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US OPEN


August 29, 2003


Ivo Karlovic


NEW YORK CITY

MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Can you just talk about what turned it around for you, you know, in the match.

IVO KARLOVIC: In the match, well I started to serve much better. So I had better chance in the tiebreak.

Q. It's hard to probably summarize, but since Wimbledon, have you gotten a lot more contacts from sponsors and from other people?

IVO KARLOVIC: From sponsors, yeah. I am ranked which is the best for me now at the moment.

Q. Can you describe what life has been like for you since Wimbledon.

IVO KARLOVIC: Well, since, it's been pretty much the same because I was always on the tournaments. So it's been the same.

Q. When you were down 2-4 in the tiebreaker in the fourth set, you seemed to lose your serve a little. Does that worry you, since your serve is such a big part of your game? Does that worry you at all?

IVO KARLOVIC: Well, I mean, of course it worries me. But I am trying to stay focused to play as best I can.

Q. You seem to take a little step towards the umpire's chair, clean off your racquet.

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah.

Q. You came back very focused with your serve. You really gathered yourself there, didn't you?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, of course.

Q. Your ranking has gone up considerably since Wimbledon.

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, yeah.

Q. Do you feel that soon you won't have to be playing qualifying tournaments?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, I mean, sure. I mean, it is my goal. I hope that it will be soon.

Q. You won the GHI men's singles up in The Bronx.

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, and in the Hampton as well.

Q. Did that really prepare you to come here?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure, because it helped my confidence. Yeah, it's been good.

Q. Did you try for a wildcard here?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yes.

Q. They turned you down?

IVO KARLOVIC: That's right. Because, I mean, no.

Q. Were you surprised?

IVO KARLOVIC: I mean, no, actually, not much.

Q. You've done so well at Wimbledon and now here. What is it about Grand Slams that brings the best out of you?

IVO KARLOVIC: Well, actually, I've been playing also in (inaudible). I don't know, it is also only my form. I mean, always, it's, I mean, the same.

Q. Do you feel greater excitement at places like here?

IVO KARLOVIC: Of course, yeah. I mean, sure.

Q. Did it surprise you how much attention this match got with Hicham, with the crowd yelling, "Ivo" and "Hicham"?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. It's been nice. It's been good atmosphere.

Q. Has Goran been in touch this week?

IVO KARLOVIC: No, no.

Q. Do you think he will?

IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know, maybe. Phone call, I don't know.

Q. Do you have to do military service still in Croatia?

IVO KARLOVIC: No. I...

Q. It's finished?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah.

Q. You did some, did you?

IVO KARLOVIC: No.

Q. Do you know that Dmitry also won, the runner up in the GHI?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. It shows that the level in the challengers is high.

Q. Is your family over here?

IVO KARLOVIC: No.

Q. Will they fly here?

IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know, no. No (smiling).

Q. Depending how well you do?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure.

Q. Schalken next.

IVO KARLOVIC: Schalken, yeah.

Q. Have you played him?

IVO KARLOVIC: No, no. I haven't played him. I don't know how it's gonna be. I mean, if I serve good, I mean, anything can happen.

Q. How do you plan to prepare yourself for the next match?

IVO KARLOVIC: I will only practice little bit tomorrow and try to stay focused. That's it.

Q. Do you find people recognizing you now wherever you go?

IVO KARLOVIC: In the streets, yeah. Yeah, I mean... Yeah. My height... (Laughter).

Q. You're the tallest player ever to play in this tournament?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah. I guess so.

Q. What about Arazi said it wasn't really tennis?

IVO KARLOVIC: No, I don't know.

Q. Said, "We didn't get to hit any balls."

IVO KARLOVIC: I don't know.

Q. You didn't let him hit enough balls.

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, I mean, of course because if I try to stay, I mean, if I hit back, I mean, he's much better. I just try to, I mean, go in front, forehand.

Q. Were you surprised when he stood back against the fence to receive one of your serves?

IVO KARLOVIC: No (smiling). It's normal, I guess.

Q. It's happened before?

IVO KARLOVIC: It's crazy, yeah, yeah. It's normal.

Q. The weather conditions were pretty bad out there today?

IVO KARLOVIC: Yeah, sure.

Q. How did you feel?

IVO KARLOVIC: It was cold at the end.

Q. Uncomfortable?

IVO KARLOVIC: I was little bit, yeah, tired.

End of FastScripts….

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