June 4, 2019 - Petra Martić was eliminated by Markéta Vondroušová in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros on Thursday (7:6, 7:5), while Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavić will play in the mixed doubles semifinals,  reports the Croatian Tennis Federation. 

Petra Martić failed to reach the semifinals of Roland Garros on Thursday after losing to 19-year-old Czech player Markéta Vondroušová 7:6, 7:5.

Petra served to win the first set at 5:4, and in the 6:5 lead had three connected set points, which she was unable to realize. This mentally pushed Petra, who fell against an excellent opponent; an opponent who Petra has defeated on all four previous occasions. Recall, Petra Martić won her first WTA Tour title after she defeated Markéta Vondroušová in the final, 1:6, 6:4, 6:1 just last month. 

In the quarterfinal match, Petra had only one ace and achieved a very small percentage of only 35 percent of the points scored after her second service. This was the fifth encounter between Martić and Vondroušová and the first win of the Czech player, who will face Briton Johanna Konta in the semis. 

In other news, Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavić will play in the semifinals of the mixed doubles competition at this year's Roland Garros! Dodig and his Taiwanese partner Latisha Chan made it through the quarterfinal duel without any major problems. Dodig and Chan defeated French duo Amandine Hesse and Benjamin Bonzi - 6:4, 6:3. For a spot in the final, they will play against the first-seeded American Nicole Melichar and Brazilian Bruno Soares.

Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and Croatia’s Mate Pavić (second-seed) entered the semifinals after defeating China’s Zhang Shuai and Australian John Peers - 1:6, 7:5, 10:8. Zhang and Peers served for the win at 5:4 in the second set, but Dabrowski and Pavić somehow found a way to success. In the semis, they will play against Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenok and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.

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June 1, 2019 - After Friday’s thrilling performances by Petra Martić and Donna Vekić, which launched them into the round of 16 of Roland Garros, Borna Ćorić lost in the round of 32 on Saturday against German player Jan-Lennard Struff 6:4, 1:6, 6:4, 6:7(1), 6:4, 9:11, reports HTS.

It was a match that started well for Borna, who won the first set of the game with a score of 6:4. In the second set, Struff returned with 6:1 and although Ćorić won the third with 6:4, he lost the fourth in the tie-break.

In the fifth set, Ćorić had the break at 2:2, but Struff immediately replied. At 4:4, Ćorić had the chance to turn the game around, though he did not realize his chance. At 6:6, Borna had three chances to break, used the third and served to win, but the brave German returned - and at 8:7 he had 0 to 30 on Borna’s service. He did not use it then but did at 10:9, when his first match point turned into a win after four and a half hours of play.

It was the fifth encounter between the two players and the third win for Struff. 

Mate Pavić and his Austrian doubles partner Oliver Marach will also play in the round of 16 of Roland Garros after defeating French duo Elliot Benchetrit and Geoffrey Blancaneaux - 6:4, 7:5.

Ivan Dodig and his American partner Latisha Chan will play in the mixed doubles round of 16 after defeating American Abigail Spears and Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal - 7:6 (5), 6:2.

More soon...

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May 26, 2019 - It was an excellent weekend for Croatian tennis, which saw Croatian tennis players celebrate at tournaments around Europe. Namely, Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig and French tennis partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin won the doubles title at the ATP 250 series tournament in Lyon, where as the second-seed, they defeated the third-seeded British brothers Ken and Neal Skupski 6-4, 6-3 in the Saturday final after 70 minutes of play, reports 24 Sata. 

This is Dodig and Roger-Vasselin’s second title won as a duo at ATP tournaments. The first time the pair celebrated together was at the tournament in Montpellier.

For Dodig, this is his 13th title in doubles competitions, while he’s been defeated in the final 14 times. This is Roger-Vasselin’s 18th title in his 29th final and the tenth on his home court. 

Mate Pavić rounded off a successful day of Croatian tennis after Ivan Dodig in Lyon. Namely, the Split native and his doubles partner Austrian Oliver Marach justified their status as the first-seeded team of the tournament and celebrated at the ATP 250 Series tournament in Geneva.

Pavić and Marach defeated Australian Matthews Ebden and Swede Robert Lindstedt in two sets - 6:4, 6:4. During the match, they came to three breaks, and they lost their first strike only once in the final at the very beginning of the match (the second game) - after that, they did not face a break until the end of the match. This is Pavić’s 14th ATP title in his doubles career couples (and the sixth won with Marach), and the first in 2019.

Pavić and Marach also made history in Geneva, becoming the first team to win back-to-back Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open doubles titles on Saturday. 

"We love to come back here in Geneva. Two years in a row, winning, feels great and I hope we can come back next year,” said Pavić. Pavić and Marach gain 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points and split €29,650 in prize money.

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Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig and his French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin have made it to the semis of the Masters 1000 series tournament in Miami, the Miami Open, after defeating Argentinians Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the quarterfinals, reports Gol.hr on March 27, 2019.

The critical moment of the first set was the sixth game in which Dodig and Roger-Vasselin had a break and led 4-2. They held their advantage for 37 minutes and won the first set 6-3.

In the second set, both pairs held their services to 4-4 when the Croatian-French duo had a break. In the next game, they had two match points but did not use them, and the Argentinian duo leveled at 5-5. The set was taken to the thirteen game when the Argentinians led 4-2 and then 5-3. Dodig and Roger-Vasselin came back with three points in a row and reached 6-5. Gonzalez and Zeballos equalized at 6-6, and Dodig and Roger-Vasselin received the next two points to win.

In the semi-finals, Dodig and Roger-Vasselin will play against Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Unlike Dodig, Mate Pavić remained without a place in the semifinals. The best men's tennis duo of last year, Pavić and Austrian Oliver Marach, were defeated in the quarterfinals by Polish player Lukasz Kubot and Brazilian Marcelo Melo 6-7 (5), 5-7.

Pavić and Marach were excellent to start the match, and already in the first game took the service of their opponents and led 2-0. However, Kubot and Melo returned in the fourth game, equalizing to 2-2. By the end of the set, both pairs kept their serves, leaving it to the decisive thirteenth game.

The Croatian-Austrian pair misplayed their tie-break. Their rivals led 3-1 and 6-2. Pavić and Marach then saved three set points, but not the fourth.

At the opening of the second set, we saw breaks, but this time by Kubot and Melo. Pavić and Marach managed to equalize 2-2. Unfortunately, Kubot and Melo broke at 5-5 and efficiently served for the match.

Borna Ćorić also failed to win a spot in the semifinals after losing to the 18-year-old Canadian player Felix Auger Aliassime 7-6 (3), 6-2. 

Ćorić did well only in the first set, and at one point had a break point to lead 6-5. He did not use it, and in the tie-break, which proved to be key, he lost two points at his service and was left without the set. 

Auger Aliassime opened the second set with two breaks, and the story was over. The young Canadian player has thus reached the semifinals from qualifying and awaits John Isner today.

Darija Jurak and partner Raluca Olaru fell to Ashleigh Barty and Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the women's doubles quarters. 

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Croatian tennis player Borna Ćorić advanced to the third round of a strong Masters 1000 series tournament in Miami, the Miami Open. Ćorić celebrated against Jérémy Chardy (ATP-40)  6:7 (2), 6:2, 6:3 after two hours and 38 minutes of play, report Gol.hr on March 25, 2019. 

After losing the first set in the tiebreak after more than an hour of play, Ćorić took control of the game in the second set, which he won easily with 6:2. Although Chardy served five aces, and Ćorić only one, the Croatian took the Frenchman’s service twice and did not lose his own once. 

In the third set, the situation was similar, but Ćorić was better at serving and managed five aces. In addition, Ćorić retook the service of his rival and didn’t lose his once in the set.

In the match, Ćorić served 12 aces, as did Chardy, though he was better at both the first and the second serve (76 percent and 57 percent to 69 and 48 percent). The French tennis player lost his serve to Ćorić four times while Ćorić lost his only once.

This was the fifth game between Ćorić and Chardy and the third win of the Croatian tennis player who will meet Australian Nick Kyrgios, 33rd on the ATP ranking, in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Ćorić has played against Kyrgios three times and has celebrated only once.

Last year's best men’s doubles team, Croatian Mate Pavić and Austrian Oliver Marach, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Miami Open with a convincing 6:1, 6:1 win against Moldovan Radu Albot and Georgian Nikoloz Basilasvili. The next rivals for Pavić and Marach will be Polish player Lukasz Kubot and Brazilian Marcelo Melo.

Earlier on Monday, Ivan Dodig and doubles partner Eduard Roger-Vasselin defeated Dutchman Matweed Middelkoop and Argentine Diego Schwartzman at 6:4, 6:3 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Dodig and Roger-Vasselin will play against the Argentine Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos.

Darija Jurak will also play in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open in the women’s doubles with partner Raluca Olaru. The two will play on Wednesday against Ashleigh Barty and Victoria Azarenka. 

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This is the second team title for Dodig and Pavić after winning in Hamburg last year.

The already popular Croatian Davis Cup duo has reached new heights. 

Croatia’s best singles tennis player finished his stint at Roland Garros in the quarters, while Ivan Dodig defeated Mate Pavić in the mixed doubles final! 

Croatia will have a winner in the second Grand Slam tournament of the season.

The 33-year-old tennis player has reached the 10th doubles title of his career!