Marking the 18th anniversary of the Wimbledon final on July 9, 2001, Goran Ivanišević and the legendary Australian tennis player Pat Rafter met once more in an exhibition rematch at the central stadium of the Stella Maris resort in the Croatia Umag Open.

And 18 years after his greatest career success, Ivanišević managed yet another victory against Rafter. While the result of this match wasn’t of so much importance, Ivanišević won 6:4, 6:4, reports HRT on July 18, 2019.

The two tennis legends met in front of thousands of spectators at the Goran Ivanišević stadium on Wednesday - and while the Croatian tennis star and 2001 Wimbledon winner reigned supreme, the 46-year-old Australian reminded the audience just why he was once one of the world’s best. 

Recall, Rafter has spent several years off of the tennis courts, and instead dedicates his time to running a farm in Australia. Goran Ivanišević, on the other hand, has played many exhibitions matches and practices with today's top players such as Marin Čilić, Tomas Berdych, and Milos Raonić - and even helped lead Novak Djokovic to another Wimbledon title just last weekend. 

After the duel, Ivanišević announced that this was his last match in Umag, where he has played over the years with tennis greats such as American Andre Agassi and Spaniard Juana Carlos Ferrer. And we can't forget the 30th anniversary of the Umag tournament,  where he played a rematch of the 1990 final against Goran Prpić.

"I thank him for coming. We have been trying to do this for a long time and after five, six years he finally made it. I thanked him on behalf ofall Croatians who cheered in 2001. For me, this is the cherry on top of the cake. I am retiring from the exhibition matches in Umag - after Rafter that is that,” Ivanišević said.

“This was a match between two old players on clay, and maybe I should have done it before. We played a lot of good tennis. When I hit 15 serves in the net, I no longer hurt, but I am laughing now. I’m glad I came, this is a wonderful place,” Rafter said.

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The celebrated Goran Ivanišević has joined the team of the world’s best tennis player, Novak Djoković.

Just before the start of Wimbledon, Goran Ivanišević has joined the team of Novak Djokovic, the current best tennis player in the world, reports HRT on June 30, 2019.

After training Marin Čilić, Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonić, the celebrated Croatian tennis player will also work with a Serbian tennis player who has won 15 Grand Slam tournaments, which is just five behind record-holder Roger Federer.

According to the latest information, Ivanišević will remain with Djoković for the first week of Wimbledon and then returns to Umag where he is the director and ambassador of the ATP tournament in that Croatian town.

Novak Djokovic has added yet another new member to his staff, as Goran Ivanisevic will help coach the 15-time Grand Slam winner over the next two weeks at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/DxVlsZon6O

— Tennis Photos (@tennis_photos) June 30, 2019

"It was strange, a bit of an unexpected call, and it surprised me, as I was just traveling to Sweden. I finished that yesterday and came to my first training session today. I will only be able to be here for one week, because I have obligations I am trying to postpone,” Ivanišević said.

“However, when Novak Djokovic calls you, that's a big deal. It is great recognition for me as a trainer, because he does not just choose anyone he likes or doesn’t like. If you can help him, he’ll choose you. I am glad that Vajda agrees with that. I hope it will last,” he added.

A collaboration of these two tennis aces has been speculated for a long time. Recently, there were joint photos that suggested something might happen.

Otherwise, two years ago, Djoković's team featured the former well-known Croatian tennis player Mario Ančić, also during the Wimbledon tournament. 

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Croatian tennis player Borna Ćorić will be the biggest star of this year's ATP tournament in Umag.

Eighteen years after the 2001 Wimbledon final where one of the greatest Croatian athletes reach his most significant career triumph, Goran Ivanišević and Patrick Rafter will play against each other once again in Umag's Stella Maris for the 30th edition of the ATP Plava Laguna Croatia Open, reports Gol.hr on February 25, 2019. 

It was Monday, July 9, 2001, when Goran Ivanišević and Patrick Rafter met in one of the most emotional and exciting Wimbledon finals. It was a time before the moving roof was constructed at the All England Club central stadium, when the rain made the Ivanašević and Tim Henman semi-final a three-day spectacle, and the Sunday finals shifted to Monday.

Fans waited for hours to get a chance to see the two big players on the court. The final lasted three hours and two minutes, which is precisely when Rafter hit the net on Ivanišević's second service. Goran incredulously collapsed onto the holy Wimbledon grass. In his fourth Wimbledon final, Goran managed to win the decisive, fifth set with 9-7 and thus win his only and much-desired Grand Slam title.

The legendary Australian tennis player suffered his second consecutive defeat in the Wimbledon final, after losing in four sets to American player Pete Sampras the year before. Although he never won Wimbledon, he did achieve two Grand Slam titles at the US Open.

In 2016, 15 years after the triumph over Rafter, the ATP stadium in Umag was named after Goran Ivanišević. Patrick Rafter was also honoured similarly in 2008, when a tennis center in Brisbane was named the Pat Rafter Arena. In July this year, these two tennis legends will have the chance to meet again, at the Goran Ivanišević Stadium, which has welcomed the biggest names in international tennis over the past three decades.

The tournament will be held from July 12 to 21, 2019. The traditional exhibition match between Ivanišević and Rafter will be held on Wednesday, July 17.

Goran Ivanišević will share his impressions about the 2001 Wimbledon rematch and memories of July 9, 2001, and other events that will make the 30th edition of the Umag ATP tournament, with media representatives in Zagreb.

To read more about sport in Croatia follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Just what is it that makes Croats so, so good?

July 9, 2001: Goran Ivanišević wins Wimbledon. July 10, 2001: Over 100,000 fans welcome him in Split. 

Croatian tennis legend Goran Ivanišević gives his thoughts on the Croatia and England semi-final tomorrow in Moscow. 

July 9, 2018 - As Croatia prepares to take on England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, some inspiration from a great sporting hero who triumphed in London on this day in 2001. 

ZAGREB, May 14, 2018 - The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag plans to once again prepare an unforgettable experience with an exhibition match between tennis legends Goran Ivanišević and Mansour Bahrami who will test their skills on July 14, the tournament's organising committee announced.

Did you know that Croatia’s best ever tennis player is from Split?