“The final in Umag was a springboard for my career. After competing in Umag, we won the World Team Cup, I beat Becker in the first round of Roland Garros, and reached the semifinal at Wimbledon. And afterwards, my career took off”, Ivanišević remembered.
In 1990, Goran Prpić won the match, going down in history as the first winner of the Croatia Open Umag.
“I had simply seized the opportunity, as even then Goran was a better player than me – he just didn’t know it yet. But I am glad that the only tournament I ever won was the one taking place here, in Croatia, and I am glad we are here again, together, in the same spot”, added Prpić.
Hours before the start of their exhibition match on Saturday, the two legends of Croatian tennis, Goran Ivanišević and Goran Prpić, participated in a live chat at the packed Social Arena, together with moderator Antonija Mandić.
Much to the delight of the visitors of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag, Ivanišević and Prpić revealed what had changed since they competed in the first ever final of the tournament in Umag back in 1990, and how they felt before the upcoming tennis event.
