LONDON (Reuters) – A picture of Goran Ivanisevic holding up the 2001 Wimbledon trophy hangs outside one of the All England Club’s interview rooms and a glimpse of it still evokes powerful memories for his fellow Croatians.

Ivan Ljubicic knows the towering left-hander better than most and as he entered the small cubicle after his first-round win over compatriot Marin Cilic it did not take the world number 33 long to recall Ivanisevic’s triumph.

“For me, and I’m sure for a lot of Croatians, it was the biggest emotional moment of my life. Definitely tennis and career-wise,” the 32-year-old told Reuters.

“Everybody I know cried when he won,” added Ljubicic, who escaped war-torn Bosnia aged 13 in 1992 and was one of several players taken to Italy by a club that was reaching out to help children.

Ivanisevic’s famous Monday victory over Australian Pat Rafter, the pinnacle of the Croatian’s career after three losses in Wimbledon finals, gave his countrymen hope.

“For us it broke the ice. I had to go through all the small steps to break through,” said Ljubicic, who climbed from world number 91 to 37 in the year of Ivanisevic’s win.

“Then the others followed. Ivo Karlovic, Zeljko Krajan, then of course Mario Ancic and Ivan Dodig and Cilic now.”

LONDON, June 22 (Reuters) – A picture of Goran Ivanisevic holding up the 2001 Wimbledon trophy hangs outside one of the All England Club’s interview rooms and a glimpse of it still evokes powerful memories for his fellow Croatians.

Ivan Ljubicic knows the towering left-hander better than most and as he entered the small cubicle after his first-round win over compatriot Marin Cilic it did not take the world number 33 long to recall Ivanisevic’s triumph.

“For me, and I’m sure for a lot of Croatians, it was the biggest emotional moment of my life. Definitely tennis and career-wise,” the 32-year-old told Reuters.

“Everybody I know cried when he won,” added Ljubicic, who escaped war-torn Bosnia aged 13 in 1992 and was one of several players taken to Italy by a club that was reaching out to help children.

Ivanisevic’s famous Monday victory over Australian Pat Rafter, the pinnacle of the Croatian’s career after three losses in Wimbledon finals, gave his countrymen hope.

“For us it broke the ice. I had to go through all the small steps to break through,” said Ljubicic, who climbed from world number 91 to 37 in the year of Ivanisevic’s win.

“Then the others followed. Ivo Karlovic, Zeljko Krajan, then of course Mario Ancic and Ivan Dodig and Cilic now.”

LONDON (Reuters) – The John Isner against Nicolas Mahut rematch inevitably failed to live up to last year’s historic clash when American Isner needed only just over two hours to book his place in the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday.

Isner won 7-6 6-2 7-6 against Frenchman Mahut in a contest every bit as low-key as their 11-hour epic last year was dramatic.

The first game of the match lasted less than a minute and although there were two tiebreaks the clash never threatened to live up to last year’s three-day marathon, by far the longest match in tennis history.

Isner took control by winning the first-set tiebreak and Frenchman Mahut never looked like fighting back in a subdued atmosphere on a windy Court Three.

“The phenomenon that was created around last year’s match has been difficult for the two of us to tackle,” 94th-ranked Mahut told a news conference.

“He played better than me today. The atmosphere was not as huge as I was waiting for,” added the Frenchman, who despite his dejected demeanour still found room for humour.

“I’m sure you’re all disappointed about today,” he joked.

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) – The John Isner against Nicolas Mahut rematch inevitably failed to live up to last year’s historic clash when American Isner needed only just over two hours to book his place in the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday.

Isner won 7-6 6-2 7-6 against Frenchman Mahut in a contest every bit as low-key as their 11-hour epic last year was dramatic.

The first game of the match lasted less than a minute and although there were two tiebreaks the clash never threatened to live up to last year’s three-day marathon, by far the longest match in tennis history.

Isner took control by winning the first-set tiebreak and Frenchman Mahut never looked like fighting back in a subdued atmosphere on a windy Court Three.

“The phenomenon that was created around last year’s match has been difficult for the two of us to tackle,” 94th-ranked Mahut told a news conference.

“He played better than me today. The atmosphere was not as huge as I was waiting for,” added the Frenchman, who despite his dejected demeanour still found room for humour.

“I’m sure you’re all disappointed about today,” he joked.

LONDON (Reuters) – Hot Italian prospect Matteo Manassero wears a hat with the German word for children emblazoned on it but the 18-year-old is showing a growing maturity that could one day lift him to the top of world golf. Described as “irritatingly young” by world number two Lee Westwood when the teenager tied for the lead after 54 holes of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Saturday, Manassero slipped down the field to end up tied seventh with a closing 75.

“It wasn’t the finish I wanted but it ended up being a great experience which will help me in the future,” the world number 30 told Reuters in an interview.

“I have less experience (than others) but it’s something that goes in my favor. I have so many years in front of me,” said Manassero before flashing a warm smile at his mother.

Manassero possesses boyish good looks and a charming demeanor but he is also remarkably mature for his tender age and already has a rock-solid game.

He became the youngest winner on the tour when he lifted the Castello Masters title in Spain in October at the age of 17 and proved his maiden victory was no fluke by landing the Malaysian Open crown in Kuala Lumpur last month.

For Manassero, however, age is irrelevant.

“I’m young but I’ve been playing well. Winning tournaments takes you higher in the world rankings so these are two things that go together,” he explained.

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) – Hot Italian prospect Matteo Manassero wears a hat with the German word for children emblazoned on it but the 18-year-old is showing a growing maturity that could one day lift him to the top of world golf. Described as “irritatingly young” by world number two Lee Westwood when the teenager tied for the lead after 54 holes of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Saturday, Manassero slipped down the field to end up tied seventh with a closing 75.

“It wasn’t the finish I wanted but it ended up being a great experience which will help me in the future,” the world number 30 told Reuters in an interview.

“I have less experience (than others) but it’s something that goes in my favour. I have so many years in front of me,” said Manassero before flashing a warm smile at his mother.

Manassero possesses boyish good looks and a charming demeanour but he is also remarkably mature for his tender age and already has a rock-solid game.

He became the youngest winner on the tour when he lifted the Castello Masters title in Spain in October at the age of 17 and proved his maiden victory was no fluke by landing the Malaysian Open crown in Kuala Lumpur last month. For Manassero, however, age is irrelevant.

“I’m young but I’ve been playing well. Winning tournaments takes you higher in the world rankings so these are two things that go together,” he explained.

“I just want to play good golf so if I find myself in contention I’ll try to do my best. Sometimes it doesn’t count, sometimes it does.”

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 29 (Reuters) – Luke Donald combined metronomic accuracy with Seve Ballesteros-style recovery shots to win the PGA Championship on Sunday and become world number one.

Nicknamed “Mr Plod” for his straight hitting, the Briton has finished outside the top 10 in only one of the 10 events he has entered this season.

“If the world number one ranking is based on consistency, yes, I have been the most consistent this year. I’ve had a great run,” Donald, drenched in champagne after his epic playoff win over Lee Westwood, told reporters.

“It pays to be consistent and it obviously pays in the world rankings,” he added.

Consistency does not tell the tale of the Englishman’s triumph at Wentworth, however, where exactly 20 years since the great Ballesteros won at the same venue Donald did his best to revive memories of the Spaniard who died this month.

“I felt like Seve would have been proud of me. I’ve seen footage of Seve, he got in many similar positions,” Donald said of the flamboyant five-times major champion, who lost his battle with brain cancer aged 54.

Much like Ballesteros, Donald possesses a devastating touch around the greens, often highlighted by fellow professionals and experts on the game as being the key to getting good results.

VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) – Little-known Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti reeled off a PGA Championship record seven consecutive threes in Saturday’s third round to ignite his hopes of a first European Tour win.

Zanotti ended the day in joint third place with world number one Lee Westwood after a two-under 69 earned a three-under total of 210, two strokes behind joint leaders Matteo Manassero of Italy and Briton Luke Donald.

The South American’s record run from the eighth hole contained five birdies and came after he had dropped four strokes in the first seven holes.

“I started terribly but on eight the putter began working. Luckily I stayed focussed and after the eighth I was more calm,” Zanotti told Reuters behind the giant 18th grandstand as spots of rain began to fall at the European Tour’s flagship event.

Playing partner Bradley Dredge, who shot a 69 for 211, said the Paraguayan had no idea he was on for a record.

“He didn’t realise until I pointed it out to him and the scorers. It was an amazing run, especially around this tough course. He played fantastically well and it was a pleasure to watch,” the Briton told Reuters.

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