Ivanisevic wins first round match in Indianapolis

Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic struggled, but eventually managed to close out his first round match 6-4 6-4 over Brazil's Fernando Meligeni at the Indianapolis Championships on Monday.

Serving for the match at 6-4 5-4, the 10th-seeded Ivanisevic raced to 40-15 but then struggled through the 12-point final game.

Not only did the Croatian watch those two match points go by, but he then had to save one break point with a breathtaking backhand drop shot.

Five points later on his fourth match point, Ivanisevic ended the 70-minute match with a service winner.

"In the end, I always complicate life," said Ivanisevic of the final game.

"I just can't do anything normal. I had those two match points. When I get to the U.S. Open I can't do this type of thing to myself."

Ivanisevic, who had 15 aces and broke serve on three occasions, only had his own serve broken once, in the fourth game of the first set.

He admits that having won the Wimbledon trophy, in his fourth final, has made his life more enjoyable.

"That (winning Wimbledon) was all I wanted. Every time I step on the court, I want to win, but I take losses easier.

"Five months ago I was afraid to go for my shots because I wanted to win so badly. I just was pushing the ball back.

"I'm not as tight now and whatever happens, happens so I'm relaxed and just hit it back."

Despite saying he has eased the pressure on himself, Ivanisevic admitted he was nervous in the match against the 89th-ranked Meligeni and was seen more than once berating himself in Croatian when he missed a shot.

"I think I played very well but sometimes I made some stupid mistakes," Ivanisevic said.

"For me, everything has to always be perfection. Even if I win a shot I might not be happy because I didn't hit the ball the way I wanted."

Pavel Wins
Romanian Andrei Pavel, who won his first Tennis Masters Series title in Montreal two weeks ago by beating Patrick Rafter in the final, outlasted American teen Mardy Fish 6-4 5-7 6-1 in the first round on Monday afternoon.

Leading 6-4 5-4 15-40, a disappointed Pavel watched his two match points slip by as well as the second set.

"I think I just got frustrated," Pavel said of failing to win the match in straight sets.

"It's not that I played badly, but I had the couple of match points and at that point, whatever he was going was landing on the line.

"I was saying to myself, 'Come on, give me a break.' I had the match in my hands. I was just happy I could keep my mind for the third set."

Pavel broke the 191st-ranked Fish in the fourth and sixth games of the final set to secure the first round win.