Tennis: Ivanisevic now a 'Split personality'

Wimbledon hero Goran Ivanisevic removed his shirt as usual - then almost every other item of clothing - as he completed his dream 48 hours after his Wimbledon win with an emotional homecoming in Split last night.

The Croatian star, who so memorably captured the first Grand Slam title of his career in a delayed five-set thriller with Pat Rafter on Monday, flew back to his homeland to be greeted by a 100,000-strong flag-waving crowd.

As he stood on a specially-erected podium, Ivanisevic first threw his shirt into the crowd.

While that was a throwback to his Wimbledon antics, his decision to remove shoes, trousers and socks was more extreme.

Goran was left only in his briefs and a basketball shirt belonging to old friend Drazen Petrovic - the European basketball legend who died in a car crash eight years ago and to whom Ivanisevic dedicated his victory.

After admitting he had not been to bed as he celebrated his unexpected success, the Monaco-based star was ready for a second night without sleep.

He left London clean shaven and tired, his superstition-filled tournament that prevented him shedding his beard finally over.

‘‘The people have been living for this. Now I’ve finally won, they are shouting and singing. All Croatia is so happy and proud of me.

‘‘This, and Croatia being third in the World Cup (at France 98) - these are the two biggest things that have happened.

‘‘When my club Hajduk Split won recently there were thousands of people celebrating and it will be the same.’’

Ivanisevic, who carried his country’s flag at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, will now play in the £2m tennis masters series in Montreal at the end of the month as a result of his victory.

The lanky left-hander’s dream will not be complete, however, until he walks onto centre court next summer as defending champion.

‘‘I still can’t believe it. Now I am Wimbledon champion, I can’t run away from it, and it’s nice, but it hasn’t sunk in yet because I didn’t sleep at all last night. I don’t know when I’ll finally go to sleep - maybe in a couple of days!

‘‘I don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore. I am now ranked 16 in the world, from being ranked 128 two weeks ago - it’s unbelievable.

‘‘I’m going to come here next year to open Centre Court and next year I am going to have more fun.

‘‘I’ll enjoy every minute of it now I am a member of the club. They gave me an official tie and said I can come here any time and drink a cup of tea! But I will have to dress properly.’’

He hopes the repercussions of his success will be felt in his homeland in the future in encouraging a new generation of stars and even admitted he would relish the chance to coach the kids of Britain if he ever got the chance, following the £200,000 fee asked for by Venus Williams to tour the inner cities.

‘‘My mum rang this morning and told me everyone was playing tennis in the streets. People were coming to her apartment that she didn’t even know,’’ he said.

‘‘Hopefully in years to come there will be a new Goran to come here and win.

‘‘With kids it’s always fun to work, they just say what they think. I would love to do that and maybe I would do that for free.

‘‘I didn’t have that opportunity when I was growing up to play with a big name. If I could give advice I would feel good about myself.’’