Novak Djokovic: Zadar Will Be Sports Center of World During Adria Tour
Jun 16, 2020 - At the end of this week, Zadar will be the sports center of the world, assures Novak Djokovic ahead of the Adria Tour tennis spectacle at SC Visnjik.
Jutarnji List reports that after Belgrade, Djokovic's Adria Tour will be held in Zadar from June 19 to 21, as part of which tennis stars such as Dominik Thiem, Aleksandar Zverev, and Grigor Dimitrov will come to Croatia. They will be joined by Croatian aces Marin Cilic and Borna Coric and many other tennis players and friends united by a humanitarian goal.
Since the coronavirus epidemic has calmed in the Balkans, today's best tennis player is spending his time on tennis courts, but also in meetings, because as the organizer of a tennis tournament, which is held in several countries, his hands are full.
"When the epidemic started, I was in daily contact with the players as well as with friends from the tennis federation. As time went on, the idea of organizing tournaments throughout the region began to crystallize, to allow tennis to live on after all. We followed the situation and realized that it was possible. And so it all began. With a lot of work, a lot of organization, and details, we set off.
At the end of the week, we started with the tournament in Belgrade and this week, we are in Zadar, later in Banja Luka and Sarajevo. As I am telling you this, I’m waiting to go out on the court and I’m so excited and happy that I can’t even describe it to you. It is unreal for me that at this time of year, in my city, in the whole region, I have the opportunity to play tennis with tennis players from the very top of the world, with my friends. This is a unique experience," said Djokovic in an exclusive interview for Jutarnji List just a few days before the spectacle in Zadar, in the newly opened regional center of the Croatian Tennis Federation.
"The tennis players who will be performing are all my friends, guys I get along great with, on and off the court. They were the only ones who could come, because it is not easy to get to Serbia or Zadar at this moment. In addition, both Dominik, Alexander and Georgi accepted the fact that this is a charity tournament, and this probably further prompted them to participate. Borna, Marin, Damir Džumhur - I agreed with them the fastest, because we have already been in our homes and cities, and of course, we understand this opportunity differently so that the whole world looks at our region across those days. That is a significant thing," Djokovic explains. Namely, as many as 110 countries will broadcast the Adria Tour tournament.
Nole, as his relatives and fans in his native Serbia call him, is of Montenegrin origin on his father Srdjana's side, and his mother, Dijana, is a Croat from Vinkovci. However, the tennis star had never been to Zadar, although he often spends his summers on the Adriatic.
"I really like the Adriatic, and I love the Croatian coast, generally the smell of the sea, pine forests. It has remained in my memory since I was little. We haven’t made a plan yet where we’re going this summer, as we don’t know anything. First of all, I am looking forward to coming and being in Zadar for the first time. I am grateful to all the tennis players who responded, to the Croatian Tennis Federation, to everyone in the organization, to the musicians who responded to the media, and I can't wait to go out on the court. This tournament will send a wonderful, strong and positive message to the whole world because Zadar will be the sports center of the world over those days," Djokovic emphasizes.
Namely, the first evening will be opened with a musical performance by Zlatan Stipisic Gibonni, on Saturday Petar Graso announced a dance spectacle, and on Sunday, a surprise guest awaits the visitors of the tournament.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Goran Ivanisevic: Adria Tour is a World Opportunity for Zadar and Croatia
June 4, 2020 - Organized by Novak Djokovic, the Adria Tour will be held in Zadar from June 20-21, 2020.
HRT HRT reports that for the first time in his prosperous career, Croatian tennis legend Goran Ivanisevic found himself in the role of a tournament director. Namely, Ivanisevic will help direct the Adria Tour, which will be held on June 20 and 21 in Zadar. The tournament is organized by the world's best tennis player Novak Djokovic, in cooperation with the Croatian Tennis Federation, and will bring together some of the biggest names in international tennis.
"The tournament will be played on clay, we were ready for concrete, but Novak's team still decided on clay. We are waiting for the final confirmation of the number of fans that will be allowed. It will be a stadium for nine thousand people that will be installed this week, and I hope that it will allow us half of that capacity for the audience to see these best players in the world," Ivanisevic pointed out and added:
"This is a world opportunity to show Zadar and Croatia in a beautiful light, as a corona-free country and we invite tourists. Zadar proved to be not only a basketball city but also a tennis city with the two Davis Cup matches that it organized incredibly. I do not doubt that this organization will go well and that all our guests and tennis players who come from abroad will be extremely satisfied."
Ivanisevic will also participate in the tournament as Djokovic's coach, a position he has held since last year.
Adria Tour was created on the initiative of the Serbian tennis star in order to promote sports, positive values and fair play, but also to raise funds for those who need it. The Adria Tour will be held in several countries, with Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov playing alongside Djokovic, and the two best Croatian tennis players, Marin Cilic and Borna Coric, will also play in Zadar.
"Novak already had the idea to organize a 'tour' or a couple of exhibition matches in Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Croatia. It’s hard to organize, especially with the usual schedule of tennis players. This corona, no matter how much evil and misfortune it brought, made the 'Adria Tour' possible. Novak asked me how Croatia could get involved, I checked with the Croatian Tennis Federation and with their help we chose Zadar. Novak's wish has come true and with this team coming, I can say that this will be a tennis spectacle in the Balkans," said Ivanisevic about Djokovic's initiative.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Adria Tour: Zadar to Host New Tennis Tournament Organized by Novak Djokovic
May 23, 2020 - At the initiative of Novak Djokovic, and in cooperation with the Croatian Tennis Federation, tennis stars will flock to Zadar in June to kick off summer in Croatia.
Gol.hrGol.hr reports that the most beautiful postcard will be sent to the world from Zadar next month, officially kicking off the summer tourist season in Croatia! Namely, some of the best tennis players in the world will play in a series of tournaments from June 13 to July 5, called the Adria Tour, and one of the host cities will be Zadar, it was confirmed on Friday.
The organizer of the tournament is the best tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, who gathered some of the leading players of today, including Croatian tennis players. The first tournament will be played on the courts of TC Novak in Belgrade on June 13 and 14, followed by Zadar's Višnjik (June 20 and 21), before the tournament moves to Montenegro (June 27 and 28), and Banja Port (July 3 and 4).
Among others, participation in at least one of the competitions, apart from the organizer Novak Djokovic, was confirmed by leading Croatian tennis players, led by Borna Coric and Marin Cilic, and Austrian Dominic Thiem and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, to name a few.
It is a humanitarian competition, from which, among other things, the proceeds will be directed to programs for the development and education of children, and in sports terms, will be a great opportunity for matches at the highest level at a time when there is a break in official competitions due to the coronavirus.
They will be played in groups so that each tennis player will have two matches on Saturday, and one on Sunday, when the finals between the two best will be scheduled. It is planned to be played on two won sets on four games.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
"I Feel Croatians are Dear Ones for Me." Djokovic on Criticism for Supporting Croatia
August 4, 2019 - He is the Wimbledon champion and Serbia's most famous sporting son. Novak Djokovic on why he supports Croatia.
He is a regular visitor to Croatia (a holiday on Korcula only last week), has added a Croatian tennis icon to his coaching team recently, and even voiced his support for the Croatian football team during the World Cup.
In the complicated relationship between Serbs and Croats, Novak Djokovic stands out - to this foreigner at least - as a little different. He is undeniably popular in Croatia despite his origins, and that popularity is clearly mutual as he is a regular visitor to Croatia.
Djokovic has received some criticism back home for his stance - understandably perhaps, given that the wounds of the war between the two countries are still fresh.
The tennis supremo was quoted about his feelings about Croatia in a recent article in Tennis World USA:
"I always try to be open, nice and well educated. I know that the consequences of war are fresh, I perfectly understand people who do not have the same attitude as me.
"Me and my family were not influenced by the war and I know you cannot forget, but at least you can forgive. And I try to show it through my actions. In Serbia, I was criticized for supporting the football Croatian team but I am not sorry about it.
"I do such things being aware. Because I know that with my influence, status and name, I can help to spread positive energy and support. After all, who can I support if not Croatia? I feel Croatians are dear ones for me. I know that it will bother someone, but I hope others respect my choices", said Djokovic.
Goran Ivanišević and Novak Djokovic Continue Working Together in Spain
While a collaboration between these two tennis aces was speculated for a long time, just before the start of Wimbledon, Goran Ivanišević joined the team of Novak Djokovic, the current best tennis player in the world.
After training Marin Čilić, Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonić, the celebrated Croatian tennis player began working with the Serbian tennis player who has now won 16 Grand Slam tournaments, just behind record-holder Roger Federer.
"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 back in June.
Ivanišević was meant to stay with Djoković only for the first week of Wimbledon, before returning to Umag where he is the director and ambassador of the Croatia Open ATP tournament.
“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.
Thankfully, whatever time Ivanišiević managed to give Novak was enough, as the Serbian player went on to win Wimbledon just a few weeks ago in a marathon final against Roger Federer.
During the Croatia Open in Umag, Ivanišević announced that the two tennis greats would continue cooperating, reports HRT on July 31, 2019.
“I heard from him, he is still deciding which tournaments he will play in this summer, but as things stand, I remain on the team, so after the US Open we will see what we will do next,” Ivanišević said at the time.
And now, the Croatian tennis player continues collaborating with the world's best in Marbella, Spain, in preparation for the remainder of the season.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC & GORAN IVANISEVIC &PUENTE ROMANO TENIS ? ?!!! pic.twitter.com/k29NfAlMEK
— PuenteRomanoTennis (@PuenteTenis) July 30, 2019
Marian Vajda, Djokovic's first coach, will not be on the Serbian player’s team until the US Open due to family obligations.
Otherwise, Djokovic canceled his appearance at the Masters 1000 ATP tournament in Montreal, which begins on August 3, as he believes he needs extra rest after winning Wimbledon. Before the US Open, Djokovic will only perform in Cincinnati.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Novak Đoković Enjoys his Vacation on Korčula
The no. 1 player on the ATP list, currently the best tennis player in the world and the recent winner of his fifth Wimbledon title, Novak Đoković, is taking his vacation to celebrate the title and his victory over Roger Federer in one of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever - in Croatia. On Korčula and around it, to be more precise.
It has never really been a secret that Novak Đoković enjoys Croatia, he has been on vacations here before and has always said he loves coming to Croatia with his family.
He has said before, that having seen a lot of the countries in the world, he still considers the Croatian coast to be the most beautiful in the world. He added that he feels best in Croatia, that it probably has something to do with the fact that the languages are almost the same, and that there is a shared culture.
He says that he enjoys the Croatian coast, he has always felt great here and that Croatian people have always been very welcoming to him and his family. This May, he told the Croatian media that he will probably be returning to Croatia this summer.
And, after his Wimbledon triumph, he made good on that promise! Novak's and his wife Jelena's social media have been filled with the photos and videos of the couple enjoying their vacation in and around Korčula. From the social media posts they and other people they met on Korčula posted, we know that the Đokovićs have visited Moro beach Stupe restaurant, where one of the chefs took a photo with Novak.
On Saturday it was reported that they visited Vrnik, another islet off mainland Korčula island, where Novak took a photo with a bunch of children on the islet.
And then late yesterday evening his official Facebook page published a video of Novak and Jelena singing with a klapa from the Korčula island, sitting on the terrace of the Vrnik Arts Club restaurant. The song is Oliver Dragojević's hit "Kad mi dođeš ti", sang on the "other side" of Oliver's island of Korčula - late Oliver Dragojević was from Vela Luka, and his remains were laid to rest there.
Under the post Novak quoted the lyrics of the song in Croatian and expressed his gratitude for being able to spend such magical moments with his wife (and joked a bit with the hashtag #iambetterattennis about his singing abilities!)
We hope Novak Đoković and his wife Jelena continue to enjoy their Dalmatian vacation!
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic Adds Goran Ivanišević to Wimbledon Team
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.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Novak Djokovic Opens Up About Relatives in Vinkovci, Connection with Croatia
May 11, 2019 - Novak Djokovic gave an exclusive interview for GOL.hr and IN Magazine in which he spoke about his relationship with Croatia.
Madrid Open: Food Poisoning Forces Marin Čilić to Retire Against Djokovic
An unlucky Marin Čilić was forced to withdraw from the quarterfinal of the Masters 1000 Series tournament in Madrid. Namely, Čilić was meant to face Novak Djokovic on Friday afternoon, though a bad bout of food poisoning had different plans and gave Čilić no other choice, reports T.portal on May 10, 2019.
Čilić addressed his fans in an Instagram post on Friday morning:
“To the fans, @mutuamadridopen organizers, spectators and @djokernole I am sorry to announce that I must withdraw from today's match. I have had a terrible night dealing with a case of food poisoning. I am extremely disappointed to have my time in Madrid end in this way. Thank you for the support and I look forward to returning next year…”
Čilić was set to play Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal in Madrid. Djokovic is currently the best player in the world and has beaten Čilić 17 of the 19 times the two have been matched against one another. However, Čilić’s sweet victory against Djokovic at the Queen’s Club in London last year was the game of his career. The Croatian tennis player was hoping for the same result against Djokovic again.
Unfortunately, there will be nothing of Marin at this year's Madrid Open. At this Masters 1000 Series tournament, however, Čilić managed to end his negative line of defeats and won against Martin Kližan, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Laslo Đere.
If he recovers in time, the next challenge for Čilić will be the tournament in Rome next week. And let’s not forget, the highly anticipated Ronald Garros begins on May 26.
Recall, Petra Martić failed to defeat the eighth best tennis player in the world, American Sloane Stephens. Stephens celebrated in the quarterfinal match in two sets - 6:4, 6:3.
Mate Pavić and doubles partner Oliver Marach also failed to win their quarterfinal match, losing to Diego Schwartzman and Dominic Thiem.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Madrid Open: Marin Čilić and Novak Djokovic to Meet in Quarters
Marin Čilić has made it to the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open!
