August 15, 2019 - Donna Vekić will face American tennis star Venus Williams in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters. 

After Marin Čilić, Ivo Karlović, Borna Ćorić, and Petra Martić all failed to make it out of the first round of the Cincinnati Masters, Croatia can still count on 23-year-old Osijek native Donna Vekić.

For the second time in two weeks, Donna Vekić (WTA - 26th) defeated former best tennis player in the world, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (WTA - 40th), with a score of 6-2, 7-5 in the 2nd round of the Cincinnati tournament. Thus, the Osijek player has advanced to the last 16 of the competition, where she will meet tennis legend and big sister to Serena - 39-year-old Venus Williams (WTA - 65th), reports Net.hr.

Vekić needed only 83 minutes for her second win over Azarenka, during which she was the one who dominated and dictated the events on the court. 

In the first set, Vekić led 4-0, and after a long game and saved break point, her advantage increased to 5-1. Two games later, Vekić concluded the first set in her favor. 

In the second set, Vekić reached a new break in the third game and held the lead up to 4-2. The Belarusian then played a little better for the first time in the match, winning three games for 5-4, but Vekić came back with her first match point and fifth ace to secure her spot in the round of 16. 

Placing in the round of 16 will bring Vekić progress on the WTA ranking, and in the event she defeats Venus Williams and reaches the quarterfinal, the Osijek player would again jump over Petra Martić and become the best-ranked Croatian female tennis player on Monday.

Vekić had played against Venus Williams once, three years ago at Wimbledon, when the seven-time Grand Slam winner won in two sets (7-6, 6-4).

Vekić and Williams will meet on Thursday at 7 pm Croatia time. 

Mate Pavić and doubles partner Burno Soares will also play in the round of 16 on Thursday against Daniil Medvedev and Marcelo Demoliner. 

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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.

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

On Wednesday, the All England Lawn Tennis Club committee revealed the 32 singles seeds and 16 doubles seeds for Wimbledon, which begins on Monday, July 1. 

Croatian tennis player Marin Čilić is the 13th seed in this year's edition of Wimbledon, while the current best Croatian tennis player, Borna Ćorić, is 14th. The first seed of the tournament is also the best tennis player in the world, Novak Đoković, who will try to defend the title this year, reports Gol.hr on June 26, 2019.

Roger Federer is the second seed of this year's Grand Slam tournament, while the second-best tennis player in the world, Rafael Nadal, is confirmed as the third seed.

South African Kevin Anderson, who played in the final with Djokovic last year, is the fourth seed, even though he fell to the eighth place on the ATP ranking this week.

In the women's competition, the top seed is Australia's Ashleigh Barty, who is also the current best female tennis player in the world. From the Croatian female tennis players, Donna Vekić is the 22nd seed, and Petra Martić the 24th.

For the doubles seeds, Mate Pavić holds the top seed for Croatia in 4th with partner Bruno Soares, while Nikola Mektić and Franko Škugor are the 6th seed. 

As the third seed, two-time Wimbledon winner Rafa Nadal will have to pass both the Federer and Djokovic if he wants to win his first title at the All England Club since 2010.

The Spaniard has criticized the Wimbledon seeding system this week, saying it is "not good" to be the only one of four Grand Slam tournaments that do not follow the ATP rankings when determining the seeds.

Wimbledon, according to the form of the tennis player in the last 24 months, determines 32 players in the draw for the top tennis players in the tournament. 

And while the seeds are determined according to the place on the WTA rankings, Wimbledon retained the right to change it in the men’s competition to create a "balanced draw".

Thus, Čilić, who played the final of Wimbledon in 2017, is 13th, even though he fell to the 18th place on the ATP ranking this week, and Croatia’s best tennis player, Borna Ćorić, is the 14th.

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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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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.

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

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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