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Come back like Martina? No way, says Ivanisevic
Whatever happens in the match against Hewitt, Goran Ivanisevic has insisted that he will retire.
Goran Ivanisevic is adamant that he will not be tempted to follow the example of 47-year-old Martina Navratilova and make a comeback once his Wimbledon adventure comes to an end.
The 32-year-old Croatian, the champion in 2001 but whose ranking has slumped to 415 after three years of injury misery, made the third round of Wimbledon with a 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Italy's Filippo Volandri for his 600th career win.
He was due to face 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt on Friday for a place in the last 32 but whatever happens in that match, the colourful Ivanisevic insisted that he will carry out his promise to retire once his tournament comes to an end.
"No chance," he said when asked if he would contemplate a return.
"Not in men's tennis. Look at Andre Agassi - in the past, he could take a month off and come back and win a tournament. Not anymore. In the men's game, two weeks is the maximum you can take off.
"For women, it's different. Look at Martina. For eight years she didn't play a match. That tells you everything about women's tennis.
"In men's, who can play at 48 and come back on the tour. It would be funny to watch. It would be slow motion. These days, the guys hit the ball so hard. It really has improved."
Even three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe would have problems against the current crop of players, believes Ivanisevic.
"McEnroe, even with his talent, could probably take a set but I don't think he would win a match because these guys hit the ball so hard."
Due to a succession of shoulder and foot injuries, Ivanisevic hasn't played here since his breathtaking five-set win against Australia's Pat Rafter in the final three years ago.
Coming into Wimbledon, he had won just three matches all year and needs daily injections of painkillers to dull the continuous pain in his serving shoulder.
"I asked God to help me win the title in 2001 and he gave me Wimbledon," said Ivanisevic.
"I just asked him to be here again and here I am three years later. This for me is victory enough.
"Just to come back and play on Centre Court again, to play Wimbledon. This for me is like winning Wimbledon again.
"This is why I kept going in the last two years. I wanted to stop but I think I made the right decision to come back. This, for me, is more than winning Wimbledon."
