WIMBLEDON: DAY 1

Martina and Goran keep doing it
Goran: 'It was worth it to fight and come back'

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Martina: "When people ask, 'Why are you doing it,' I guess the answer is: 'I still can.' That's the bottom line."

FROM WIMBLEDON – Nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova really didn't have to play here. Nor did '01 titlist Goran Ivanisevic. They could have left it up to more spry former champs to lift the banners for the kings and queens who have ruled Center Court, like Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt or Venus Williams.

All those 25-and-unders were all expected to win their first-round matches at Wimbledon on Monday and did so. There were no such expectations for the two old warriors and they went out and beat the odds and Father Time nonetheless.

Even though she was to put up against a tailor made foe with zero grass court credentials in the form of Columbia's Catalina Castano, the 47-year-old Navratilova's fate was very much in doubt. She had won only one regular tour singles match all year coming into Wimbledon and after she lost in the qualifying of Eastbourne to Elena Likhovsteva last week, she was so disgusted that she said she might take a pass on the Wimbledon wild card. It's a good thing she didn't, because she put on the best show by any forty-something since Pancho Gonzalez – who toppled Charlie Pasarell in a record setting 112-game match back in 1969 – when Navratilova whipped a trembling Castano 6-0, 6-1.

"When people ask, 'Why are you doing it,' I guess the answer is: 'I still can.' That's the bottom line," Navratilova said.

AGING AND NEARLY RETIRED
Due to a torn up shoulder, bad knee and bum elbow the 32-year-old Ivanisevic hasn't been able to do much of anything since he won the title here three years ago. His one desire was to come back and take the Centre Court on the tournament's first Monday, which is reserved, for champions. He couldn't do so in 2002 or 2003, but this year, he saved just enough muscle mass around his rotator cuff to allow him one last go. He'll stay retire after this event is over, but after watching the colorful Croat dissect talented Russian Mikael Youzney 6-3, 7-6, 6-2, maybe he should try to play season out. That is if All England Lawn and Tennis Club officials allow him to take his beloved Centre Court with him wherever he goes.

"It was beautiful. The moment when I walked in, I hit some great serves and volleys," said Ivanisevic. "When I saw the crowd, I said it was worth it for those two years, struggling, doing therapy, being up and down and thinking of stopping. It was worth it to fight and come back and be on Centre Court today."

Despite her claims to the contrary, Navratilova wanted to prove that she could back up her claim that she could still play Top-100 tennis in a land that is dominated by women in their early 20s who control the courts from inside the baseline with deep and heavy blasts. The net-lover Navratilova made that claim after she was scorched by Argentine Gisela Dulko a month ago in the first round of Roland Garros. She was clearly embarrassed by the result, but what would have been more embarrassing would be to back off her claim that her creaky "A" game is still brilliant enough to keep many of the youngsters at bay.

"I told you that in Paris," she said to her doubters. "You guys didn't' believe me. Now do you believe me?"

Sort of. On clay, Navratilova can be exposed, because although she remains an excellent athlete, she's simply not fast to hang from the baseline and doesn't crush her serves like she once did, which largely keeps her away from the net on dirt. But on grass, she can slide serves to terrific angles and her backhand slices stay low. She knows the surface so well that she can often predict where returns are coming.

As Castano found out, when Navratilova gets her racket on the ball, she's still an excellent volleyer. And let's not forget that she has a world of experience.

Martina: 'I know how to play on grass, period'
"I have an advantage because I know how to play on grass, period," she said. "I know how to play tennis, that's an advantage. I have advantages on many fronts because I've been doing it for a long time and I'm a better athlete than most. I'm a lefty. That's an advantage. I'm smart. That's an advantage. I have a lot of advantages and I put them to good use."

Before Navratilova gets ahead of herself, it's important to note that Castano has never won a set on grass. Now she'll have get another crack at Dulko, who upended former Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic in the first round. The petite yet capable Dulko made Navratilova look so slow and unsure of herself in Paris. She's no dumb blonde bomber and knows how to construct a point. Navratilova had better make sure that her first volleys are very sound or she's going to get passed all day long.

"That could be funny. It's interesting," Navratilova said. "We talked about it at the French; Would I like to get Dulko on grass? It will be a much tougher match obviously, but I'll be ready."

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Goran know how to win in London.

Ivanisevic seems ready for anything now. Youzney was seeded No. 31 and has plenty of weapons, but Ivanisevic threw left-handed sliders, curveballs and Split-fingered fastballs at him all day long. He volleyed well, didn't make a lot of silly errors from the back court and never lost his head. It was a remarkable performance from a guy who was 2-9 on the year entering the match.

"As soon as I started, I knew it was going to be a good day," Ivanisevic said. "I started really aggressive and felt good. Then I was cared with a couple [rain delays] that it was going to put my game down a little. But when I came out the third time, the sun was shining, I was shining. The third set was brilliant."

He'll play Italy's Filippo Volandri next. Should Ivanisevic get past that dicey contest, Hewitt will likely be snarling at him in the third round. The British "Goran Faithful" will then need to pull as hard as they ever have for the lovable Croat, who they adopted after he choked against Andre Agassi in the 1992 final. Hewitt doesn't partake in cutesy, love-fests. It's all blood and guts with the Aussie.

Ivanisevic said he was so pleased by Monday's performance that he'd play any of his upcoming matches in a parking lot. But you can bet he'll back on a show court, likely Centre, looking fierce while at the same time blowing kisses at the net when he receives a lucky bounce off the let cord. It's on the show courts where time stops for champions.

"You have to play good on this court," he said. "As soon as you step on it, you have to give it everything you have. Today I gave it everything I had and I was very good."