Ivanisevic Q&A

Ivanisevic has become a fixture on the BlackRock Tour of Champions

Goran Ivanisevic took time out from playing in the AFAS Classics in Eindhoven to answer your questions.

The Croatian won Wimbledon in 2001, stars on the BlackRock Tour of Champions - and supports West Bromwich Albion.

Ivanisevic will be back in London for the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (2-7 December), where he will take on Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg and John McEnroe.

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How highly did Goran rate the Davis Cup during his playing days? British people and players arguably don't see it in the same light as other countries around the world, do Croatia see it as a tournament they must represent themselves well in?
From chumbawumba2

Goran: "I've always loved to play Davis Cup and it meant a lot, but I always got injured playing Davis Cup. After playing Davis Cup it always took me two or three weeks at least to recover from all the injuries.

"I was always very tense from all the expectation but I still loved to be with the guys as we only saw each other like that a couple of times a year and it was great for me to play on the team.

"It was always pride to win the matches. There are so many brilliant players in the history of tennis who didn't do well in Davis Cup because it was something different, to play for your country. It brings a different pressure.

"I was there when Croatia won it. I was everything: player, ballboy, assistant coach, waterboy. It was great, unbelievable for Croatia to win the Davis Cup.

"But I always say I think Ivan Ljubicic won the Davis Cup - Ljubicic representing Croatia because he tied the record of McEnroe. He won so many matches in a row and without him Croatia would never have won the Davis Cup."

As a player from Croatia, a country with a strong tennis history but very little funding, does Goran have any idea why talent seems to develop in poorly-funded Eastern European nations in a way that it never seems to in Britain?
From Nole-For-King

Goran: "Give us some money and then we'll tell you. Britain has so much money so if you help us then we'll give you the answers. If I tell you then I have to kill you. It's a secret, like a recipe for a good cake. Come to Croatia and I'll tell you for free but you have to come to Croatia."

Ivanisevic has nailed his colours to the West Brom mast

As a fellow Baggie I just wondered what your thoughts on our chances of staying up this season are? Have you managed to see any of the games yet this season?And are we likely to see you at the Hawthorns for a game? We would love you to come out onto the pitch for a home game this season.
From supaBoinger

Goran: "So far we are doing great. I don't want too get excited too early but we have a young team and I think the chances are very good. Hopefully it's not going to be like a couple of years ago when the last couple of matches were heartbreaking.

"That's why we love West Brom and why we are true fans so I think the chances are good. Will I come to the Hawthorns this season? Definitely."

You were the last serve-volleyer to win Wimbledon in 2001. How do you think you would do if you were playing in this era and will we ever see a serve-volleyer in the top 10 again?
From jimbo7482

Goran: "Tough, because first of all the grass is very slow. I played the seniors there last year and the bounces on Centre Court and Court One were so high.

Before you couldn't stay back, it was impossible because the court was so quick. Now, I ask Roger Federer why he doesn't come in more and he says, 'I can't, it's too slow.' So I don't think it's going to happen because they're going to make the court even slower and it would be a suicide mission.

I would try but probably I would get passed so I would stay back, I wouldn't have a choice."

Ivanisevic (L) played his part from the sidelines when Croatia won in 2005

If you'd never been given the opportunity to play tennis as a youngster, what do you think you'd have ended up doing to earn a living? I know you are a pretty decent footballer, could you perhaps have played in the Premier Lleague?
From companygimp

Goran: "I would have been a bank robber. Why not? If they don't catch you it's good. If they do then it's bad luck and you go to prison.

"I don't think I would have been a footballer. I think God gives you a chance to be good in one thing and for me that was tennis. It would be stupid for me to say I would be a great footballer or a great basketball player. No, I would have been a bad footballer.

"I got this chance to be blessed with this great serve and great talent to play tennis and I took my chance and that's what I know the best and what I did the best."

In December this year you could face your "worst nightmare" during your tennis career, Pete Sampras, when you both play in the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall. What would it mean to you if you beat Pete in London? Would it somehow avenge your defeats against him during the times you played him?
From Goranthegreatest

Goran: "Just to beat Pete would be nice. The meaning of beating him on the BlackRock Tour would be great. That guy took a lot of years off my life and at least I could have the satisfaction of beating him there at the Royal Albert Hall. Well, I don't think I will beat him, but I'll give my best."