ATPUMAG #30ATPUMAG OFFICIAL JOURNAL of the ATP TOURNAMENT • No 6 • 19

Home , Croatia Open, Dusan Lajovic, Leonardo Mayer

#ATPUMAG #30ATPUMAG OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ATP TOURNAMENT • No 6 • 19. 07. 2019.

ORDER OF PLAY PARTY PROGRAMME GORAN IVANISEVIC STADIUM GRANDSTAND 8:00 Stars Open 17:30 17:30 Laslo Djere (SRB) vs. Stefano Travaglia (ITA) vs. 10 :00 Leonardo Mayer (ARG) Attila Balazs (HUN) ITF Wheelchair not before 20:00 followed by 23:00 Aljaz Bedene (SLO) vs. D. Molchanov (UKR) / I. Zelenay (SVK) vs. Dance Arena – Gianluca Vacchi Dusan Lajovic (SRB) R. Haase (NED) / P. Oswald (AUT) ISTRIA GOURMET FESTIVAL & MUSIC followed by followed by Facundo Bagnis (ARG) vs. O. Marach (AUT) / J. Melzer (AUT) vs. 21:00 Santiago Caruso (ITA) L. Mayer (ARG) /A. Molteni (ARG) Wine Tastings – sparkling wines

Tickets are available on the official website www.croatiaopen.hr. FREE ENTRY TO THE PARTY PROGRAM.

The organizer reserves the right to change the program and timetable. All news in the program can be followed using the official website of the tournament www.croatiaopen.hr. 1 1. FOGNINI, FABIO ITA SINGLES 2. BYE F. FOGNINI [1] S. TRAVAGLIA 3. TRAVAGLIA, STEFANO ITA 6:1, 2:1, predaja S. TRAVAGLIA 4. FABBIANO, THOMAS ITA 6:3, 6:2 Q 5. BALAZS, ATTILA BRA A. BALAZS WC 6. GALOVIĆ, VIKTOR CRO 6:0, 6:7(5), 7:6(4) A. BALAZS JPN 7. DANIEL, TARO F. KRAJINOVIĆ 6:3, 6:7(1), 7:6(5) 6 8. KRAJINOVIĆ, FILIP SRB 7:5, 7:6(4) 3 9. ĐERE, LASLO SRB 10. BYE L. ĐERE [3] L. ĐERE [3] Q 11. TOREBKO, PETER BRA P. LORENZI 6:3, 3:6, 6:4 12. LORENZI, PAOLO ITA 5:7, 6:4, 7:6(3)

PR 13. STEBE, CEDRIK-MARCEL GER J. VESELY 14. VESELY, JIRI CZE 7:6(5), 3:6, 7:6(2) L. MAYER [8] 15. ANDUJAR, PABLO ESP L. MAYER [8] 3:6, 6:4, 6:4 8 16. MAYER, LEONARDO ARG 6:1, 7:5 5 17. CECCHINATO, MARCO ITA A. BEDENE 6:3, 6:2 18. BEDENE, ALJAŽ SLO A. BEDENE 19. SOUSA, PEDRO POR J. SINNER 7:6(3), 6:3 WC 20. SINNER, JANNIK ITA 1:6, 6:3, 6:4 21. RUBLJOV, ANDREJ RUS A. RUBLJOV 6:3, 6:2 22. HAASE, ROBIN NED D. LAJOVIĆ [4] 6:4, 6:3 23. BYE D. LAJOVIĆ [4] 4 24. LAJOVIĆ, DUŠAN SRB 7 25. KLIŽAN, MARTIN SVK F. BAGNIS 4:6, 6:3, 7:5 26. BAGNIS, FACUNDO ARG F. BAGNIS 6:3, 6:3 Q 27. TRUNGELLITI, MARCO ARG N. SERDARUŠIĆ WC 28. SERDARUŠIĆ, NINO CRO 6:3, 6:3 29. MOUTET, CORENTIN FRA S. CARUSO 7:5, 6:0 Q 30. CARUSO, SALVATORE ITA S. CARUSO 6:2, 3:6, 6:1 31. BYE B. ĆORIĆ [2] 2 32. ĆORIĆ, BORNA CRO

MARACH, OLIVER AUT DOUBLES 1 1. MELZER, JURGEN AUT O. MARACH, J. MELZER SOUSA, PEDRO POR 6:2, 7:6(2) 2. TRAVAGLIA, STEFANO ITA O. MARACH, J. MELZER BEHAR, ARIEL URU 6:2, 6:3 3. LAMMONS, NATHANIEL USA N. ĆAĆIĆ, D. LAJOVIĆ ĆAĆIĆ, NIKOLA SRB 5:7, 6:2, 11:9 4. LAJOVIĆ, DUŠAN SRB MAYER, LEONARDO ARG 4 5. MOLTENI, ANDRES ARG L. MAYER, A. MOLTENI NEIS, FABRICIO BRA 6:4, 6:1 6. STEBE, CEDRIK-MARCEL GER L. MAYER, A. MOLTENI PODLIPNIK-CASTILLO, HA CHI 7:5, 7:5 7. WEISSBORN, TRISTAN-SAM AUT T. BRKIĆ, A. PAVIĆ BRKIĆ, TOMISLAV BIH 6:2, 6:2 WC 8. PAVIĆ, ANTE CRO ALTMAIER, DANIEL GER ALT 9. MOLLEKER, RUDOLF GER A. ŠANČIĆ, N. SERDARUŠIĆ ŠANČIĆ, ANTONIO CRO 7:5, 6:3 WC 10. SERDARUŠIĆ, NINO CRO D. MOLČANOV, I. ZELENAY ANDUJAR, PABLO ESP 6:3, 4:6, 10:2 11. GRANOLLERS, GERARD ESP D. MOLČANOV, I. ZELENAY MOLČANOV, DENYS UKR 6:2, 6:2 3 12. ZELENAY, IGOR SVK FABBIANO, THOMAS ITA 13. LORENZI, PAOLO ITA S. BOLELLI, F. FOGNINI BOLELLI, SIMONE ITA 6:7(5), 6:1, 10:8 14. FOGNINI, FABIO ITA R. HAASE, P. OSWALD RUBLEV, ANDREY RUS bez borbe 15. VASILEVSKI, ANDREI BLR R. HAASE, P. OSWALD HAASE, ROBIN NED 4:6, 7:5, 16:14 2 16. OSWALD, PHILIPP AUT

2 Lawrence Goran Frankopan Ivanišević

The director’s view The legend’s view THIS IS WHAT THE JOY ON THE GLADIATORS DO CHILDREN’S FACES

After top-seeded Fabio Fognini lost in his opening IS PRICELESS match, we saw that Borna, on the other side of the The morning after the match with Patrick Rafter, which draw, lost as well. It is surely unfortunate for the I hope the audience liked, I had something a bit differ- tournament that the two highest-ranking players ent on my programme. Some might describe it as an lost so early, but this happens sometimes. obligation, but I don’t call it that, and I’ll try to explain why. I was at Kids’ Week, which is held at the court be- We have to give Caruso credit, disappointment. Hopefully Bor- he played beyond himself. Bor- na will come back next year. He side the Grandstand, where we bring some of the play- na put up a massive fight, as he is very good on this surface, but always does; he’s a great cham- it was unfortunate that he got ers every day to hang out with kids for a half hour or so. pion. It’s obviously disappointing injured before Wimbledon and for the home crowd, but there had no matches for a month. It I had a great time, I just love spen- ss, both from their and my side. are plenty of Italian fans in atten- takes time to get back into rhyt- ding time with those kids. It’s so- Everyone should spend 15 or 30 dance, so it’s great for those of hm. mething we didn’t have the chan- minutes with them, because it’s them who are here on holiday – This is what gladiators do – you ce to experience when we were something special. It doesn’t just they will have another opportu- have to win and you have to lose, their age, it wasn’t done then. make them feel better – it makes nity to cheer for Caruso, who is, that’s the essence of the busine- When a player comes on Kids’ Day, you feel better too. as we’ve seen, a very, very good ss. This time, it was Borna who it’s a big event for children, you can And the advice... A lot has changed player. lost, but I am 100% positive that see how excited they are and how since I was their age, but people It makes you realise how good he will come back strong, as he important it is to them, and you don’t understand that tennis is still these guys are. Their depth, the always does. can’t be indifferent to that. They all tennis. Forehand, backhand, and quality of their tennis, especially Now, we’re facing the quarter-fi- daydream and train hoping they’ll service are still here, but the pre- on clay. You have to grind it out, nals on Friday, and two qualifiers become a part of this caravan so- ssure is another thing. I think kids you need to fight. I don’t want will try to continue with wins. meday and play professional tour- aged eight to nine train too much, to take anything away from our But, we also saw Dusan Lajovic, naments on these courts. three or four hours a day. That’s Italian friend, because he really who played very well against for- If I can help them and give them over the top, it’s made kids stop played well, and it was the best mer Umag champion Andrey Ru- advice, I’m very glad to do so. In being kids, and that should never example of the fact that, on any blev. He was a finalist in Monte fact, I enjoy doing so. It’s a normal happen. Let them play, let them given day, any player – even one Carlo earlier this year, and he’s thing to me. It’s nothing for me have time to relax, because they’re ranked like Caruso, who is 125th surely capable of another great to set aside 15 minutes or a half going to “hit a wall” sooner or la- this week – can beat a player in result, as is his compatriot Laslo hour to spend with them, but it ter. Parents usually don’t recognise the top 20. This is a testament Djere, the tournament’s third means the world to them. I don’t that, so they overtrain them, and to how big the competition is, seed. We don’t have any former understand who could refuse to that causes a lot of injuries and as well as to the fact that even champions left in the draw, as all come and say they don’t want to, problems. low-profile players are high-qua- three are out – actually four, if or that they don’t feel like it. Just To put it another way, moderation lity players. we count Tommy Robredo, who look at the expressions on the fa- in all things. It’s important to reco- Again, this is tennis. Everyone lost in the qualifiers – so we will ces of those kids, the joy, especia- gnise talent, but also not to exag- was expecting Borna in the fi- have a new winner on Sunday. lly when they hit a winning shot gerate, because that doesn’t bring nals, so I can understand the against a “big” player. It’s pricele- results.

3 WINE TASTING FOURTH FINALIST: NOVACCO’S 2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC At the fourth night of the Hidden methods, in a pleasant ambience and it has also fared very well in Istria,” Charms of Istrian Wine, Pilato Winery with the unobtrusive aid of som- Perdec concluded. from Lasici near Vizinada, Valenta melier Emil Perdec, who told those After rating the appearance, bouquet Winery from Kaldir, and Novacco present everything about the origins and flavour of the wines offered, Winery from Fernetici near Brtonigla and characteristics of the variety. visitors gave the most points to No- all presented their Sauvignons Blanc. “This variety of grape, originally from vacco’s excellent 2018 Sauvignon best sparkling wine of this year’s As until now, tastings were carried Bordeaux, attains perhaps its best Blanc, which thus became the fourth tournament will be selected today out according to professional rating results far off in New Zealand, but finalist for ATP wine of the year. The at 9PM at the Taste Istria zone.

NIKE INVITATIONAL REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THESE JUNIORS! One of the tournaments being held in If this tournament becomes a traditi- Umag is the Nike Invitational, which onal one, the number of competitors brings together young, talented players might increase. It would certainly be UMAG STARS OPEN with a bright tennis future ahead of a chance for juniors to train during a them. professional competition with profes- “I’m sure this experience will be of gre- sional players on the other side of the WE’LL STAY FRIENDS at help in their careers, and I wouldn’t net. This week, four 14-year-olds are be surprised to see them in the finals in Umag, all of whom are among the AFTER THE MATCHES of the main Umag tournament soon. top ten in their age categories on their Umag is known across the world for “Silvio put together doubles teams I would like to thank Nike, who has continents: German Marc Majdanzic, much more than just tennis, and it with one skilled tennis player and provided accommodation and training Russian Maksim Zhukov, Argentinian proved it again this year in its 30th one who possibly isn’t as good, so with famous players like Patrick Rafter Nicolás Eli and Croat Dino Prizmic. anniversary edition. In addition to the chances for victory are equal. for four juniors,” said Tomislav Poljak, Results: Eli – Zhukov 6:3; 6:3, Prizmic – the main tournament, the 30th Plava Although I don’t know my opponents assistant director of the Plava Laguna Majdanzic 6:1; 7:6, Majdanzic – Eli 7:5; Laguna Croatia Open Umag also inc- personally, I hope we’ll stay friends Croatia Open Umag. 6:2, Prizmic – Zhukov 5:7; 6:3; 10:8. ludes seven additional tournaments; after the match,” said famous music one of these is the Umag Stars Open, producer Niksa Bratos, one of the which features former professional participants in the Umag Stars Open. athletes, politicians, and figures from The organiser of this “star-studded” showbiz and Croatian business. tournament is former Croatian na- In coming days, numerous well- tional football team member Silvio known figures such as actors Filip Maric. Juricic and Petar Ciritovic, Zagreb “As far as athletes go, former fo- lawyer Mate Matic, former handball otballers are best at tennis. Both player Patrik Cavar and former water Federer and Nadal played football polo player Dubravko Simenc will be before becoming pro tennis players, showing off their tennis skills on the and you can see it in the way they courts of Stella Maris. move,” explained Maric.

4 BORNA CORIC STUMBLES ON FIRST HURDLE, NINO SERDARUSIC ALSO OUT BORNA RETURNS WITHOUT A WIN Borna Coric’s return to tournament is that I played more-or-le- competition, after a month away ss uninjured, without any due to injury, was unsuccessful: pain. And I wouldn’t say in his second round match at the I had any problems with Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag, pressure because of expe- he was defeated by Italian qualifier ctations to win. I’m always Santiago Caruso, ranked 125th in unburdened, I love playing the world, with 6:2; 3:6; 6:1. The at home.” last time Borna lost from such a Two years ago, Borna bac- low-ranked player was in 2017 in ked out of competition at the qualifications for Peking, when the last minute due to a he was beaten by Spaniard Gra- neck injury; this was his first nollers (127th). Nino Serdarusic match in Umag since 2015. also lost his second-round match He didn’t agree that it was to Argentinian Facundo Bagnis with a stroke of bad luck: 6:3; 6:3, meaning the remainder of “Not at all. Caruso was the tournament will go on without better. If I were in the any Croatian players. swing of competition inste- “I didn’t feel good on the court at ad of going from doctor to doctor, Argentinian Facundo Bagnis, who and now I hope to take more at the start, I was a bit slow. He’s a it would have been better, but I’m defeated Nino Serdarusic. ATP Challenger events. And next much better player than his ranking not looking for justification there. “It was solid tennis both on his year, I hope I’ll make it to Umag would imply, especially on clay,” I gave my best.” and my side. I started well, was directly,” said Serdarusic. said Borna, adding: “The upside Caruso’s next opponent will be at a break with 40-15 for 2:0, but Fourth-seeded Dusan Lajovic defea- then he bested me. It was a physi- ted 2017 Umag title holder Andrey cal match, and he was better at Rublev with 6:4; 6:3, which means that. But all in all, it was a good no more former winners will be week. I won 20 points, I made it competing in the remainder of the to the quarter-finals in doubles, tournament.

PRESENTATION OF THE DAVIS CUP TROPHY The Davis Cup trophy, which was This will be the second time this won last year by the Croatian magnificent trophy has come to national team, will be on display Umag, where it was on display at the Social Arena from Friday to during the 2006 tournament Sunday; the official presentation after Croatia first won the Davis will be on Friday at 3PM. Cup title.

FAMOUS CROATIAN PLAYER ARRIVES AT CROATIA OPEN IVAN LJUBICIC BACK IN UMAG One of the best Croatian tennis Magnus Norman. players of all time, Ivan Ljubicic, In addition to this, he was a three-ti- who was once ranked third in the me quarter-finalist; his final com- ATP singles rankings, came to Umag petition here was in 2011, when on Friday. He has lovely memories he was defeated by title-holder here – in 1996, he saw his first ATP Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero. tournament competition in Umag, Ivan Ljubicic (pictured here with where he won against Spaniard former Croatia Open director Slavko Tomás Carbonell in the first round. Rasberger) is one of just three Cro- He came to Stella Maris a total of atian tennis players to have been twelve times, his best result being among the top three racquets in the semi-finals in 1999, when he the ATP singles rankings, alongside was defeated by Swedish player Goran Ivanisevic and Marin Cilic.

5 UMAG PARTY NIGHTS OSCAR’S CORNER THE BRILLIANT RHYTHMS I DIDN’T EXPECT OF SALVATORE GANACCI THIS OUTCOME Umag’s Dance Arena was bumping once again, extra effort to make sure the audience had the this time with great rhythms provided by Salvatore best time possible. Ganacci. The Swedish DJ with roots from Bosnia The Dance Arena programme will continue on and Herzegovina performed a broad repertoire, Friday night, when Gianluca Vacchi will take the and the audience was more than happy to put stage at around midnight for his first performance their hands together both to follow the rhythm in Croatia. This summer, in addition to Umag, he and to applaud the 32-year-old, who performed will also be performing at Papaya Club. his numbers with the skill of a virtuoso. As has become customary in Umag, the atmosphere at the Dance Arena was great, the house was packed, and those who wanted to make it to the front row The long-awaited return of Borna Coric, didn’t have it easy. With currently ranked 14th in the world, marked such a great atmosphere, this Thursday at the ATP tournament in it seems that DJ and produ- Umag. Borna was greeted by a packed arena cer Salvatore Ganacci put in with a warm round of applause; his last match in Umag was in 2015. Second-seeded Borna Coric had strong support from the audience in his duel against Italian opponent Salvatore Caruso, but Caruso proved not to be an easy win. After an hour and 45 minutes of brave struggle, Borna didn’t manage to score a victory. I didn’t expect this kind of outcome, I was sure he would win, but everything is possible in sport, and the Italian was better this time. I’m sorry we’ve lost our second seed and the last and best Croatian player in the competition.

writes: Oscar Visintin

ITF WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CROATIA OPEN UMAG BY HEP TOP FAVOURITES IN A BATTLE FOR THE FINALS

ful players dominated Croatia’s best wheelchair tennis player Anto the competition, losing Joskic was only slightly less convincing (6:1; 6:1) only a few games, so against Italian Curioni, and his match on Friday their matches together against Sasson will be a serious test. Riegler on Friday at the courts will go up against Greek player Lazaridis, who of the Umag Tennis beat Croatian player Drazen Miksic (6:3; 6:0). The premiere edition of the ITF Wheelchair Academy should be very interesting. Semi-final singles matches will be played on Tennis Croatia Open Umag by HEP didn’t bring The top favourite, Israeli Guy Sasson, lost only Friday at the Academy, and the doubles final is many surprises in its first day of singles competi- one game against Croat Jozo Milos, and se- on schedule for Friday evening at the Grandstand tion; all four top seeds made it into the semi-fi- cond-seeded Austrian Joseph Riegler was just at Stella Maris, where the singles final will also nals. And not only that: the four most success- as good against Hungarian opponent Lelik. be held on Saturday.

6 KIDS WEEK: WHAT THEY’VE A PICTURE WITH GORAN SAID ABOUT US IVANISEVIC AS A SOUVENIR FROM UMAG

You cannot separate Umag from the tournament. The tournament’s program places focus on what Umag is, and what it offers to its citizens and guests. Umag is a destination full of content, just as the tournament is an event that offers its visitors only the best of sports, entertainment and gastronomy. We are proud of the unbreakable link that has bound us for almost 30 years.

After beating Rafter at a spectacular exhibition After a long warm-up, Ivanisevic shared his Milovan Popović, match on Wednesday, Goran Ivanisevic brought impressions from the match the night before Director of the Umag Tourist Board joy to the young participants of Kids’ Week with the host. “This was the culmination of all the next day. my exhibition matches. After Rafter, there’s no one it would be a greater honour to play a match against,” said Goran. Six lucky kids played doubles with the winner of the exhibition match, showing him their tennis skills. The session ended with a group photo, and Ivanisevic was rewarded with a thundering round of applause as he left the court. Later, the boys and girls had fun hitting tennis 285 targets, and the most successful received prizes from Babolat. This wound up the fourth day of Kids’ Week, the goal of which is to educate kids through daily fun activities. Prize money is constantly increasing Croatia Open is (not yet) among the tournaments giving more than a million of Euros in prize money, but it is getting closer to that margin. When it was held for the first time in 1990 it was 175.000 USD in the prize money. Amount of 500.000 Euros was Plava Laguna creates unforgettable the surpassed for the first time in 2016, family holidays in Istria, Croatia. and this year the prize money fund will POREČ · UMAG · RIJEKA be 586.140 Euros, following the tradition that it is constantly increasing year-by-year.