Mario Ancic

Young Pup May Give U.S. Pause, The LA Times, 01 March 2005
On the worldwide caravan called the ATP Tour, Ancic, 20, is neither unfamiliar nor a household word. To most sports fans, he is a name in small newspaper type that reports a tournament result from somewhere in Poland. Occasionally, he even makes the big print when he goes into the late rounds of a tournament.

Roddick win brings USA level with Croatia, Davis Cup, 05 March 2005
When Croatia won the first four sets of this first round World Group tie at The Home Depot Center under blustery California skies, there was nothing left for Andy Roddick to do but buckle down, handle the wind and figure out a way of beating a seemingly inspired Mario Ancic.

Rising Star Serves Them Right, LA Times, 06 March 2005
Your name is Mario Ancic, you are 20 years old and you are standing in yet another international athletic spotlight thousands of miles from home. It shouldn't come this easy, nor this often, but it has, even if you may not completely understand it.

Ancic hits form ahead of Wimbledon, iol.co.za, 19 June 2005
Croatia's Mario Ancic underlined his grasscourt credentials on Sunday, beating defending champion Michael Llodra 7-5 6-4 to win the Ordina Open.

Ancic to continue Croatian tradition, The Times, 20 June 2005
The sons of Croatia have more than made their mark at SW19. Ivanisevic's title triumph is the thing of which legends are made. Ivo Karlovic made Lleyton Hewitt suffer the ignominy of being the only defending champion to lose in the first round in the open era and Ancic remains the last player to beat Roger Federer on grass.

Super Mario Passes Summerer Test, 20 June 2005
The tenth seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia - a semi-finalist in 2004, was given a good test by the German qualifier Tobias Summerer.

Ancic Delights His Fans, 22 June 2005
Croatian giant Mario Ancic advanced into the third round of The Championships with a hard-fought win over little-known Thai player Danai Udomchoke.

Ancic Overpowers Monfils, 24 June 2005
Ancic's serve - one of the best in the game, especially his second serve - and his excellent backhand return have already taken him to the first title of his career last week on the grass of 's-Hertogenbosch.

Ancic's out to emulate mentor in quest for holy grail of tennis, The Scotsman, 25 June 2005
Tim Henman was still in the locker room last year, packing his bags, when Boris Becker hailed the lad who had triumphed over the home favourite. "The future has arrived and his name is Mario Ancic," the German declared..

Ancic rises out of shadowland to stalk Federer, The Independent, 26 June 2005
At the conclusion of a week in which rather too many of the élite have been slipping into oblivion, withering rather than thriving on the vine, the form of Mario Ancic has, almost unnoticed, been ripening in their shadows.

Game Over for Super Mario, 27 June 2005
Ancic was under so much pressure against Lopez's serve that he managed to gain only three break points in fourteen service games - and that was when he broke serve for the only time in the second game of the second set.

Ancic sent into a fury by Spanish inquisition, The Telegraph, 28 June 2005
It was no surprise that Mario Ancic reacted in such petulant and spectacular style yesterday, throwing his drinks bottle around the court, mangling one racket and later, moments after his defeat, handing another racket to the ball girl for her to keep as a present.