Ivanisevic "doesn't care" about winning U.S. Open

Andre Agassi loves the U.S. Open, Gustavo Kuerten is a bit intimidated by it and Goran Ivanisevic is still so high from Wimbledon that the Open doesn't much matter to him one way or the other.

Such were the diverse perspectives of this year's first three Grand Slam winners when asked to discuss the fourth and final major championship, which begins on Monday.

Ivanisevic is still on Cloud Nine almost seven weeks after his unlikely run to the Wimbledon title in his fourth trip to the final after gaining a last minute wild card entry.

Asked if he thought he could also win the U.S. Open, Ivanisevic broke up the room with his disarmingly honest response.

"Actually, I don't care," he said in New York on Friday.

"My dreams came true after so many tries and now I feel more happy on the court, just enjoying tennis and whatever happens here it's gonna be nice."

Was this the "good Goran" or the "bad Goran" talking?

"It's the relaxed Goran," joked the big guy who has admitted to possessing multiple personalities.

He said he still sometimes worries about waking up and realising his Wimbledon win was a dream rather than a dream come true.

"After three finals, how I won it with a wild card, nobody believed it (could happen). I kind of believed and hoped. I never gave up hope and that was like a destiny for me," he said.

"I'm still dreaming and flying. Still, sometimes I think I didn't win and then I say 'Gee, I won it.'"

Ivanisevic noticed the difference that comes with his new status as Wimbledon champion as soon as he walked out to a practice court at the National Tennis Center on Friday.

"It feels great. Today I was practising and so many people were watching. The past three years in my first round match there were not that many people watching as today at practice," he said almost in disbelief.

"You come as Wimbledon champion and everybody is happy for me, it was really great," he said.

BUOYANT MOOD

Agassi, the 2001 Australian Open champion and expectant father is in equally buoyant mood.

"Being here brings out a level of energy and purpose, I think, unmatched at any other tournament in the world," said the man who lifted the U.S. Open trophy in 1994 and 1999.

"New York will be a great experience for all the players and certainly for me because I love playing here so much."

Kuerten, who for the second consecutive year comes into Flushing Meadows as reigning French Open champion, is understandably a bit more wary based on his abbreviated 2000 U.S. Open campaign.

"I had a tough experience last year coming in off a lot of wins but then losing first round in the Open," he said.

"I can say it can be tricky," he said of playing in the enormous New York venue. "It can be very enjoyable and also a little bit of frustration and also fearfulness sometime if you let the pressure get to you.

"I hope to try to enjoy the public, be part of this big event and great show these two weeks.

"If I get myself in the tournament a little bit far, I'm sure I will enjoy it a lot and really have a lot of fun," said the charismatic young Brazilian known affectionately as "Guga".

"I gotta take it easy, don't get myself too nervous, just practise hard. The one thing I can be sure is that I'm well prepared and ready to go if I get my rhythm going," added the 24-year-old Kuerten.

He said he is no longer bothered by the sore ribs that forced him to retire in the first set of the Indianapolis final last week.