The Croatian, who has been out for most of the last two seasons with knee, shoulder and foot problems, was typically enigmatic about when he would quit after beating Frenchman Nicolas Escude 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 in the first round of the Nasdaq-100 Open.

"These last two years I have had a lot of time to think how I want to stop and in which way," Ivanisevic told reporters on Wednesday.

"I have had a lot of good and crazy thoughts. Especially over the last couple of months I thought which way I want to stop, so finally I decided, which I'm not going to tell you yet."

"I know the way and how I'm going to stop. I'm going to tell you in a couple of weeks when I find the right moment."

Ivanisevic, 32, has played only eight tournaments since the end of 2001, the year he won Wimbledon as a wildcard ranked 125th in the world.

LITTLE KID

"It's tough. Sometimes I feel a little bit lost. Sometimes I feel 'what am I doing here?, you have a daughter, go home, stay home'. But then I'm happy again like a little kid."

"When you're two years outside something, it's tough to come back," said Ivanisevic. "It's not easy because these young guys, they're just too good."

"They hit the ball so hard that the only way you can keep up with them is go to the gym every day, practice every day hard. Otherwise you better stay home and watch TV and enjoy."

Despite having retirement on his mind, Ivanisevic has pledged to return to Wimbledon this year, providing he is fit.

"I always say I'm coming back to Wimbledon," he said. "Last year I came close, I was at Queens (Club in London), so at least I was in the neighbourhood, but I didn't play."

"Hopefully this year I'm going to step on that grass. I think I owe that to myself and to the English crowd who supported me so well."

"Hopefully I'm going to be fit because if I am fit during Wimbledon I can be very dangerous to a lot of guys there."

Ivanisevic's 11-month-old daughter Amber is now walking and her father, known for his volatile temperament on court, appears to have mellowed a little with her arrival.

"It's great. I don't sleep at night but it's fun. Now she is the boss, she is dictating the schedule around the house. You cannot plan anything but she's great," he said.

"Every day I don't see her I miss her a lot. But, still, that is my priority now, to try and finish my career in the good way, and then I'm going to have time for my daughter."