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Sunday 25th September 2005, SkySports.com
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is to come out of retirement to fight for a place in Croatia's Davis Cup final team. The Croats will travel to Slovakia for the tournament's climax in December after beating Russia on Sunday and Ivanisevic is hoping to qualify as his country's fourth player.
The 34-year-old quit the game in 2003 because of a persistent shoulder injury, but will now challenge Sasa Tuksar for the final berth in captain Niki Pilic's side.
Pilic revealed that the two men would have a one-off play-off match to decide who gets the nod.
"I'm telling everyone now for the first time that there will be a one-off match between Goran and Sasa at my club in Munich," Pilic stated.
"It will be held on a fast rebound ace court at 500m altitude, and that will help Goran.
"Whoever wins will be the fourth player. But if Goran loses he will still be with us for the final. If Goran wins Sasa will also still be with us."
Ivanisevic, who claimed glory at SW19 in 2001, confirmed he was deadly serious about the comeback, but insisted he would be cheering on his nation with equal fervour whether he made the team or not.
"It's not for me to decide, I'll be there as fourth player or as assistant coach, whatever, I'll be there," he declared.
"It's much tougher watching. You want to help but you can't, you have to sit, you can't get out of your seat.
"When you're playing you can control the situation, your emotions, but when you're sitting you can only yell and scream."
"I know this team can win the Davis Cup.
"For us to be in the final is great for the sport, the country, it's unbelievable."
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is to come out of retirement to fight for a place in Croatia's Davis Cup final team. The Croats will travel to Slovakia for the tournament's climax in December after beating Russia on Sunday and Ivanisevic is hoping to qualify as his country's fourth player.
The 34-year-old quit the game in 2003 because of a persistent shoulder injury, but will now challenge Sasa Tuksar for the final berth in captain Niki Pilic's side.
Pilic revealed that the two men would have a one-off play-off match to decide who gets the nod.
"I'm telling everyone now for the first time that there will be a one-off match between Goran and Sasa at my club in Munich," Pilic stated.
"It will be held on a fast rebound ace court at 500m altitude, and that will help Goran.
"Whoever wins will be the fourth player. But if Goran loses he will still be with us for the final. If Goran wins Sasa will also still be with us."
Ivanisevic, who claimed glory at SW19 in 2001, confirmed he was deadly serious about the comeback, but insisted he would be cheering on his nation with equal fervour whether he made the team or not.
"It's not for me to decide, I'll be there as fourth player or as assistant coach, whatever, I'll be there," he declared.
"It's much tougher watching. You want to help but you can't, you have to sit, you can't get out of your seat.
"When you're playing you can control the situation, your emotions, but when you're sitting you can only yell and scream."
"I know this team can win the Davis Cup.
"For us to be in the final is great for the sport, the country, it's unbelievable."
