‘Tipsy’s’ spirit floors Gonzalez
‘Tipsy’s’ spirit floors Gonzalez 
From Angus McKinnon in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
AUSTRALIAN Open finalist, Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez became the biggest casualty at this year’s Wimbledon, dumped out of the tournament by Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic today (AEST).
The world No.64, nicknamed “Tipsy” by his new-found fan club, rallied from 5-2 down in the fifth set and saved a match point before claiming the biggest win of his career, 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 8-6 after an enthralling, 3hr 35min battle.
The Serb’s battling spirit won over the centre court crowd as he realised an ambition cherished since childhood.
“I think the crowd likes a fight,” he said. “They like to see someone trying to beat the No.5 in the world.
“Ever since I was a kid my dream was to win matches on centre court at Wimbledon because this is the most important tournament in the world for me.”
Tipsarevic dedicated his win to his family, who fostered his talent in difficult circumstances against the background of the disintegration of the old Yugoslavia.
“When I was growing up there were no sponsors, no federation, no nothing,” he said.
“It’s not that I’m crying about it, but from the paycheck my father had working as a PE professor, the family could buy two kilos of carrots, that was it.
“Luckily my father believed that one day I could be an independent tennis player, buy a house and support a family.”
Tipsarevic’s reward is a place in the last 16, where he will meet Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, who unexpectedly eliminated No.9 seed, America’s James Blake.
With his thick beard and stocky build, Tipsarevic bears more than a passing resemblance to Italy’s World Cup-winning midfield player, Gennaro Gattuso.
And on the evidence presented to Centre Court, he shares some of the AC Milan player’s tenacious spirit: Gonzalez simply could not put him down and this might be a hugely significant victory for the 23-year-old from Belgrade.
As well as sealing his maiden win over a top 10 player, it was also the first time Tipsarevic, who has a stud pierced through his right eyebrow and “beauty will save the world” tatooed on his left arm, had managed to win three consecutive Tour matches.
Although he had taken the first set and then re-established his lead in the third, it appeared the momentum had swung decisively behind Gonzalez when, after a brief rain delay that appeared to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm, he broke in the 10th game of the fourth set to send the match into a decisive fifth.
Tipsarevic was gifted an opening in the first game of the final set when the world No.6 uncharacteristically sent a midcourt forehand long to concede a break.
But he failed to capitalise on another break point in the third game of the set, and paid the price when Gonzalez evened things up at 2-2 and reeled off the next three games to earn himself a chance to serve for the match at 5-3.
Somehow, Tipsarevic found the physical and mental reserves to drag himself back into the contest, preventing Gonzalez from serving out for victory by clinching a break at the end of a marathon rally that was perhaps the finest seen on centre court this year.
Gonzalez’s match point came with Tipsarevic serving at 6-5 down. This time it was the Chilean’s nerve that faltered and the chance went begging when he deposited a straightforward backhand into the net.
That was to prove the world No.6s last chance. Tipsarevic held his serve, claimed a break in the next game and emphatically wrapped things up with an ace on his second match point.
Agence France-Presse