Tennis: Ivanisevic sorry for 'faggot' jibe

Goran Ivanisevic has apologised for calling a Wimbledon linesman a "faggot".

The Wimbledon champion admitted he was wrong to abuse the official immediately after his emotional five sets victory over Pat Rafter last July.

Ivanisevic issued his apology after slamming down 25 aces to defeat America's Hugo Armando 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the first round of the US Open.

"I don't want to offend anybody," he said. "I don't have anything against homosexuals or anybody. I didn't mean anything bad when I said to him that he's like a faggot. I can apologise to him. I didn't mean anything bad.

"I have nothing against anybody. It was just an expression. I've been told that when I go into a press conference I say 'I played like a faggot'. They told me not to say it any more and I am never going to say it."

True to his nature Ivanisevic then caused something of a stir among the female reporters in his post-match press conference in New York by adding: "I can say I play like a woman instead."

He immediately conceded he had better find a different word before, more seriously, insisting he was intent on becoming only the sixth man in tennis history to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back.

"If I pass the first week I am going to be very dangerous," he said. "I will play better and better each match. I feel happy, it's fun to play tennis again, it's great to be here."