Ivanisevic Edges Gustafsson at Seniors Graz

 
“Actually, I hated playing Magnus! The way he plays never suited me. I started the match badly, but then it got better and better. I actually played really good in the two tie-breaks.”
 
The Swede was disappointed to lose, but enjoyed his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.
 
“I really, really enjoyed every single shot out there,” said Gustafsson, who has been running marathons to get in shape for his first appearance on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.
 
“It was a surprisingly good start for me but Goran didn’t play well at the beginning. Then he picked up his game, especially in the second set and it was like playing the old Goran!”
 
Elsewhere, Michael Stich withstood a fightback from Pat Cash to triumph 7-5, 6-3. Stich had led the second set 5-0 at one stage before finally sealing victory.
 
Cash is still in with a chance after he beat Carl-Uwe Steeb 3-6, 6-4 11-9 (Champions' Tie-break) in the only match on Monday.
 
Stich has been drawn into the same group as Thomas Muster, and is well aware how difficult it will be to face the Austrian in front of his home fans.
 
“He is definitely the favourite having practiced a lot and I know he wants’ to win very badly, but I’ve always enjoyed playing Thomas,” said Stich.
 
“If I can improve my game in comparison to today, playing better from the baseline, maybe I can give him a match.”
 
The tournament is being played at a new venue in Graz-Reininghaus this year. Constructed in just 150 days, the event is now played on clay instead of hard courts, and is situated in an area known as the ‘forgotten land’, which has not been used in over 50 years.
 
“It’s incredible!” said Stich.
 
“It’s better than a lot of regular tournaments on the ATP circuit.”
-- Courtesy Blackrock Tour of Champions