This July, Umag will once again offer all tennis lovers the opportunity to experience an outstanding tennis event. The 24th Vegeta Croatia Open will welcome a defending champion and two former champions, as well as one of the world's top 10 tennis players and four of the top 30 players. The impressive list of players that will participate in Croatia's oldest ATP tournament, which will be held on the courts of ATP stadium from July 18 to 28, was presented today at Esplanade Zagreb Hotel.
Player profiles and acceptance list...
The best Croatian tennis player Marin Čilić
will be returning to Umag for the sixth time; as the first Croatian
defending champion in 22 years he feels a special responsibility,
as well as a challenge. "The competition at Umag's tournament is
extremely strong every year, which is why I know that defending the
title will not be an easy job. Nevertheless, there is nothing
sweeter than winning on home turf, which is why I will do my best
to repeat the success I achieved in 2012. Playing in Umag is a
particular pleasure; the excellent organization and fantastic
atmosphere at the court and around it, with a large number of fans,
further motivate me to deliver my best. I am looking forward to
playing in Umag again!", Čilić said.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the World No. 9, is
coming with big expectations after winning in Doha and Montpellier.
"My coach Riccardo, who has worked with Ivan Ljubicic as well,
has been telling me wonderful things about Umag for years, so I
always wanted to come and see it for myself. I almost came last
year, but unfortunately couldn't make it. It is my great pleasure,
as well as a responsibility, to play in Umag this year",
Gasquet said.
The winner of the 2011 tournament, Ukrainian Alexandr
Dolgopolov is a favourite of Umag's audience. Vegeta
Croatia Open, the first ATP tournament he won in his career, is one
of his favourites as well. "I am always at my best in Umag,
both on the court and outside it", said Alexandr who will be
coming to Umag for the fourth time.
The tournament in Umag could be an important stage in the comeback
of the former Top 10 tennis player, Frenchman Gaël
Monfils, who is on the rise at the moment. "This is an
important year for me, because this year I want to overcome all
previous problems. I want to come back stronger than ever and
continue building my career with even better results. Umag will
also give me an opportunity to make a few good videos for the video
production company that I founded in Paris," Monfils pointed
out.
The list of players also includes the Polish player
Jerzy Janowicz, one of world's biggest young
tennis hopefuls, who moved up 195 places in the ATP rankings last
season, reaching No. 26 at the end of 2012. Ahead of his arrival in
Umag, Janowicz pointed out: "I am looking forward to support
from Umag's fans."
Last year's semi-finalist and winner of the 2008 tournament,
Spanish player Fernando Verdasco is also coming
back to Umag.
The list also includes the best Italian players Andreas
Seppi and Fabio Fognini, Spaniard Tommy Robredo,
quarter-finalist at this year's Roland Garros, and Viktor
Troicki, semi-finalist at Umag 2007 and member of the
Serbian team that won Davis Cup in 2010. German player
Florian Mayer (No. 33 in the ATP rankings),
Spaniard Albert Montanes (No. 50), Argentinian
Horacio Zeballos (No. 51) and Russian
Dmitry Tursunov (No. 65) could also play a
significant role in the battle for championship.
Player profiles and acceptance list...
