Mario Ancic Quotations

Of course it's always a little bit strange playing a guy who you just played with in the Davis Cup -- we won together an Olympic medal, and played last year's Davis Cup. But when you are professionals you know in this type of game and this level we can meet all the time.

I lost the opening singles here against Romania in five sets, but I will try to use that experience to my benefit, ... I just hope I get the win on Friday.

I had problems with my serve, but Arnaud really had an answer for everything.

I felt everything was under my control. It's an unforgettable match and an unforgettable day. This has been a spectacular year for me.

It is by no means over yet. We have an enormous day ahead of us.

We played in Auckland, just before Auckland, and I lost, 7-6, 7-6, but I also had my chances in that match, so I knew it was going to be tough today, ... I tried to play my game and be as aggressive as I could be.

We knew it was going to be a tough match. I'm really satisfied to have beaten Ivan who is certainly with Roger Federer one of the best players in the world at the moment.

But Russia are strong with or without Safin, they beat France without him in the quarterfinals and Davydenko has been playing unbelievably this year.

I started very well but I got unlucky while he scored on almost every ball.

The score may look easy but it was a very tough match.

I've played with a lot of big servers, ... but I've never felt like today, that I really couldn't do anything.

It was unbelievably difficult. I knew he was serving big and I'd have a really tough time, but the way he returned was impressive. I didn't really expect that. I was expecting many more free points, and he was not giving me any.

It was tough to get a rhythm and I was making a lot of errors.

It was an extremely tough match. I was just trying to be aggressive. I was lucky enough to play really aggressive and that was my main goal.

It was an extremely tough match and in the first set the conditions were difficult and both of us were struggling on serve. Hopefully, I'm on a good run now.

I've lost twice against him, ... This is his home and I know there will be lots of people on his side. No matter what, I will have to play a little better in the quarterfinals, but I'm feeling good.

Tennis is an individual sport. Because of that, you have to find your own answers in a match.

It was a tough match because Ruben is a clay-court player, ... But I think I was playing very well. I was doing the things I needed to do, playing from the back but also looking to come in.

It is very painful and doctors told me that this injury takes eight days to heal. I have a huge wish to play, but the risk is also very big. I will decide on Friday just before the match.

It's always tough to play a friend but apart from that, I consider Ivan to be probably the best player, behind (Roger) Federer, since the indoor season last year. It's a great win and great for my confidence.

It's great that he's with us for the semi-final after missing the last two matches.

It was not his best day. He was missing more than the last two times we played and he gave me a lot of opportunities to play my game. I was aggressive, a lot of times finishing the point at the net.

It's very exciting to be playing at home, it's going to be an unbelievable experience,

I'm not fit to play and I don't want to risk having to surrender a rubber in this important match.

I'm really happy having played four matches extremely well with unbelievable tempo coming into the final. Today I was really flat but I have to take the positive away from the four good matches I played and focus for (next week's Australian Open in) Melbourne.

I just tried to be aggressive and play consistent, ... It's been a good year for me so far and it will be even better if I can win tomorrow.

I am very well prepared, I'm in good physical shape, ... There will be a great atmosphere, it will be a great feeling and we don't want to waste it.

I am very, very happy to have earned this first point. The start in a Davis Cup tie is always important and so I am glad we are ahead.

I am not sure people realize how big it is to be at the top of the pyramid.

I consider Ivan to be probably the best player, behind Federer, since the indoor season last year. It's a great win and great for my confidence. I wasn't expecting to do this well this week, especially after practicing on clay all of last week in Austria.

All the tickets are sold, it's going to be noisy, the atmosphere will be pretty hot.

The first match will be really important because both teams are going to try to play well from the first match,