The first matches at the WTA Makarska Open will be played tomorrow. The start is at 10:00, all matches from the central court until the end of the tournament will be broadcast by Sportklub television, and the Sunday final by HRT at 8:00 p.m.
The WTA Makarska Open hosted by Valamar opened with the drawing of lots in the Makarska Tennis Center. Along with tournament director Feliks Lukas and tennis players Petra Martić, Petra Marčinko, Kristina Mladenović and Mayar Sherif, the prefect of the Split-Dalmatia County Blaženko Boban and the mayor of Makarska Zoran Paunović responded to the draw.
As many as eight female players from the company of the best 100 performances this year, which once again shows how Lukas and his colleagues did a great job. The first seed, the Spanish tennis player Sara Sorribes Tormo plays at the opening of the tournament against the Romanian Miriam Bulgaru.
Defending champion and the best Egyptian tennis player in history, Mayar Sherif, plays against Latvian Darja Semenistaja. Among our tennis players, the biggest star of the tournament is Petra Martić, who plays at the opening of the tournament against her compatriot and namesake Petra Marčinko, Tena Lukas plays against the French tennis player Leolija JeanJean.
Our young hope Lucija Ćirić Bagarić will play against the German Ella Seidel, while Lea Bošković and Antonija Ružić will play against the qualifiers.
The best is yet to come
The prefect of the Split-Dalmatia County thanked the tournament director and his team for promoting sports, the county and Croatia. He said that it can be seen that a lot of effort is invested in the organization of the tournament every year, he wished the organizers good weather and the players a lot of socializing and recommended that they definitely visit the beautiful Makarska. And although as a prefect he must not be biased, he revealed that his wife, originally from Dugi Rat, will support her neighbor from Duće, Petra Martić.
"When we thought about moving the tournament from Bol to Makarska, our goal was a turnaround in tourism, a turnaround for which Makarska is now known not only in Croatia but also in the entire Mediterranean. We are moving away from mass tourism, we are moving towards specific forms of tourism. Sport is in a way the most important part of that turnaround, in 2024 we became the European City of Sports, thanks to the WTA tournament, but also to other sports that take place here. Interestingly, when the European Commission came to inspect, they were surprised by how many people do sports in Makarska, how many recreational people, children and the elderly. Makarska lives sport and this is the strongest 125 tournament in the world and I am glad that it is happening in our city. Enjoy and spread the good word about Makarska all over the world", said the mayor of Makarska.
"Such a strong tournament draw with ranking tennis players and famous names does not exist in this category in the world. We are the leaders here and I am extremely proud of that. As a director, officially I must not have preferences, but unofficially it would be nice if the WTA tournament trophy returned to Croatia after 26 years. Although Mayar Sherif told me upon her arrival in Makarska that she will win again, I believe that we are in for a gladiatorial fight and a real sports spectacle. The best is yet to come", said Director Lukas.
The nine-time Grand Slam winner and former doubles number one, French tennis player Kristina Mladenović, who received a wild card for doubles, and numerous world tennis stars will perform at the tournament.
You can watch the tournament live on Sportklub television, and the final on Sunday, June 9, at 8 p.m. on HRT.
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