Goran Still Searching for Secret to Stella Artois Success

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By David Law

The Stella Artois Championships are widely regarded as a reliable indicator of grass court form with three of the past four Wimbledon champions reaching the final or winning at the Queen's Club just prior to their victories at the All England Club.

Goran Ivanisevic, who freely admits that he doesn't know what he will to do from one minute to the next, was the odd one out.

"Usually I play very bad at Queen's," he said. "In 2001 I lost to Cristian Caratti in the first round of the Stella Artois, and then won Wimbledon."

Despite possessing the ideal style of play to be successful on the grass at the Queen's Club, he has only reached the final once, in 1997, when he lost to Mark Philippoussis.

"It's a great tournament, a nice club, they really take good care of you, and there are always a lot of people that come to watch," said Ivanisevic. "I like to play there and I always hope I'm going to do well, but it doesn't happen. Actually, I made the final one year, I don't know how, but I did."

As if to sum up the paradox that is Ivanisevic, that same year he lost in the second round at Wimbledon.

He has participated in his share of magical moments at the Stella Artois Championships.

His semifinal victory over Greg Rusedski in 1997 featured an incredible 20-18 final set tie-break, which Ivanisevic remembers well.

"I don't know how I won that match to be honest. Me and Greg, we always have these matches which end 7-6 in the third set. I remember that he had a match point, and for the first time in the whole match he stayed back behind a first serve. He hit a 125 mph first serve, I returned it, and I saw him staying back on the baseline. He hit a sliced approach long and I said to myself, 'man, he doesn't deserve to win the match after that.' Then I won, but the next day I got my ass kicked by Philippoussis. Maybe I'll win it this year."

If he does, there will surely be no more popular champion.

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