Status: ATP top 50 player is in the SF of Memphis after defeating #7 seed Dolgopolov in three sets today. Member of Australia’s Davis Cup team.
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190
DOB: August 8, 1985 In: Jajce, Yugoslavia
First Tennis Memory: “Was watching Goran Ivanisevic play when I was living in Croatia. Watching him on TV.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Goran Ivanisevic. And then later on Marcelo Rios and Marat Safin. And then when I was living in Australia, where my family moved, Lleyton Hewitt, obviously.”
Last Book Read: “Boris Becker’s tennis book, I enjoyed it.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Probably playing Davis Cup for Australia and reaching at ATP Tour final (Delray Beach 2012).”
Most Painful Moment: “Grand Slam losses, definitely, they’re the ones that hurt the most.”
First Famous Tennis Player You Met Or Encountered: “Yes, Michael Chang. Australian Open when I was a kid, he spoke to me. I was 11 or 12. He was doing some stretches and I asked him what it was for and he told me. He was in a calf stretch, it looked complicated but it was pretty simple, looking back on it.”
Best You Ever Felt On Court: “It happened last year actually. I was playing Florent Serra in his hometown tournament, big Challenger in Bourdeaux, France. And I beat him 6-0 6-1. And he was a former top 30-40 player.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “A lot of the Croatians I get along well with. And some of the Australian guys.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Brendan Evans is pretty funny, I don’t know if he still plays. Off the court, the Croatian guys have a good sense of humor. And the British guys have a good banter.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Many of those, like air-swinging a ball. Cramping during a match. Stuff like that.”
Strangest Match: “This year, Delray Beach, the semifinal (vs. Sela). I was up 4-1 in every set, couple match points, and then I managed to win 7-6 in the third at 5-all, love-40 down on my serve. It was just a crazy, rollercoaster match, many ups and downs.”
Current Car: “Volkswagen (white).”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Definitely football – soccer.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: “Definitely Lionel Messi. Just a genius, couple of levels above everybody else. He broke every record last year, 50 goals in the League, 14 in Champions League, the guy is only 24, he’s a phenomenon. I love watching You Tube clips of Maradona. And in basketball I like to watch Kobe Bryant.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Just when guys lose the plot out there, because I know how it feels to go crazy. I love when guys go nuts, smash racquets and go crazy [smiles].”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. Good morals. And people who love to have a good time.”
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As a boy · Marinko admired Rios and Ivanisevic
