CROATIAN SUCCESS AT THE 2003 US OPEN
by Katarina Tepesh
During the 2003 US Open the highest achievement by the Croatian tennis players was reached in Men's Doubles by team of IVAN LJUBICIC and MARIO ANCIC who played in the Quarterfinals. They lost in a very close game to eventual finalist, brothers Bob & Mike Bryan from USA. Ljubicic, who is 24 years old and Ancic, who is 19, received $45,000 in prize money.
IVO KARLOVIC achieved a phenomenal success. He reached 3rd Round in Men's Singles and lost in tiebreaker to Schalken who is ranked No. 12. Karlovic, who is 24 years old, received a new ranking of 74 and $37,500 in prize money. In 3 tennis matches, Ivo had 78 aces at 135 mph and higher. Karlovic also stands out as the tallest at 6'10" tennis player at the US Open. With his superb game, Ivo gained a new recognition and respect among players and spectators. It helped that he is very charming with everyone except his tennis opponents.
SANJA ANCIC is 15 years old and managed to reach 3rd Round in Junior Girls Singles. Sanja played a great game in first and second round. But due to the rain delay, Sanja was asked along with all other players to play two matches in the same day, which proved to be too much for her. She lost to the Champion Kirsten Flipkens who was ranked No. 4. Sanja is a great player with excellent prospects for a very successful tennis future providing she trains for marathon matches. She is an amateur and received no prize money.
IVAN LJUBICIC is ranked No. 42 and reached the 2nd Round in Men's Singles. He lost to the eventual Champion Andy Roddick who is ranked No. 4. Ivan is the only tennis player at the US Open who managed to WIN a set from Roddick. Ljubicic received $23,000. in prize money plus $22,500 his share from Doubles. Has one of the best serves among tennis players, but struggles with consistency in his game. Holds steady rank of 44 or 43 for number of years. Roddick, as the Champion, received 1 million dollars.
SILVIJA TALAJA is ranked 70 and reached the Second Round in Women's Singles. She lost to the eventual Champion Justine Henin-Hardenne who is ranked No. 2 best in the world. Talaja is 25 years old received $23,000 for Singles and $10,000 for reaching 1st Round in Women's Doubles. Justine received 1 million dollars as the Women's Champion.
NADA PAVIC is 15 years old and ranked 14 among Juniors. Nada reached 2nd Round in Junior Girls Singles. She is an amateur and received no prize money, but her excellent play in 1st round was noticed.
KAROLINA SPREM, ranked 66 at age 18, reached First Round in Women's Singles and received $12,500.
MARIO ANCIC is ranked 72 and only 19 years old. He reached First Round in Men's Singles at US Open where he lost to Jiri Novak who is ranked No. 10. Mario received $12,500 prize money plus his share from Doubles $22,500. Mario actually won first two sets against Novak, but ran out of steam. He is in the process of getting a new coach. Mario, originally from Split, lives in tax haven Monte Carlo.
JELENA KOSTANIC is ranked 82 and reached First Round in Women's Singles. She received $12,500 and also reached 1st Round in Women's Doubles and received additional $10,000 in prize money. She is 22 years old.
IVA MAJOLI is ranked 91. A former French Open Champion reached First Round at US Open and received $12,500 prize money and additional $10,000 for reaching 1st Round in Women's Doubles. She is 26 years old and contemplating retirement from tennis. Overall she earned well over 5 million but had bad luck in business matters.
ROKO KARANUSIC is ranked 237 and reached First Round in Men's Singles. He received $12,500 prize money.
Croatian History at US Open: In 1970 Croatian NIKI PILIC WON Men's Doubles. After spending years working in Germany, Pilic now serves as the Captain of the Croatian Davis Cup.
GORAN IVANISEVIC achieved highest ranking as No. 2 best in the world. At US Open in '96 he was Semifinalist. The 2001 Wimbledon winner is recovering from a shoulder injury. His parents in Split, sold their house to finance the beginning of Goran's tennis career. Goran made more then 22 million dollars and is right now cruising the Adriatic in his private yacht along with his girlfriend and their baby girl. His money is invested in real estate.
Future of Croatian tennis
Croatia has a whole team of tennis players practicing and dreaming to someday follow in the footsteps of the great GORAN IVANISEVIC and IVA MAJOLI and to have an opportunity to play at the US Open. They are Lana Popadic, Maja Palaversic Coopersmith, Ivana Abramovic, Jelena Pandzic, Darija Jurak, Ivana Lisjak, Ana Vrljic, Tihana Pochobradsky, Ivana Visic, Marijana Kovacevic, Sanda Mamic, Petra Dizdar, Lucija Krzelj, Nika Ozegovic, Gianna Doz, Ivana Sokac, Marija Serdarasuc, Mirjana Lucic, Mario Radic ranked 217, Lovro Zovko ranked 237, Zeljko Krajan ranked 126, Sasa Tuksar ranked 217 and many more.
