The man whose magical journey to the Wimbledon title in 2001 as a wildcard has become the stuff of sporting legend finally hung up his racket on Centre Court after losing to 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt , 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round.

"It was strange, you know," grinned the 32-year-old who first qualified for the grasscourt grand slam in 1988.

"I knew it was the last match, last point, but for me it was a victory.

"To come here, to play two matches, to lose to the guy who is the Wimbledon Champion, who is a great player who played too good ... everything was perfect.

"Everything was right the weather, the crowd, the court. I just enjoy myself. I'm happy. I'm happy and sad. I'm sad that I have to leave, but I'm happy that it's no more practising.

"But is great. Was really great. I really enjoyed every moment of my career."

It was a career which earned him almost 20 million dollars, 600 senior match victories and countless fans worldwide.

The pinnacle came in 2001. Three times a losing finalist at Wimbledon in the 1990s -- to Andre Agassi in 1992 and Pete Sampras in 1994 and 1998 -- Ivanisevic had thought his chance had gone.

He turned up on the opening Monday of the 2001 tournament not on the strength of his once-formidable serve but by virtue of a begging letter.

A fortnight later the wildest of wildcards lay face down, trembling on the sport's most famous turf, sobbing and blinking through tears after a magical run had seen him turn that wildcard invitation into life membership of the pantheon of champions.

That magical fortnight exemplified the special love affair Ivanisevic had with the most prestigious tournament of all.

It was fitting his career should end on Centre Court and he struggled with injuries for two years to ensure it did.

"Was worth it, these two years of the therapy and struggling, to come back here and to finish my career in Wimbledon," he said.

"Best place, best court. I couldn't ask for better."

The smiles were tinged with sadness, though.

"I'm going to miss everything," he said.

"I'm going to miss the guys that I spent so many years with them. I'm going to miss serving ace on 15-40, 30-40. I going to miss talking to the umpire sometimes bad, sometimes good, you know? I'm going to miss everything.

"I gave all my life to this sport. You know, I still don't understand that it's finished. I know it's finished, but I don't know it's finished. It's still mixed in my head a little bit."

His one small regret is never having made it to number one in the world, but even then the dark-eyed comic could laugh.

"But to be number two behind Pete Sampras, for me that's the biggest honour because he is the best player in the history of tennis," he grinned.

"To be number two against such a guy, that's for me like being number one."