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| |  Monday, 9 July, 2001, 20:47 GMT 21:47 UK 'Crazy' Goran set to escape rap Ivanisevic lets his feelings known to the umpire Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has admitted a line-judge inspired his outburst on Centre Court but his behaviour is still likely to go unpunished. The Croat beat Pat Rafter in a five-set thriller on Monday afternoon although the victory appeared destined for the Australian after a sequence of events in the fourth set. Trailing 2-1 in sets, Rafter roared into a 4-2 lead, but only after two decisions that had Ivanisevic fuming, leaving him glaring at the lineswoman who had foot-faulted him. And after a second serve was called out, he threw down his racket, kicked out at the net and then launched a torrent of swear words at Portuguese umpire Jorge Dias. "I've won five points but lost the game," he said after the match about the game that turned the set in favour of Rafter.
"I hit a great serve and he (Rafter) missed it but then I get my first foot-fault all tournament from that ugly, ugly lady. "Then I hit another second serve, huge. The ball was on the line but that guy, he calls it and I couldn't believe he did it. "So in two seconds when I think I've won the point twice I'm suddenly down 4-2. Then I got a little crazy." Despite losing the fourth set, Ivanisevic won the decider 9-7 to seal a memorable victory in front of an ecstatic audience. And after granting the winner a wild-card to enter the championship, the All England Club look almost certain to turn a blind eye to his misdemeanours. Andre Agassi was not so lucky last week following his fine for swearing during his defeat to Rafter in the semi-finals. | |
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