'It's A Wonderful Life' is a Frank Capra film about a popular
figure in the community (George Bailey) who is thinking
of ending it all before his angel (Clarence) comes along
and produces a fairytale finish.
Substitute Goran Ivanisevic for Bailey and Wimbledon 2001
for Clarence and one of the great feelgood movies becomes,
arguably, the feelgood tennis final of all time. When the
charismatic Croat defeated the equally regarded Australian
Pat Rafter in an epic five-set, three-hour-one-minute final,
Centre Court became inhabited by an ecstatic corner of Bedlam.
The three-times beaten finalist had been given a wild card
as a gesture of goodwill for what he once did; he was 125
in the world and two months off his 30th birthday. A string
of early exits and a lingering left shoulder problem provoked
talk of imminent retirement and a career without a Grand
Slam. No one could believe how it all turned out.
The crowd, on People's Monday, cried, cheered, roared and
chanted as Ivanisevic, like a gentle giant, stood with his
arms aloft on top of a television commentary box to cast
his shadow over his kingdom; acknowledging the ovation,
capturing the moment with his mind's eye.
"I shall remember this day forever," he said.
Ivanisevic hugged his father Srjdan, who had defied doctors
concerned about his heart condition, and dedicated the victory
to him and tragic friend, NBA basketball player Drazen Petrovic.
He might have ended the hopes of a first British winner
in the men's singles for 64 years against Tim Henman in
the semi-finals, but no-one held that against him during
one of sport's most memorable moments. To be there was a
privilege. At first hand, the ear-splitting carnival touched
all the senses.
As I stood there among a crowd of 13,370 it made me want
to throw off the journalist's mask of objectivity. Deadlines
were fast approaching but it was a struggle to tear yourself
away to meet them. Ivanisevic went home to a hero's welcome
in Croatia.
The achievement reverberated around the world. Experts
praised the final's gladiators for providing an unforgettable
occasion. John Parsons, the doyen of the British tennis
writing fraternity, described it as the best he had seen
in his 42 years of covering the world's most famous tennis
tournament.
Rafter, himself troubled by injury and losing a second
successive final, was a gallant loser and recognised the
Centre Court happening described by Ivanisevic as a time
when "everybody was going nuts". The third seed
said: "I don't think Wimbledon has seen anything like
it and I don't know whether it will again."
Ivanisevic had provided much of the fun throughout the
event. He regaled anyone who would listen of his penchant
for Teletubbies, a television programme beloved of British
children. He also spoke of the three Gorans; the one who
goes crazy, the other who keeps the other calm and the third
who is on stand-by in case the other two lose it.
On court, he showed early signs that he may produce the
unexpected. He defeated Swede Frederik Jonsson and Spaniard
Carlos Moya before ending the run of the much-touted American
youngster Andy Roddick in the third round. Ivanisevic had
lost his finals to Andre Agassi (1992) and Pete Sampras
(1994 and 1998). Surely there was no hope of a fourth chance?
But, as he faced Greg Rusedski (Britain) in the fourth round,
three-time champion John McEnroe tipped him for the ultimate
prize. He got by Rusedski in three sets before setting up
his Henman showdown with a win against fourth seed Marat
Safin (Russia).
He was on the edge of an exit against the British No.1
when the rains came to halt what seemed an inevitable Henman
win. But then he recovered to earn his final place against
Rafter. Even then his volatile temperament threatened to
scupper his opportunities. Comparisons to Ken Rosewall,
defeated four times in the final, was on everyone's tongues
when he lost his service in the fourth set. The Split personality
lost his composure with fiery gesticulations, before the
other two Gorans helped him out.
He said: "I knew I had to calm down, to keep cool,
that I couldn't afford to be crazy. I said to myself 'this
is your last chance, you're going to win'. I was sure it
had to be me this time. It was like a dream."
The 2001 Championships were not only about Ivanisevic.
American Taylor Dent, with his big serve, and Spaniard Juan
Carlos Ferrero impressed, while home favourite Barry Cowan
scared Pete Sampras before Swiss Roger Federer ended the
American's bid for an eighth title.
American Venus Williams sealed the Ladies' Singles for
the second successive year, against Justine Henin, a waif-like
Belgian who made a name for herself with the Wimbledon crowd
and won over hearts. Henin had stunned Jennifer Capriati,
the fourth seed, in the semi-finals, earning sympathy along
the way with tales of her family trauma.
The women provided another big shock. Martina Hingis, the
1997 champion, lost her opening round as the No.1 seed for
the second time in in three years, being defeated by doubles
specialist Virginia Ruano Pascual, a Spaniard ranked 83rd
in the world.
The postscript to one of the best Wimbledons in living
memory, though, provided a twist. Ivanisevic, the first
wild card singles winner, had to have an operation on that
troublesome shoulder. And, despite protestations that he
would be willing to defend his title with "one arm",
it forced his withdrawal from the 2002 Championships.
But he already has enough memories from the People's Monday
12 months ago to last him a lifetime. He had wished for
an angel to come the night before he played Rafter to strike
a celestial deal for victory. It seems Clarence might have
been around somewhere for real.
Written by Barry Newcombe
