Mario Ancic

L’Equipe Magazine
Mario, the Wise man
By Virginie Sainte Rose, in Split

At 17, he could already tread the courts of the biggest tournaments. But the Croat Mario Ancic has played the card of security. An example ?

On this Sunday, January 30th, 2000, two young boys are scrapping on the "show court" n°1 of Melbourne Park. Some scattered viewers are following the rallies of the Aussie Open juniors' final. They abandon their concentration just to spread cream under the Austral sun, whose rays are as benevolent as X-rays. The American Andy Roddick eventually wins 76/63 against the Croat Mario Ancic. A year later, both have entered the pro tour. Again, it's the first who is stealing a march over the second. For his first season with the Olds, Roddick has already won two ATP tournaments, while Ancic wears himself out playing the Futures, a less important category of competition.

Observing the diverging fortunes, we could think the destiny of the two prodigies are all mapped out. But, in the end, Mario Ancic is less in a hurry than his American colleague. Not that the one who has grown up near the Adriatic sea is displaying a beach boy's nonchalance, but Ancic is simply a very young boy, younger (of 2 years) than the American. Last March he just turned 17, which him be one of the young players the most promising of his generation. Last year, rich of two Grand Slam juniors' finals (Aussie and Wimbly) and a challenger title in Zagreb in March, the strapping fellow (1.95m) chose to taste pros' company very early. The final decision was taken last Autumn. Mario had just won his Davis Cup match against Ivory Coast. First resolution of importance, choosing an agent. During the season 2000, the main sports management firms came almost all courting the Ancic family. We remember Wimbledon last year and the ballet of kindness the whole clan could enjoy from agents after each match of the prodigy. In November, propositions of contracts piled up on the table of the family living room in Split, and it's IMG that won in the end.

The father made thus the choice of safety rather than personalized service. The sports management firm is indeed the first on the market and has the most number of players under contract.
"He is the most talented player who is joining the male tour, 'said to be very busy' manager for IMG Gavin Forbes enjoys. We'll invest time and resources for him. That means helping him for his trainings, the tournaments, the wild cards and exhibitions."
Even if the formal waffle doesn't allow to give the slightest valuation of the amount invested by the company, it would seem that this one would be more financially engaged than his opponent SFX for Andy Roddick. The American might have signed for US$ 250,000 a year, whereas IMG may have proposed over US$ 300,000 the season for the next four years with the Croat.

After money comes the coach. Until last November, Bob Brett (BB*) supervised Mario Ancic's training. The famous Australian coach had been collaborating from time to time for three years with the player. Nevertheless he met him previously through Goran Ivanisevic with whom he was working at the time.
" It was in 1995, the tall Croat remembers. We were training at the Split tennis club and I told Bob he had to keep an eye on this youngster, for he would become very strong."
But in November 2000, both parties can't agree. Bored by twenty years on the tour, the coach refused to spend more than six months a year out of home. Moreover he says :
" I think it would be a big mistake to have a foreigner travelling with him thirty weeks a year. Mario is yet too young for that."

The one that many see as the best of the job left Split so as to, he thought, never come back. IMG Gavin Forbes calls his compatriot Christo Van Rensburg (CVR*). The South African owns an academy in Austin, Texas. With his older brother Ivica, also tennis player, Mario joined CVR* in Florida for a series of tournaments at the beginning of the year. The decision had been taken by the agent and Mario's circle not to play the Aussie Open. Although he is a rookie, those who are looking after his interests think, without a doubt, he doesn't need to amass a little confidence. Finalist last year, a Grand Slam title (even as a junior) shouldn't have been neglected to start the season.

In Miami's area, Mario plays three Future tournaments. He then trains about 10 days in Austin with his new coach, and besides plays others Futures in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas. The result is quite mixed for a player rich of a trophy last year. He won twelve matches, lost five times in a tour that can counts about thirty matches when you reach the finals. However he reached the semi final in the last tournament.
"He wasn't feeling in confidence, Ivica remembers. I think that almost two months out of home is too mush for him".
And Mario to add :
"Each time, matches were very close. I was disappointed. And honestly, I can't get used to the USA."

For his last appearance in Texas, BB* is phoned. He arrives for 24 hours to see his former protégé and isn't delighted with the show. The decision is made : trying to work together again. In March, the Ancic's clan meets Brett in Davos. The Swiss small town is good for the reconciliation.
"It was amazing, Ivica says. Mario did a very good preparation there. Every morning he was running in the snow, around the lake. Tennis, physical preparation, everything was fine… It was as if everything was taking back its place."

The main discord was ruled. Brett will stay sixteen weeks a year with his protégé. But in the Swiss mountain, the coach wants to check if the rapport they had is still alive.
"I already went to Davos with Goran. It's the kind of place where there's no entertainment and you can focus on your tennis. It's not a town where you are always tempted to do something else. You live simply out there, a routine way. Eating together, running around the lake, playing billiards,…"
The wild cards IMG got and were expecting Mario in Indian Wells and Key Biscayne (Miami) will make another happy person.
" With a young player, you have to go step by step. He is talented, exceptional for his age. People around him trying to make him progress too fast is always a danger. I do prefer him to surprise me", the coach says.

In April, Mario joins the Davis Cup team and wins the decisive fifth match against Austria. He then has to go back to Split for his high school exams. Mario must take his high school graduation next year and, while waiting, jungles with the duplicated notes and faxes his mother sends him and the books of the syllabus.
"Organizing everything isn't easy. But I don't want to be a simpleton. I want to pass my exam and why not attending university. Tennis doesn't last all life", he calmly explains.

In this month of April, BB* has come to join Mario for two weeks of intense training. As often, the coach didn't come alone. The Bubka family comes from Monte Carlo. Sergueï JR and Vitaly, the two sons of the famous pole vaulter, are sporadic students of Brett, when he is in Monaco. The trainer's two daughters are also present. Everybody in the minibus to the Poljud stadium, wonderful arena in the North of the town where the football club of Hajduk plays. Oleg Semiraz, a Ukrainian physical coach who takes care of Mario in Split, is checking the stopwatch. The kids are doing series of physical exercises whose efficiency has to be counted with the pain they have. BB* and Sergueï Bubka SR are running series of 400m… just for pleasure.

Days are rythmed by going to the stadium (on the field or at the gym) and training sessions at the Split tennis club. Mario has just to cross the road to go there, from the family house you can see the orangey courts, bordered by the little boarding harbour. Goran Ivanisevic is also here. Although they aren't officially working together any more, the player and his former coach still meet from time to time on the court. Between Wimbledon's finalist and his heir, the relation is real. Mario and Goran went together to the Olympics in Sydney to play the doubles.

"He is a great kid, Goran warmly explains. He is bright, he is interested in all sports. I know people are expecting a lot from him, mostly here in Split where mistakes are forbidden. But he has time and means. The two next years will be crucial for him. At his age, I was physically stronger, but less mentally. He is very determined."
Same observation from Sergueï SR :
" He is a very motivated boy. He knows what his objectives are, he wants to succeed. I've known him for three years, he has improved a lot in the physical field. But we have to be careful because he is still growing up."

On the court Mario is hitting with Ivica. The big brother is a master piece in the young player's success. Sparring partner, coach, company man, at 21, he has a lot of responsibilities with devotion. He will still be in the trip for May's tournaments. Both will be in Kunming, South China, before going in the direction of Japan. When we ask BB* what the objective of the season is, the coach plays with the time.
"You are going to say I'm waffling, but the aim is to play his best tennis. What's the point in wagering for a 17-year-old kid. I can assure you he has time and talent (=potential). We'll talk about objectives later."

Neither Goran Ivanisevic wants to predict now Mario's future. Confident in his heir's talent, the former world number 2 sees further and whispers with softness these words :
"I just wish him to do better than I did."

Translated by Mary :)