'It's A Wonderful Life' is a Frank Capra film about a popular figure in the community (George Bailey) who is thinking of ending it all before his angel (Clarence) comes along and produces a fairytale finish.

Substitute Goran Ivanisevic for Bailey and Wimbledon 2001 for Clarence and one of the great feelgood movies becomes, arguably, the feelgood tennis final of all time. When the charismatic Croat defeated the equally regarded Australian Pat Rafter in an epic five-set, three-hour-one-minute final, Centre Court became inhabited by an ecstatic corner of Bedlam.

The three-times beaten finalist had been given a wild card as a gesture of goodwill for what he once did; he was 125 in the world and two months off his 30th birthday. A string of early exits and a lingering left shoulder problem provoked talk of imminent retirement and a career without a Grand Slam. No one could believe how it all turned out.

The crowd, on People's Monday, cried, cheered, roared and chanted as Ivanisevic, like a gentle giant, stood with his arms aloft on top of a television commentary box to cast his shadow over his kingdom; acknowledging the ovation, capturing the moment with his mind's eye.

"I shall remember this day forever," he said. Ivanisevic hugged his father Srjdan, who had defied doctors concerned about his heart condition, and dedicated the victory to him and tragic friend, NBA basketball player Drazen Petrovic.

He might have ended the hopes of a first British winner in the men's singles for 64 years against Tim Henman in the semi-finals, but no -one held that against him during one of sport's most memorable moments. To be there was a privilege. At first hand, the ear-splitting carnival touched all the senses.

As I stood there among a crowd of 13,370 it made me want to throw off the journalist's mask of objectivity. Deadlines were fast approaching but it was a struggle to tear yourself away to meet them. Ivanisevic went home to a hero's welcome in Croatia.

The achievement reverberated around the world. Experts praised the final's gladiators for providing an unforgettable occasion. John Parsons, the doyen of the British tennis writing fraternity, described it as the best he had seen in his 42 years of covering the world's most famous tennis tournament.

Rafter, himself troubled by injury and losing a second successive final, was a gallant loser and recognised the Centre Court happening described by Ivanisevic as a time when "everybody was going nuts". The third seed said: "I don't think Wimbledon has seen anything like it and I don't know whether it will again."

Ivanisevic had provided much of the fun throughout the event. He regaled anyone who would listen of his penchant for Teletubbies, a television programme beloved of British children. He also spoke of the three Gorans; the one who goes crazy, the other who keeps the other calm and the third who is on stand-by in case the other two lose it.

On court, he showed early signs that he may produce the unexpected. He defeated Swede Frederik Jonsson and Spaniard Carlos Moya before ending the run of the much-touted American youngster Andy Roddick in the third round Ivanisevic had lost his finals to Andre Agassi (1992) and Pete Sampras (1994 and 1998). Surely there was no hope of a fourth chance? But, as he faced Greg Rusedski (Britain) in the fourth round, three-times champion John McEnroe tipped him for the ultimate prize. He got by Rusedski in three sets before setting up his Henman showdown with a win against fourth seed Marat Safin (Russia).

He was on the edge of an exit against the British No.1 when the rains came to halt what seemed an inevitable Henman win. But then he recovered to earn his final place against Rafter. Even then his volatile temperament threatened to scupper his opportunities. Comparisons to Ken Rosewall, defeated four times in the final, was on everyone's tongues when he lost his service in the fourth set. The Split personality lost his composure with fiery gesticulations, before the other two Gorans helped him out.

He said: "I knew I had to calm down, to keep cool, that I couldn't afford to be crazy. I said to myself 'this is your last chance, you're going to win'. "I was sure it had to be me this time. It was like a dream."

The 2001 Championships were not only about Ivanisevic. American Taylor Dent, with his big serve, and Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero impressed, while home favourite Barry Cowan scared Pete Sampras before Swiss Roger Federer ended the American's bid for an eighth title.

American Venus Williams sealed the Ladies' Singles for the second successive year, against Justine Henin, a waif-like Belgian who made a name for herself with the Wimbledon crowd and won over hearts. Henin had stunned Jennifer Capriati, the fourth seed, in the semi-finals, earning sympathy along the way with tales of her family trauma.

The women provided another big shock. Martina Hingis, the 1997 champion, lost her opening round as the No.1 seed for the second time in in three years, being defeated by double specialist Virginia Ruano Pascual, a Spaniard ranked 83rd in the world.

The postscript to one of the best Wimbledon's in living memory, though, provided a twist. Ivanisevic, the first wild card singles winner, had to have an operation on that troublesome shoulder. And, despite, protestations that he would be willing to defence his title with "one arm", it forced his withdrawal for the 2002 Championships.

But he already has enough memories from the People's Monday 12 months ago to last him a lifetime. He had wished for an angel to come the night before he played Rafter to strike a celestial deal for victory. It seems Clarence might have been around somewhere for real.