Goran ponders the end

Goran ponders an uncertain future at Queens Club

By Andrew Warshaw at Queen's Club.

The hangdog expressions of dejection haven't changed.

Nor have the lightning left-handed serves.

But Goran Ivansevic, once one of tennis' most feared competitors, is at last beginning to wonder whether it's time to call it a day.

Having struggled throughout 2000 with a shoulder injury and been eliminated in the first round at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, Ivanisevic could have been forgiven for giving up there and then.

These days, you can lose to anybody, no matter who he is, if you don't play well

  Goran Ivanisevic

But after 13 years on the circuit, he was determined to do everything he could to regain his form.

He has spent much of this year pushing himself through minor challenger and qualifying events - a far cry from six years ago when he reached number two in the world.

Yet after another quick exit in a major tournament, this time in the first round at Queen's on Tuesday to Christiano Caratti, of Italy, Croatia's most famous tennis player is realistic about how much time he has left.

Colourful as ever, Goran poses with Mick Jaggers's girlfriend Vanessa Newman

"I'd still like to give Wimbledon one more shot," said Ivanisevic, who has gone through the heartbreak of being runner-up three times.

"I enjoyed playing today because I hadn't been on the court for a month. But I simply didn't play well. I even started to chip and charge which I hardly ever do.

"These days, you can lose to anybody, no matter who he is, if you don't play well."

But one thing's for sure, I won't stay in one place and get bored

  Ivanisevic on life after retirement

It's been a familiar story, with only one decent victory all year, against compatriot Jiri Novak in Miami in March.

"It's tough going from the final of Wimbledon to challenger events but if I do give up, at least I can say I tried everything."

"I'm going to see at the end of the year how I'm doing and then decide whether to carry on.

"People ask me what I would do. To be honest, I'm not sure, maybe play indoor football. Certainly not become a tennis coach.

"But one thing's for sure, I won't stay in one place and get bored. I'll move on somehow."