Wimbledon Title Thrills Croatians

Thousands of dancing and flag-waving Croatians celebrated, some diving into harbors, to mark the Wimbledon title of native son Goran Ivanisevic.

“Never has Goran played such quality tennis in his life,” longtime sports commentator Mico Dusanovic howled Monday as Ivanisevic completed his 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 victory over Pat Rafter. “This is the match of his life. Don’t hold back the tears.”

The jubilation will only grow today when about 100,000 fans are expected to welcome Ivanisevic as he returns to Split.

“Nothing would have been the same in his life had he not won the title this time,” Ivanisevic’s mother, Gorana, told a local station, her voice trembling.

Said tennis fan Marko Ivkovic: “He’s stubborn and he frustrates us to the edge with his gambling style of tennis. But he is ours the way he is, and we will always love him to death.”