Former Tennis Star Makes a Mark at Columbia Law School

Every fall, Columbia Law School admits a couple hundred students to its prestigious master's program. This year's crop includes a civil rights activist from Armenia, a terrorism-finance expert from Bangladesh and a Croatian lawyer with a win over Roger Federer.

Had things worked out differently, Mario Ancic, the Croatian lawyer, would have spent the past two weeks grinding it out on the hardcourts at the United States Open. Instead, he has been holed up in the Columbia law library, poring over his contracts casebook.

“I'm trying to be prepared for every class,” Ancic said. “The professors here use the Socratic method of teaching, so they can call on you at any time.”

Not long ago, Ancic, 28, had different concerns. He was a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2004. The next year, he became a hero in Croatia after helping the nation win the Davis Cup. With his 6-foot-5 frame and booming serve, Ancic achieved a peak ranking of No. 7 after reaching the qua rterfinals of Wimbledon and the French Open in 2006.

“The future of tennis has arrived - and his name is Mario Ancic,” Boris Becker, the German champion, once said.

Born in the Mediterranean city Split, Ancic (pronounced An-CHITCH) was the world's top-ranked junior at 16. He burst onto the pro tour two years later, defeating Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2002.

“This wasn't the Roger Federer that we know today,” said Ancic, reluctantly discussing his famous victory. (Federer went on to win Wimbledon the next five times in a row and seven in all.)

But almost from the outset of his career, Ancic had to battle more than just his opponents. There were persistent shoulder problems and chronic back pain. A glandular fever sidelined him for the better part of two years. Doctors eventually diagnosed a severe strain of mononucleosis. The endless string of ailments forced Ancic to hang up his racket at 26.

“I had to retire early and tha t's life,” he said. “You try to deal with it and fight through it, but at some point you need to turn the page and move on to something else.”

That something else was law. Raised in a family that emphasized education, Ancic enrolled at the University of Split while recovering from his injuries. After earning a doctorate in law and passing the local bar exam, he was hired as a junior lawyer at Savoric & Partners, one of Croatia's top law firms.

He decided to pursue a master's degree in the United States after spending a few months on a research project at Harvard Law School. He was supervised by Peter A. Carfagna , an adjunct Harvard professor who was once the top lawyer at IMG, the sports management firm that represented Ancic. He presented a paper on the legal ramifications of doping in professional tennis that Carfagna said was of publishable quality.

“This might sound clichéd, but the way Mario approached his training as a professional tennis p layer is how he's approaching his legal career,” Carfagna said. “He's like a sponge, indefatigable, and intensely committed to be the best lawyer he can be.”

Ancic, who once resided in Monte Carlo, a European tax haven, now lives with a roommate in a small two-bedroom apartment on 127th Street. After completing the one-year Master of Laws program, he said, he might stay in New York and try to find a job at a big corporate firm before returning to Croatia. Sports law excites Ancic; he also has considered politics or becoming a judge.

He remains passionate about tennis and wants to stay connected to the sport. At Columbia, that will not be a problem: the university's tennis team has already sniffed him out.

A few weeks ago, Katarina Kovacevic, a player on the women's squad, was strolling through campus when she spotted a shirtless Ancic sitting on a bench. Kovacevic, who is the daughter of Serbian immigrants and grew up in Queens, introduced herself in Serbo-Croatian and explained that she had once been a ball girl for one of his United States Open matches. She encouraged him to come out to the Columbia courts. Ancic met Haig Schneiderman, the men's team captain last year, who is trying to make it as a pro, and the two have hit together a few times.

Howard Endelman, a former Columbia tennis star who is the associate men's coach, said his players were salivating over Ancic's surprise arrival on campus.

“Law school can be brutal,” said Endelman, a former lawyer himself. “That said, the prospect of Mario working out with our guys is very exciting.”

Ancic found it amusing that the U.S. Open was getting under way just as he arrived in New York. Last weekend, between study sessions, he went to Flushing Meadows to support his countryman Marin Cilic. He also stopped by the stadium to watch his old rival Federer.

“There are a bunch of guys like Roger who are older than me and still playing at a ch ampionship level,” Ancic said. “But everyone has their own story, and I'm really happy with mine.”