Mario Ancic life and biography

Mario Ančić is a Croatian former professional tennis player. He has won three singles titles and five doubles titles.

Career:

Nicknamed "Baby Goran" for his similarities to fellow Split native Goran Ivanisevic (both Croatians are known for their height and their prowess on grass), three-time ATP tour titlist Mario Ancic reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2004 and the quarterfinals at the All England Club two other times. He also reached the last eight at Roland Garros in 2006, the year of his only Top 10 finish (No. 9). The 6-5 Croat missed big chunks of the 2007 and 2008 seasons because of injuries and mononucleosis. Ancic, a member of Croatia's 2005 championship Davis Cup team and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in doubles (with Ivan Ljubicic), earned a law degree in 2008 and spoke at Harvard Law School in 2009.

His highest international ranking came during the 2006 ATP Tour, when he reached No. 7 in singles. Apart from his success on the ATP Tour, Mario helped Croatia to win the 2005 Davis Cup and at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, he and Ivan Ljubičić won a bronze medal in doubles for Croatia.

As a teenager making his Grand Slam debut at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships, he defeated 7th-seeded Roger Federer. This win also made him the last player to defeat Federer at Wimbledon (until Rafael Nadal) and on grass courts; and during the years, he was known as the last man to beat Federer, until Nadal's victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon Championships finals. His best performance at Grand Slams came at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, when he reached the semifinals. Due to his success at Wimbledon and grass courts, many saw in Mario a successor of Goran Ivanišević, the 2001 Wimbledon Champion and a former No. 2 in singles, earning a nickname New Goran and Baby Goran.

During 2007 and 2008, mononucleosis and minor injuries forced him to miss many major events, and his ranking dropped from No. 9 in January 2007 to No. 135 in January 2008. As of June 14, 2010, he is currently No. 463 in singles rankings. He was coached by Fredrik Rosengren from August 2005 - October 2008.

Singles Titles

2006: St. Petersburg, 's-Hertogenbosch
2005: 's-Hertogenbosch

Doubles Titles

2008: s-Hertogenbosch
2006: Mumbai, Beijing
2005: Munich
2003: Indianapolis

Personal:

Began playing tennis at age seven
Practiced with countryman Goran Ivanisevic at age 10
After defeating Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2002, earned nickname "Super Mario" by British media
Father, Stipe, owns a supermarket chain; mother, Nilda, is a financial advisor
Older brother, Ivica reached ATP Ranking of No. 378 in 1997
Has a younger sister, Sanja, who was a Top 10 junior in world in 2005 and reached WTA Tour-high No. 159 in 2006
Hobbies include reading, soccer, basketball, movies, music, and all ball sports
One of top juniors in world in 2000 (finished No. 4), reaching final at Wimbledon at age 16 (l. to Mahut) and at Australian Open and SF at US Open juniors (losing to Roddick both times)
.Member of Croatian Davis Cup team since 1999 and has a 19-13 record (12-11 in singles) in 17 ties
Clinched Cup title in 2005
In April 2008, earned a law degree from University of Split and his thesis was on "ATP Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," describing the ATP's legal foundation and organization
Fitness trainer is Mirko Krolo and coached by older brother Ivica (since December 2008).

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