Ht: 6-5 Wt: 185

Age: 21

Birthplace: Montenegro

Residence: Ontario, Canada

First Tennis Memory: “A lot of time with the ball machine. I think that’s how I started out, mostly. That’s where I started to get my level up. And my dad (Dusan) was there picking up the balls and I’d be just standing and hitting tennis balls non-stop .”

Tennis Inspirations: “Pete Sampras, by far the biggest one. Spent many hours watching his matches. Not just once – twice, three, four times. And sort of he was the inspiration who taught me to work so hard on the serve.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Tommy Haas, I think. I probably embarrassed myself [smiles]. I think I had a photo with him and Nick Bollettieri, and I saying, ‘Tommy, we’ve met before, we’ve met before. Will you please sign my picture?’ I remember that. Probably not Tommy [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning San Jose and then defending it. First title and then able to back it up is amazing.”

Most Painful Moment: “The pain you feel when you make that slip and when you realise how long you’re going to be out for during Wimbledon.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “There’s a lot of things that happen but I can’t point out one thing. But being in the locker room with…there’s some really special characters on the Tour. And guys that make this Tour and being on it for so many, it’s fun. (Which players come to mind on that?) Djokovic is a funny guy, got a great personality. There’s many guys like him that sort of bring up the energy in the locker room [smiles].”

Strangest Match: “One time I think I was playing a Challenger against a guy in the top 200. The guy was obviously better than me but I was sort of sticking with him and I had 40-love serving. And a guy off the court fainted on the side. Paramedics had to come. Took almost 15 minutes. We stopped. And I don’t think I won a game after that. I think it was 4-all and I lost 6-4 6-0. (Where?) Granby. I got a wildcard into main draw.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Coach and Almagro.”

Favourite Players To Watch: “I’ll watch probably the finals of most tournaments. Probably Djokovic. I enjoy watching Federer, Nadal, Soderling, probably all the guys in the top 10.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Most embarrassing…I don’t know…Lost 0 and 0 in juniors. It was a long time ago. Maybe under 12’s. Somewhere in Europe I think.”

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour: “Strawberry.”

Favourite Meal: “Steak before match.”

Favourite Sports Outside Tennis: “Basketball.”

Current Car: “My parents’ Honda Civic.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. People that are genuine. People that are caring. And people that just go and take care of the common courtesies. When you walk by them in the locker room and I’ll say Hi and all these kinds of things. Because you see them so many times a day. You don’t just want to be walking cold shoulder by a lot of people. I think this is one of the most important things on the Tour.”

DOB: November 22, 1913 In: Washington DC

First Tennis Memory: “When my father (Robin) and two uncles built a clay tennis court in our backyard and they made me take care of it. I was 10. I didn’t like tennis much at first because I had to work at it. He made me play every Sunday morning. When he invited his cronies over and one was tired or one didn’t show up, I played. When I got to be 11 I got to be better than them, so I didn’t want to play with them any more.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Make the Davis Cup team, which I finally did. Win a national championship, which I finally won several. And travel and play at Wimbledon.”

Last Book Read: “Helter Skelter. Written Vincent Bugliosi. He was a tennis player, I got him a scholarship at the University of Miami.”

Favorite Movies: “Not really.”

First Job: “Paper boy for Miami Daily News, on my bike.”

First Car: “Oh, let me see. My father had the agency for the Franklin which of course are long and dead. He gave me one of his trade-ins for high school – a 1919 black aluminum Franklin. I used to pile the neighborhood in and kept it in high school and college.”

Favorite Meal: “I like breakfast most. Cereal and milk. (Which kind?) Any kind.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Greatest Career Moment: “Winning match point at Wimbledon doubles, when we won against Hoad and Fraser of Australia.”

Most Painful Moment: “The match point at Wimbledon.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “With Art Larsen. He had so many superstitions, we harassed him all the time, Talbert and I.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “We were playing Australia in the Davis Cup and the captain of the Davis Cup team was wondering who to play in singles. He finally picked me. On the way to the draw, he changed his mind, and I didn’t know it. I was told I was going to play. Everybody was congratulating me. Then at the draw I found out the captain changed his mind. (Who was the captain?) Billy Talbert, my doubles partner.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Roger Federer. Little Mo, on the womens side. Just like the way she played. (What about her playing style did you like?) She wasn’t a big serve and volleyer, she was an all around player. I played mixed doubles with her, that helped. Alice Marble too. She was a great gal. (Any women from today?) Not many from today. Like Pancho Segura says, They don’t play tennis any more, they play ping pong. Which means, very steady all the time.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Well, Billy Talbert and Tony Trabert. I was just talking with him on the phone yesterday. And of course Art Larsen.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Art Larsen, by far. Also Earl Cochell. He was a hot red head. He was always mouthing off. We would egg him on. He would dig a hole and we’d laugh. He acted up at nationals at Forest Hills against me and got suspended for life. I tried to intervene and if he would apologize they would let him back. But he wouldn’t. He said he didn’t want to give them the satisfaction. Then he disappeared from the tennis scene. The word is he married a rich girl and traveled around the world. Who knows.”

Strangest Match: “Semifinals of Australian national championship. There were foot fault judges on both baselines. On the one side, I was foot-faulted nine times. On the other side I wasn’t foot-faulted once. I queried the judge, What the hell am I doing? So here I’m foot-faulted nine times. I say it cost me the match. I lost 7-5 in the fifth. In the last set, I’m serving, it was deuce at five all. I served a first serve – it was a fault. I served a second serve – it was a double fault. Then serving to the ad court, I served the first one – it was a fault. I very timidly served the second serve – they called it a fault. I’m fit to be tied. He was leading then 6-5 or 5-4. We changed course and walked by each other. He said, Gar, I’m very sorry, but that wasn’t a fault. I said, What can I do about it? In those days we spoke to each other, today they fight for everything. Then, the funny part is, a couple of distractors in the stands, were yelling at me the whole match. I threw my racquet in the air and said, If you had any guts, come down here. And they did! After the scramble with the police, I told them I’ll meet you after the match. After I lost the match I ran out hunting for them. Of course I never found them. After that I complained about the difficult officiating and said I could do a better job. I said, Well, let me do it. I insisted on calling the finals. Some of the reporters around said to let me call the final. It was on the record. So I officiated the final. So after the final I said, That’s the way a match should be called – impeccable.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Football. I played a little bit in high school and college. Frankly speaking – not to brag, but I am – I was a great passer. But in those days, it wasn’t a passing game then. The football was fat back then, with more air. In those days I could punt a ball 60 yards without a problem. It just sailed away.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Of course, Wimbledon, you can’t beat that. Nothing else compares to it. Secondly, I would say Australia. And I’d be criticized for not saying U.S. Open.”

At Your Best: “I think it would be against Ken Rosewall in semifinals of nationals at Forest Hills. He had me 4-2 in the fifth and I pulled it out. According to Allison Danzig, do you remember him? (Yes, the renowned tennis writer.) He wrote up all the tournaments in the east. The semifinals of Southampton, a big tournament in the east, I beat Gonzalez in the semifinal and Billy in the final. Danzig wrote an article about the match. The way he wrote that I played was a bit the way I felt. I just felt I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “I was scared to death. I was saying to myself, Why didn’t I practice more? This guy is so good, what do I do? My knees were weak. The night before I’d sleep for 16 hours if I could. Keep thinking, I’m not getting enough rest. Then I’d walk on the court, I’d say, This guy is great, how could I beat him. Then the match would start and I’d hit three or four points and I got a lot of points. Then I’d get a lot of confidence: This guy isn’t so good, I can beat him. No matter who it was. Even against Budge at Forest Hills, I won the first set. Then he killed me.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. I can’t stand the people running for office and then getting into office and not keeping their promises. And not being greedy. Everybody is so greedy. We gotta win, we gotta win. A basketball teams wins by a point and their heroes, if they lose by a point, the sportswriters ask what’s wrong with them?

Career Accomplishments: Won U.S. Mens Doubles titles with partner Talbert in 1942, ’45, ’46, ’48; Won Wimbledon Doubles in 1957 at age 44 with partner Patty (received Cup from Queen Elizabeth II); Won over 127 national championships and 25 international titles in over 75 years of playing; Achieved #1 U.S. singles ranking in 1942; Wrote autobiography titled “Will To Win” in 1960 and updated it in 2009 with “As It Was”; Met President Clinton who was watching one of his senior matches in Virginia; Coached tennis at University of Miami (recruited future Hall of Famer Pancho Segura from Ecuador).

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 192

DOB: November 7, 1988 In: Kiev, Ukraine

First Tennis Memory: “Probably traveling with (Andrei) Medvedev when my father (Oleksandr) coached him, being on court and having fun. We were friends. I was always there, he was winning some tournaments, I was there. When I took the balls and the racquet I was small, sitting there watching him play. I don’t remember the cities. One tournament, I got lost at the tennis courts. I remember I was surrounded one time. I couldn’t really write – I was just writing my name as a signature, because they know I was always on the court with him. I was really a popular kid then. Because all the players played with me. And I was having some fun.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Thats’s a tough one. I just enjoy the game. I want to be the best – one time – in the world. So I’m just going to that goal and having fun on the court. We have some small goals with records, but not any in particular, win any tournaments. I just go out and try to show the best game and beat the guys in the game.”

Nicknames: “Some players call me Dolgo.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I really like to drive my car. I like racing – not professional – we have some tournaments, they’re like drag racing. I have a Subaru. So I like to do that. Just hang out with my friends, but I don’t have much time to do that. I come back for a week maximum. Just rest, go to movies, meet my friends, that’s it.”

Last Book Read: “Was a Russian book.”

Favorite Movies: “I actually like all the movies. I watch all kinds of stuff. When I’m at home, every two days I go to the cinema. So I like to watch movies. I don’t have a movie that I like the best, I have a lot of them.”

Musical Tastes: “I listen to all sorts of music in my life, now I’m into club music, dancing music, something like that.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Just happy to go on the court. Think about the player I’m going to play. I think about how I’m going to play him. It’s all different, depends on the player I play.”

Favorite Meal: “That’s a tough one. Probably spaghetti and Russian meat.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee.”

Current Car: “Subaru Impreza WRX STI (black).”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Well, probably that’s the first point in the ATP (age 16 or 17). I remember I was really happy to do that. That happened in Ukraine, I got a wildcard. I got my first ATP point. That was a big moment. Now, I haven’t won some big events. Probably, as well, I remember winning a Challenger, winning my first ATP title. That was pretty big. Every moment I got was special but the first ATP point was pretty big. I mean, I didn’t win a Grand Slam yet. Or any Masters Series, so I can’t say anything about big wins. So that was probably the biggest moment I remember now. And I’m getting higher now, so it’ll come.”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing final qualies Australian Open when I was 18. From a triple match point and four match points in the match, with 5-4, love-40, his serve, third set, and lost (vs. Sam Warburg).”

Favorite Tournament: “Well, for now, I like the clay. Roland Garros would be my favorite.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “All the USSR countries, all the Russian guys. But I’m really well with everyone. I know most of the players. I’m not preferring the Russian guys because I speak the language better, I mean, I’m friends with everyone. Everyone is nice on the Tour. There’s not like guys who are not nice off the court, so.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “That’s a tough one. Daniel Koellerer on the court, is really doing some stupid **** on the court [smiles]. There’s a lot of players you can see doing fun stuff.”

Toughest Competitors: “I had a lot of tough matches. Last year, probably the toughest matches were Tsonga and Clement. I had five sets with them. That was the toughest matches I had. I played Nadal in Madrid. That was really tough to play him, clay court especially.”

Strangest Match: “Nothing in particular.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I remember in a practice I was running for a drop shot and I was sliding on the clay courts. Then I couldn’t get my balance and I just fell over the net [smiles] and that was the funniest.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Losing from four match points – that was embarrassing for me. But nothing I would want to change or anything.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Well, it used to be Marcelo Rios. He was really fun to watch. He was really improvising on the court. Now, I don’t know, tennis has gotten more monotone and everything. Running and physical. Because everyone is hitting so fast, you can’t really play that style. I mean, Roger’s got some of that still in him. He still does that playing style – volleys and drop shots, slices. I like to watch his game the most probably. (Did you meet Rios?) I met him when I was small. Not really in person, that I remember. The second time my father was with Medvedev was in 1998, that time when Rios won in a row Indian Wells and Miami. I was at the tournaments and I was always killing my parents to go to the matches. He was always playing night matches and I was, Let’s go watch him. Let’s go watch him [smiles]. I really like to watch his matches. I was crazy about him that time. The style of his game was incredible. He could pull out any of the shots in any moment. It was really fun. You don’t know what the guy can do. He wasn’t playing the same game all the time. He was really variative, tough to play, I think.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Well, for me, it’s most important, it’s people are honest. Say what they think about you. I don’t like people who come and go, depending on your successes. So, I mean, the people who are with me from the small age or people who don’t care how I do, are the best people that I really want them with me.”

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Status: Winner of four ATP singles titles. Highest singles rank is #14. Member of Croatia’s Davis Cup team. Has wins over Federer,

Hewitt, Roddick, Blake, Djokovic.

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230 pounds.

DOB: February 28, 1979 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Hobbies/Interests: “You know, it is difficult to have like a real hobby because like every week we are on the road and professional tennis takes a lot of time. But I like basketball, movies and music. (How about boxing?) Oh yeah, actually, because when I was younger, when I was 16, I was a little bit practicing it. So yeah, I also like it. (How did you do?) It was only amateur, I was never actually in the ring but I liked it. And because of my long arms, the trainer who had this local club was really, really interested in me changing sports [smiles], to change from tennis to boxing. But it didn’t happen.”

Nicknames: “Ivobek. And also Karlo. (They also call you Dr. Ivo.) Yeah, Dr. Ivo, yeah. I heard that also.”

Favorite Movies: “The Shawshank Redemption and Kill Bill I & II.”

Favorite TV Shows: “It’s a lot of them. I like comedies mostly.”

Childhood Heroes: “It was probably (Boris) Becker and (Toni) Kukoc, basketball star.”

Musical Tastes: “I can listen to everything, cool music, from hip-hop, rap, to rock ‘n roll. (Name some names.) Pearl Jam I like. Snoop [smiles].”

First Tennis Memory: “When I was young my dad (Vlado) said that I was gonna be in some sports. And he said that it would be tennis because it’s no injuries. So he was dragging me to the tennis court. And I was like, No, no, no. I don’t want to go [smiles]. But after, I like it. So I stayed with it.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Try to stay relaxed and not have a lot of pressure on me. And try to have fun.”

First Job: “Job [smiles]? Tennis.”

First Car: “Opel (silver).”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Favorite Meal: “I like lamb when it’s like really nicely cooked.”

Last Book Read: “You got me there [laughs]. Last book…I have to think…Coelho…(Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist?) Yeah.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Every day that I win is unbelievable feeling. And every day if I lose it’s unbelievable shit feeling [smiles]. So, it depends. If you lose, it is here [puts hand low], if you win, it is here [puts hand high].”

Most Painful Moment: “Well, tennis is not something that can really hurt me if I lose, so I cannot say right now.”

Favorite Tournament: “I like to play Washington is really nice. (Why here?) Because I like this area, it’s really nice. Wimbledon and New York.”

Closest ATP Friends: “There is [Victor] Hanescu, [Jan] Hernych, (just at this moment Tommy Haas walks by and says, ‘Me.’ Ivo smiles and says ‘Not you.’), [Teimuraz] Gabashvili now. Because I went on road trip with him from Indianapolis (to) here in the car. (You’re friends now?) Yes, we are friends now [smiles].”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Ivanisevic had to be one of them. Zovko — you don’t know him. (Lovro Zovko?) Yes, Lovro Zovko.”

Toughest Competitors: “Probably it was Roger and Roddick I think.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I cannot think of it right now.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty and unselfishness.”

Childhood Dream: “Grand Slam winner.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “The other day this lady said, ‘Oh my God, you are so tall, you can be a rower (like boat rower).’ So, I don’t know, it was unusual comment [smiles].”

Family: Wife, Alsi.

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Status: Former world ATP #3 tennis player. Member of Argentina’s Davis Cup team.

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175

DOB: January 1, 1982 in Unquillo, Cordoba, Argentina

First Tennis Memory: “Becker, Wimbledon.”

Tennis Inspirations: “My family.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Fishing, watching Rally races, futbol, big fan of River Plate.”

Favorite Movies: “Action.”

Musical Tastes: “Everything.”

Last Book Read: “I’m reading The Psychoanalyst.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Well, always a little bit nervous, like always. But good feeling before. Believe in my game.”

Favorite Meal: “Anything my mom does.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Dulce de Leche.”

Current Car: “Mercedes.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Shanghai 2005 (def. Federer in ATP Tour finals).”

Most Painful Moment: “My father dies. (No, in tennis?) Losing grand slam final (at Wimbledon). Yeah, (losing) grand slam and Davis Cup final.”

Favorite Tournament: “Davis Cup.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Yeah, all from Argentina. And just Spanish ones.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “A few ones. (Can’t name ‘em?) No. (Why not?) I don’t have to [smiles].”

Toughest Competitor(s): “Federer, for sure.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “The top ones.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Not now.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I don’t know, I don’t remember.”

Last Vacation: “Last year, south Argentina.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Normal ones.”

Career Accomplishments: Won ATP Tour finals in 2005; Finalist at Wimbledon and reached SF in all three other slams; Winner of ten career ATP singles titles.

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