August 18, 2019 - Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek advance to their second ATP final together, this time at the Cincinnati Masters!

HTS reports that Croatian Davis Cup representative Ivan Dodig and Slovakian tennis player Filip Polasek have made it to the final of the Masters 1000 Series tournament in Cincinnati, where they defeated British pair Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski 6-1, 6-4 in Saturday's semi-final. 

Dodig and Polasek secured the first set after they broke their opponent in the fourth and sixth games, though in the second set they had a much harder job. 

Namely, Dodig and Polasek led 3:1, Murray and Skupski returned to bring the score to 4:3, though Dodig and Polasek ultimately secured the final after winning three games in a row. In total, Dodig and Polasek used four of the 13 break points, while Murray and Skupski used only one of three.

In the fight for their first ATP title in their second ATP final together (recall, the first was in Antalya, though they were also semifinalists in Wimbledon), they will play against the first-seed of the tournament, Colombian duo Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who beat Mate Pavić and Bruno Soares in the other semifinal round - 6:3, 6:2. Pavić and Soares did not have a single break point in the match, while there was not a single tiebreak in the match. 

Dodig and Polasek will meet Cabal and Farah in the Cincinnati final on Sunday at 6:15 pm Croatia time. 

The Cincinnati Masters was far from successful for Croatia's singles tennis players. Marin Čilić, Borna Ćorić, Ivo Karlovicć, and Petra Martić all lost in the first round, while Donna Vekić lost in the round of 16 fight to American star Venus Williams. 

Borna Ćorić has already announced he will not participate in the next competition, the 250 series tournament in Winston-Salem.

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August 17, 2019 - Croatian tennis players Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavić have advanced to the doubles semi-final of the Cincinnati Masters. 

HTS reports that Ivan Dodig and Filip Polašek have reached a new success at the Masters 1000 Series tournament in Cincinnati. The Croatian-Slovak duo advanced to the semi-final after defeating Polish player Lukasz Kubot and Brazilian player Marcelo Melo - 3:6, 6:4, 10:5. 

Kubot and Melo took the first set, which was followed by a turnaround. Dodig and Polašek broke their opponent in the first game of the second set to equalize, and the key to their success was the perfect start to a decisive tie-break where they reached 7:0. Kubot and Melo managed to reduce the score to 7:4, but they couldn't do any better. 

With this result, Ivan is back in the company of the top 30 in the ATP doubles ranking and currently holds the 28th position. For a place in the final, they will play against Britons Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski.

Mate Pavić joins Ivan Dodig in the semi-final round of the Cincinnati Masters after he and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares (the 6th-seed of the tournament) topped 3rd-seed South African Raven Klaasen and New Zealander Michael Venus 6:1, 6:3.

It was all over in just 53 minutes of play, with Klaasen and Venus taking the lead in the first set 1:0, then losing nine games in a row, virtually deciding the winner. Pavić and Soares did not face a single break point, won 8 service games, and managed four double faults. In the semi-final, they face off against Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.

Dodig and Polašek will play in the sem-final on Saturday at 8 pm Croatian time, while Pavić and Soares will play at 10 pm.

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July 14, 2019 - Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig and his Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon just a month and a half after they celebrated at Roland Garros.

The experienced 34-year-old who has specialized in playing doubles for the last few seasons made it to the men’s doubles semi-final with Slovakian partner Filip Polášek, though with Chan, he has gone all the way.

Dodig and Chan faced Swede Robert Lindstedt and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in the final on Sunday which they won in two sets, 6:2, 6:3, and managed to overcome their opponents in an hour and nine minutes of play. 

Dodig and Chan came out fierce and ready to win - and in less than 20 minutes, they led 5:0 in the first set. Although the Swedish-Latvian duo won two games in a row, it was impossible to get back into the game, as Dodig and Chan once again took Ostapenko's serve at 6:2.

Lindstedt and Ostapenko held their own in the second set, all until Dodig and Chan led 4:3 and at 15:40 used their first chance to break their opponent. Dodig and Chan had no problem serving for the match - and the rest was history. 

Ivan Dodig and Latisha Chan beat Robert Lindstedt and Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-3 in the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/VBVCYt4Gw2

— ? Tennis on telly ??? (@tennisontelly) July 14, 2019

This is Dodig’s fourth Grand Slam title in his career. Recall, he has three titles in mixed doubles (and all three with Chan) and one in the men’s doubles competition. This is, however, his first Wimbledon win, as he has only celebrated at Roland Garros (French Open) so far.

More soon...

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July 13, 2019 - Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig and Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan are in the mixed doubles final of Wimbledon! The two-time Roland Garros winners achieved another Grand Slam final after defeating Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and his Czech partner Kveta Peschke 7:5, 6:4 on Friday, reports the Croatian Tennis Federation.

The critical moment of the first set was in the eleventh game where Dodig and Chan realized their second break point to lead 6:5, then won the game by 7:5 and secured the first set. 

The second set saw several rallies, though it was Dodig and Chan to break their opponent first, which came in the third game. However, in the next game, the Dutch and Czech duo managed to equalize at 2:2. In the seventh game, Dodig and Chan broke their opponent again, and this time defended their advantage until the end.After 42 minutes of play,  they won the second set with a score of 6: 4 and thus a spot in the Wimbledon final! 

The Grand slam winners will play in the final against Swede Robert Lindstedt and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko who defeated Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop and Chinese partner Zhaoxuan Yang with a score of 7:5, 6:2 in the semi-final. Recall, Lindstedt and Ostapenko beat Franko Škugor and Romanian partner Raluca Olaru 6:7 (6), 6:3, 7:5 in the quarter-final.

Thus, Ivan Dodig will play in his seventh final at Grand Slam tournaments. So far, he has three titles, and all three at the tennis courts of Roland Garros (men’s doubles in 2015, mixed doubles in 2018 and 2019). This is his second final at Wimbledon after he lost in 2013 with Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo against Rajeev Ram and Raven Klaasen. 

The Wimbledon final will be played on Sunday at 5 pm Croatian time.

Recall, Ivan Dodig is Croatia's last remaining representative at Wimbledon this year. 

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July 12, 2019 - Ivan Dodig is the last remaining Croatian representative at the Wimbledon tournament this year, announced the Croatian Tennis Federation.

After losing in the semi-final of men’s doubles, Ivan Dodig and Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan were able to secure a spot in the semi-final of the mixed doubles tournament after overcoming British duo Evan Hoyt and Eden Silva 7:5, 7:6 (5). 

In both sets, Dodig and Chan were a break behind (in the first set they lost 4:1, in the second 5:2), yet they found a way to win in two sets. The two-time Roland Garros winners will play against the 5th seed, Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and his Czech partner Květa Peschke on Friday, though the time is yet to be announced. 

Unfortunately, Franko Škugor and Raluca Olaru were stopped in the quarter-final of the mixed doubles tournament. After a big fight in three sets (6:7(6), 6:3, 7:5) it was Swedish player Robert Lindstedt and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko to secure their spot in the semis. In the third set, Olaru lost her serve on two occasions (the last time at 5: 5), which in the end proved to be crucial for the defeat of the Croatian-Romanian duo. 

Recall, Ivan Dodig failed to advance to his second Wimbledon final in men's doubles since 2013, after he and partner Filip Polášek lost to French duo Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6:2, 7:6(7), 7:6(2).

The Croatian-Slovakian duo poorly opened the match and after 4:0, their opponents had no problem winning the first set. For the rest of the match, the game was far more equal, and Dodig and Polašek missed their chance in the tie-break of the second set when at 6:5 they had a set point on their serve. In tie-break of the third set they led 2:0, then lost seven consecutive points. They did not use any of the five break points in the duel.

Mate Pavić and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski (3rd seed) lost in the third round of mixed doubles after a marathon three hours and 18 minutes of play against New Zealander Artem Sitak and German Laura Siegemund - 5:7, 7:6(5), 13:12(5). Leading 10:9, Pavić and Dabrowski missed a match point and lost a tie-break at 12:12, and continued to lose three consecutive points.

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Ivan Dodig will play in the men's doubles semi-final for the second time in his career after he played in the 2013 final with Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo. 

The Croatian Tennis Federation reports that Ivan Dodig and partner Filip Polašek are in the men's doubles semi-final of Wimbledon! The Croatian-Slovakian duo once again showed their strength and overcame the New Zealand-Dutch duo Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof in the quarter-final in three sets - 6:2, 7:6 (1), 6:3. 

Dodig and Polašek allowed only one break point (in the 10th game of the second set) when Daniell and Koolhof equalized at 5:5 to lose that set in a tie break. In the decisive set, they broke their opponents in the 6th game and calmly concluded the match. 

This is Dodig’s second time advancing to the Wimbledon semi-final in the men's doubles competition. Recall, in 2013, he played in the final (when his partner was Brazilian Marcelo Melo). For a new chance at the Wimbledon final, Dodig and Polašek will play against Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. 

Croatian representatives continue to succeed in the mixed doubles competition as well. Franko Škugor and Romanian partner Raluca Olaru will play in the quarterfinal of the tournament after defeating the sixth seed Nikola Mektić and Alicja Rosolska with a score of 6:2, 6:2. Škugor and Olaru will play against the winner of Peers/Zhang and Lindstedt/Ostapenko.

Mate Pavić and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski (3rd seed) continued their second-round mixed doubles game on Tuesday after it was suspended on Monday due to darkness. Pavić and Dabrowski managed to beat Jamie Murray and American Bethanie Mattek Sands - 6:4, 3:6, 6:3. Their opponents in the round of 16 will be New Zealander Artem Sitak and German Laura Siegemund.

Dodig will also play in the mixed doubles round of 16 with partner Latisha Chan against Roger-Vasselin and Andreja Klepač.

Recall, Croatia no longer has any representatives in the singles competition after Petra Martić, Marin Čilić, Donna Vekić and Ivo Karlović were eliminated.

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July 9, 2019 - Ivan Dodig has made it to the men's doubles quarter-final of Wimbledon, while he also joins Nikola Mektić and Marko Škugor in the mixed doubles round of 16. Mate Pavić and partner Gabriela Dabrowski will finish their second-round mixed doubles game on Tuesday after it was suspended on Monday, announces the Croatian Tennis Federation.

Ivan Dodig and his Slovakian partner Filip Polašek have made it to the men’s doubles quarter-final of Wimbledon! 

In the third round, they overcame the 6th seed of the tournament and Croatian duo Nikola Mektić and Franko Škugor - 7:6 (5), 6:4, 7:6 (3). Their opponents for a spot in the semi-final will be New Zealander Marcus Daniell and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof.

However, not all hope is lost for Mektić and Škugor at this year’s Wimbledon. 

On Monday, Croatian tennis players recorded three wins in the mixed doubles portion of the tournament. Nikola Mektić and Polish partner Alicja Rosolska  (6th seed) defeated Indonesian Christopher Rungkata and Japanese player Shuko Aoyama (7:5, 6:4). In the round of 16,  they will play against Franko Škugor and Romanian Raluca Olaru (12th seed) who overcame. American duoFrances Tiafoe and Venus Williams 6:3, 6:1 on Monday. 

Also successful were the Roland Garros winners Ivan Dodig and his Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan (8th seed) who in the 3rd round defeated Taipei Cheng-Peng Hsieh and Su-Wei Hsieh 6:3, 6:2. The next rivals will be Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Slovenian Andreja Klepač. 

Mate Pavić and mixed doubles partner Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski will end their second-round game on Tuesday against Briton Jamie Murray and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands as it was interrupted due to the darkness at 6:4, 3:6, 4:3.

Recall, Croatia no longer has any representatives in the singles competition of Wimbledon after Petra Martić lost on Monday in the round of 16 to the number 8 tennis player in the world, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina – 6:4, 6:2.

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Wimbledon begins on Monday, July 1 and the draw for the singles and doubles competition was held on Friday. Who will our Croatian tennis stars face?

The current best Croatian tennis player Borna Ćorić, who is the 14th seed in the tournament, will play against the best Slovenian tennis player Aljaza Bedene in the first round of the third Grand Slam tournament, the draw decided on Friday.

This will be the fifth encounter of Ćorić, the 14th best tennis player in the world, and Bedene, who is 86th in the ATP ranking. In the past four matches, Ćorić achieved three wins.

If he passes to the second round, Ćorić will play the winner of German Jan-Lenard Struff and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. Against Struff, the 34th best player in the world, Ćorić has won twice in five meetings. Against Baghdatis, who is currently 138th ATP rankings, Ćorić celebrated in their only encounter. 

Marin Čilić, the 13th seed of Wimbledon, will play in the second round against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who he's played twice and defeated once. If Ćorić wins, he awaits the winner of Portuguese player Joao Sousa and British player Paul Jubb.

Ivo Karlović’s opponent in the first round is Italian Andrea Arnaboldi, the 209th tennis player in the world, who he has not met thus far. If the 40-year-old advances to the second round, he awaits the winner of Greek player Stefan Tsitsipas, the 7th seed of the tournament, and Italian Thomas Fabian.

In the women's competition, Croatia's best female player Donna Vekić will face American Alison Riske, 54th on the WTA ranking. If she advances to the second round, Vekić awaits the winner of Serbian player Ivana Jorović and Dutch player Lesley Kerkhove.

In the first round, the 24th seeded Petra Martić will face American Jennifer Brady, the 64th best tennis player in the world, for the first time. If she advances to the second round, Martić will play the winner of Russian Anastasia Potapova and Swiss player Jil Teichman.

In the first round of the doubles competition, Mate Pavić and Bruno Soares will meet Dutch duo Arends and Middelkoop, Ivan Dodig and partner Polasek will meet British duo Murray and Skupski, and Croatian duo Nikola Mektić and Franko Škugor will meet Lithuanian Berankis and Hungarian Fucsovics.

Wimbledon begins on Monday, July 1, and will play until July 14.

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June 7, 2019 - Ivan Dodig and Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan have defended their mixed doubles title at Roland Garros!

Mate Pavić and Ivan Dodig met in the mixed doubles final at Roland Garros on Friday with their partners Gabriela Dabrowski and Latisha Chan.

Recall, the second-seeded Dabrowski and Pavić secured their place in the final after defeating Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenok and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 6:7 (4), 6:1, 10:8 on Thursday, while Dodig and Chan defeated American Nicole Melichar and Brazilian Bruno Soares, the first seed of the tournament, in the other semi-final 6:2, 6:1.

Ivan Dodig and Latisha Chan made their first major step towards defending the Roland Garros title by winning the first set with a very convincing 6:1. It took Dodig and Chan only 23 minutes to take the set from Pavić and Dabrowski.

However, Pavić and Dabrowski were not going to let them get ahead so easy, and in the second set, they led 4:1. Dodig and Chan came back to win three consecutive games in the second set, equalizing at 4:4 ​​and serving against Pavić and Dabrowski - and then equaled at 5:5! The second set then entered a tie-break.

In the end, it was Dodig and Chan to prevail yet again! The Croatian-Taiwanese duo defeated Pavić and Dabrowski 6:1, 7:6 in just 79 minutes. 

This is the second year in a row that Croatia has a winner in the Grand Slam tournament in Paris. Recall, in 2018, Dodig and Chan celebrated against Pavić and Dabrowski 6:1, 6:7, 10:8.

Both Dodig and Pavić already have Grand Slam titles with their current partners. Namely, Dodig and Chan celebrated at Roland Garros last year, while Pavić and Dabrowski won the Australian Open last year. Pavić and German partner Friedsam won the 2016 title at US Open, too. 

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June 6, 2019 - For the second year in a row, Croatia will have a winner in mixed doubles at Roland Garros! Just as last year, Ivan Dodig will play in the final with Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan, while Mate Pavić in will be on the other side of the net with Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski, reports the Croatian Tennis Federation.

Dodig and Chan are one step closer to defending their Roland Garros title after defeating American Nicole Melichar and Brazilian Bruno Soares, the first seed of the tournament, in the semi-final 6:2, 6:1. The semi-final match lasted only 48 minutes. Dodig and Chan only faced two breaks in the match, both of which they were able to save. In the first set, Dodig and Chan took the serve of their opponents twice, and in the second set three times for the new Grand Slam finale.

In the other semi-final, the second-seeded Dabrowski and Pavić secured their place in the final after defeating Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenok and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 6:7 (4), 6:1, 10:8. The Croatian-Canadian duo was able to claim the victory in 92 minutes. This was the second time in two matches that Pavić and Dabrowski came back after losing the first set. Recall, they also prevailed against Zhang Shuai and John Peers in the quarters. 

In the 2018 Roland Garros final, Dodig and Chan celebrated against Pavić and Dabrowski 6:1, 6:7, 10:8.

Both Dodig and Pavić already have Grand Slam titles with their current partners. Namely, Dodig and Chan celebrated at Roland Garros last year, while Pavić and Dabrowski won the Australian Open last year. Pavić and German partner Friedsam won the 2016 title at US Open, too. 

Whether Dodig or Pavić prevails, Croatian tennis has a new Grand Slam winner! 

More soon...

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