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Croatia, Land Of Giants? Goran's Children
Like nearly every Croat, Mario Ancic cried when Goran Ivanisevic
won Wimbledon in 2001. He didn't cry last Friday when his hero
was eliminated from the tournament. Yes, it was Ivanisevic's swan
song in tennis, but with three other Croats--Ancic, Ivo Karlovic
and Sprem--in the fourth round, there was no need to live in the
past.
A onetime ball boy for Ivanisevic at Davis Cup ties, Ancic is
eerily similar to him in build, voice and game. Since beating
Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002, the 63rd-ranked Ancic, 20,
has been tapped as the next Croatian great. He disposed of Xavier
Malisse on Monday and, like Sprem, made the quarterfinals.
"Goran's influence was huge," Ancic said. "He gave us great hope.
We're working hard. I just want to keep it going. You don't know
where it can finish."
