at Stuttgart and helped Yugoslavia win the World Team Cup.
Ivanišević quickly became known on the tour for his strong, attacking style of play and for an extremely powerful serve. For several years, he had more aces than anyone else on the tour. Capable of beating anyone in the world when at his very best, he was also known for occasional on-court temper tantrums—usually directed towards himself—and the volatility of the standard of his play.
Ivanišević lost in the second round at Wimbledon in 1991.
In 1992, Ivanišević reached the Wimbledon singles final, where he faced Andre Agassi. Both players were attempting to win their first Grand Slam title. Agassi eventually won 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4. In the 5th set, Goran had a break point on Agassi's serve at 3 all and did not manage to convert it. In the final game of the match, he served 2 double faults to start the game, even though he had 5 for the entire match before that. His ace count for the tournament (200+) at the time was the highest in the history of ATP. He served 39 aces that day, while Agassi had 37 for the entire tournament. It was a tough loss, but as he was only 20 years old, a bright future was predicted. Later that summer at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Ivanišević won bronze medals in both singles and doubles representing the newly-independent nation of Croatia. He also won four singles titles that year.
Olympic medal record | |||
Competitor for ![]() |
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Tennis | |||
Bronze | 1992 Barcelona | Singles | |
Bronze | 1992 Barcelona | Men's Doubles |
Ivanišević reached the Wimbledon final for the second time in 1994, where he was defeated by defending-champion Pete Sampras 7–6, 7–6, 6–0. Ivanišević reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in July that year.
In 1995, Ivanišević won the Grand Slam Cup, beating Todd Martin in the final 7–6, 6–3, 6–4. At Wimbledon, Ivanišević lost in the semifinals to Sampras 7–6, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3.
In 1996 he won a career-best five singles titles. He reached the Grand Slam Cup final again, but this time lost to Becker in straight sets. He set a tour record by serving 1,477 aces over the course of the season. Ivanišević also teamed with Iva Majoli to win the 1996 Hopman Cup for Croatia. That year Ivanišević also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open, his first Grand Slam semifinal away from Wimbledon; he fell again to Sampras, in four sets.
In 1998, Ivanišević reached his third Wimbledon final. He faced Sampras once again. This time he pushed Sampras to five sets, before losing 6–7, 7–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2.
Ivanišević finished runner-up in the French Open men's doubles in 1999 (with Jeff Tarango). However for much of 1999, 2000, and 2001, he struggled with a shoulder injury and his performance and world ranking began to slide steadily.
By the summer of 2001, Ivanišević was ranked the World No. 125. This was not sufficient to earn him an automatic place in the main draw at Wimbledon but, given his past record as a three-time runner-up, he was awarded a wildcard for entry into the singles draw. He reached the final, beating home favorite Tim Henman in a five set, rain-affected semifinal, setting-up a match with the previous year's runner-up and former US Open champion Patrick Rafter. It was Ivanišević's first singles final since 1998. In a match lasting just over three hours, Ivanišević defeated Rafter 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7. Two months shy of his 30th birthday, Ivanišević became the lowest-ranked player and the first wildcard entry to win Wimbledon.[2] His Wimbledon success was rated sixteenth at the list of 100 Greatest Sporting Moments by a British television programme.
Later that year he received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award.
The 2001 Wimbledon title was the last of Ivanišević's career. He temporarily retired later in 2001 due to shoulder surgery. He returned to tennis in 2004 but retired permanently after a third-round loss to Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon, held on the Centre Court, the scene of his greatest triumph.
Over the course of his career Ivanišević won 22 top-level singles titles and 9 doubles titles.
In 2005, Ivanišević was a member of the Croatian team for the Davis Cup final against Slovakia in Bratislava, although he did not play. Croatia won the final 3–2.
In June 2006, he performed in the Calderstones Park tournament in Liverpool.
In November 2006, Ivanišević won the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions tournament in Frankfurt, defeating John McEnroe 7–6(12), 7–6(1).
In 2007 Roger Federer, seeking his 5th Wimbledon in a row and due to face Nadal in the final, practised with Goran Ivanišević. He said it helped him against Nadal:
Well, I mean, it's good to have hit at least half an hour with a lefty before the finals because I've played against six right handers. So, of course, it's hard to come into a match and you play a lefty. Especially on the returns, I always feel it. The entire points are played in a different manner. Where usually you go backhand cross‑court, with Rafa I have to go backhand long line. I asked Goran yesterday if he wanted to hit with me. He said, Sure, I'm around. I was very happy he did that.
Ivanišević played football for the Croatian team Hajduk Split in 2001.[3] Goran supports English team West Bromwich Albion. He became a fan after the Midland club's Great Escape from Premiership relegation in 2005 when they became the first club since the creation of the modern Premier League in 1992 to be bottom of the league at Christmas and avoid relegation.[4] He wore an Albion shirt whilst warming up prior to the 2006 BlackRock Masters final.[5]
Goran also participated in an exhibition match of the Croatian national team of 1998 versus the International football stars on 7 October 2002 in Zagreb. It was the last career match of Croatian midfielder and team captain Zvonimir Boban. Ivanišević scored the goal for 1–1 (the game ended 2–1 for the International stars).
Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
2001 | Wimbledon | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7 |
Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1992 | Wimbledon | ![]() |
6–7(8), 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
1994 | Wimbledon | ![]() |
7–6(2), 7–6(5), 6–0 |
1998 | Wimbledon | ![]() |
6–7(2), 7–6(9), 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1990 | French Open | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |
1999 | French Open (2) | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–5 |
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No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1. | 16 July 1990 | Stuttgart Outdoor, West Germany | Clay | ![]() |
6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6 |
2. | 17 June 1991 | Manchester, United Kingdom | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
3. | 30 December 1991 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 7–6(5), 6–4 |
4. | 17 February 1992 | Stuttgart Indoor, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–7(5), 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
5. | 5 October 1992 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
6. | 26 October 1992 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
7–6(2), 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–2 |
7. | 13 September 1993 | Bucharest, Romania | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 7–6(5) |
8. | 18 October 1993 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 7–6(3) |
9. | 1 November 1993 | Paris Indoor, France | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2, 7–6(2) |
10. | 10 October 1994 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
11. | 1 August 1994 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
12. | 5 December 1995 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
7–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
13. | 29 January 1996 | Zagreb, Croatia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
14. | 12 February 1996 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
15. | 26 February 1996 | Milan, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(3) |
16. | 4 March 1996 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
17. | 4 November 1996 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
18. | 27 January 1997 | Zagreb, Croatia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
7–6(4), 4–6, 7–6(6) |
19. | 24 February 1997 | Milan, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
20. | 6 October 1997 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(4), 7–6(4), 6–2, 6–3 |
21. | 2 February 1998 | Split, Croatia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
7–6(3), 7–6(5) |
22. | 25 June 2001 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7 |
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1. | 17 October 1988 | Frankfurt, West Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
2. | 4 February 1991 | Milan, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–6 |
3. | 13 May 1991 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–3 |
4. | 17 June 1991 | Manchester, United Kingdom | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–3 |
5. | 30 December 1991 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 7–6 |
6. | 11 September 1995 | Bordeaux, France | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4 |
7. | 26 February 1996 | Milan, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–5 |
8. | 27 January 1997 | Zagreb, Croatia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–3 |
9. | 10 February 1997 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–3 |
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1. | 29 May 1989 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
2. | 21 May 1990 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
3. | 27 August 1990 | Long Island, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
7–6, 6–3 |
4. | 17 September 1990 | Bordeaux, France | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
5. | 1 October 1990 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
6. | 19 August 1991 | New Haven, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
7. | 10 February 1992 | Milan, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
8. | 6 July 1992 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
6–7(8), 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
9. | 11 January 1993 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(4), 4–6, 7–5 |
10. | 17 May 1993 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–2, 6–2 |
11. | 1 November 1993 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 7–6(6), 7–6(3), 6–2 |
12. | 21 February 1994 | Stuttgart Indoor, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
13. | 4 July 1994 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
7–6(2), 7–6(5), 6–0 |
14. | 19 September 1994 | Bucharest, Romania | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
15. | 31 October 1994 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(4) |
16. | 15 May 1995 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
17. | 15 January 1996 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
18. | 26 February 1996 | Antwerp, Belgium | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2, 7–6(5) |
19. | 1 April 1996 | Key Biscayne, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
3–0, ret. |
20. | 19 August 1996 | Indianapolis, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(3), 7–5 |
21. | 9 December 1996 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
22. | 17 February 1997 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Hard | ![]() |
7–5, 7–6(3) |
23. | 16 June 1997 | London/Queen's Club, United Kingdom | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
24. | 6 July 1998 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
6–7(2), 7–6(9), 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
25. | 24 August 1998 | New Haven, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |
26. | 12 October 1998 | Shanghai, China | Carpet | ![]() |
4–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
27. | 16 November 1998 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() |
7–6(2), 7–6(5) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1. | 2 October 1989 | Palermo, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–7, 6–4 |
2. | 19 February 1990 | Brussels, Belgium | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |
3. | 11 June 1990 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
4. | 20 August 1990 | New Haven, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 7–6 |
5. | 22 July 1991 | Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
6. | 15 June 1992 | London/Queen's Club, United Kingdom | Grass | ![]() |
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7–6, 2–6, 16–14 |
7. | 17 April 1995 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–4 |
8. | 7 August 1995 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–5 |
9. | 7 June 1999 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–5 |
10. | 2 August 1999 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6(4) |
Tournament | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
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Australian Open | A | QF | 1R | 3R | 2R | A | QF | 1R | 3R | QF | 1R | A | 2R | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 11 | 19–11 |
French Open | A | 4R | QF | 2R | QF | 3R | QF | 1R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 12 | 21–12 |
Wimbledon | 1R | 2R | SF | 2R | F | 3R | F | SF | QF | 2R | F | 4R | 1R | W | A | A | 3R | 1 / 15 | 49–14 |
U.S. Open | A | 2R | 3R | 4R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | SF | 1R | 4R | 3R | 1R | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 13 | 21–13 |
Grand Slam SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 51 | N/A |
Grand Slam Win-Loss | 0–1 | 9–4 | 11–4 | 7–4 | 13–4 | 5–3 | 14–4 | 5–4 | 14–4 | 5–4 | 9–4 | 5–3 | 1–4 | 9–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | N/A | 110–50 |
Indian Wells | A | 1R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | SF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 13 | 9–13 |
Miami | A | 1R | 2R | A | 2R | 1R | QF | A | F | QF | 3R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | A | 2R | 0 / 13 | 19–13 |
Monte Carlo | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | 1R | QF | SF | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | 1R | 0 / 11 | 8–11 |
Rome | A | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | F | SF | SF | 3R | SF | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | 1R | 0 / 12 | 20–12 |
Hamburg | A | 3R | 1R | QF | 2R | A | 1R | F | 1R | A | QF | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 9 | 12–9 |
Canada | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 6 | 4–6 |
Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | QF | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 7 | 9–7 |
Stockholm | A | A | QF | QF | W | F | F | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 5 | 17–4 |
Paris | A | A | 2R | 2R | SF | W | QF | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 1 / 9 | 12–8 |
Tennis Masters Cup | A | A | A | A | SF | SF | RR | A | SF | A | A | A | A | RR | A | A | A | 0 / 5 | 8–7 |
ATP Tournaments Won | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 22 |
Year End Ranking | 371 | 40 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 62 | 129 | 12 | 243 | 657 | 266 | N/A | N/A |
Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by Marat Safin |
ATP Most Improved Player 2001 |
Succeeded by Paradorn Srichaphan |
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