The flexibility to observe world-class tennis in a smaller, extra intimate setting is likely one of the core pillars of tennis on the ATP Challenger Tour. That’s, witnessing a participant’s journey as he fights to ascertain a profession away from the massive cities and the brilliant lights.
It’s exactly what makes the Challenger circuit so particular to those communities and areas in all corners of the globe. And when that event is the lone skilled tennis occasion in all the nation, it gives a further distinctive layer to its attraction that’s unmatched. That is the place the town of Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina, has carved its personal identification on the ATP Challenger Tour for the final 20 years.
This week, the Srpska Open was honoured for 20 years on the ATP Challenger Tour. Not solely is it the longest-running males’s skilled tennis event in all of Bosnia & Herzegovina, but additionally all the Balkan area in southeast Europe. With a inhabitants centre of simply 138,000, Banja Luka can also be one of many smallest cities to host a Challenger event for 20 or extra years.
It was in 2002 that Milan Radakovic had a imaginative and prescient for the way forward for tennis in his native Banja Luka. By no means earlier than did his metropolis or his nation host a event of this caliber on the ATP Challenger Tour. However this was Milan’s dream. To carry elite tennis to Bosnia & Herzegovina. Not solely did he obtain that very aim, however right here we’re greater than 20 years later, and his dream remains to be being realized.
In 2017, Radakovic handed away on the age of 61, and whereas he’s not with us, the sunshine behind his imaginative and prescient burns brighter than ever. He can be proud to witness this second, because the very event he based celebrates its twentieth anniversary on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Srpska Open was honoured on Thursday, with a particular ceremony in entrance of the Bosnian trustworthy on Middle Court docket on the Nationwide Tennis Middle.
Radakovic poses with Viktor Troicki and Albert Ramos-Vinolas throughout the 2014 trophy ceremony.
Located alongside the banks of the Vrbas River, with tree-lined fields surrounding the town, Banja Luka is a crucial cultural and sporting hub within the Balkans. This week, followers have flocked to the Nationwide Tennis Middle to see native legend Damir Dzumhur dash into the semi-finals. They blared horns and waved flags in assist of Dzumhur, in addition to countrymen Mirza Basic and Nerman Fatic. However no matter the place you hail from, Banja Luka appears like residence.
“I actually loved my time in Banja Luka,” mentioned reigning champion Juan Manuel Cerundolo. “For me, the event could be very good, the situations are just like Buenos Aires, so I preferred it loads. The folks there are additionally very heat and welcoming and a whole lot of followers come to observe the tennis. To win there was very important as a result of it put me very near the Prime 100. However I additionally really feel this event gave me the momentum to get to the Prime 100 a number of weeks later. Congratulations to them for this twentieth anniversary.”
Cerundolo celebrates his 2021 Banja Luka title.
Banja Luka has a wealthy sporting tradition, with the Srpska Open comprising its tennis identification. The native authorities within the Republic of Srpska performs a central position in offering funding for the event, recognizing its nice impression on the sporting panorama within the area. In 2017, the town was awarded the title of European Metropolis of Sport, as one in every of simply 23 European cities to obtain this honour.
Instances change and several other elements end result within the ebb and circulate of tournaments’ longevity over time. To face up to this exact take a look at of time and stay an emblem of sturdiness deserves to be applauded. At present led by event director Drasko Milinovic, together with a devoted group of full-time membership staff and part-time volunteers, the event has grow to be a beacon on the Challenger Tour and a summer time staple in Bosnia & Herzegovina for these 20 years.
The outdated Srpska Open web site at Tenis Klub Mladost.
In Banja Luka, this second wouldn’t be attainable with out the arduous work and dedication of all of the event workers, volunteers and sponsors. And the gamers who’ve been offered alternatives to take the subsequent step of their careers, acknowledge the event’s dedication and dedication to the game and the Tour.
The ATP Challenger Tour is the springboard to success for the celebs of tomorrow and this event has been exactly that within the adorned careers of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Diego Schwartzman, Fabio Fognini and Janko Tipsarevic. All competed in Banja Luka, earlier than rising to the Prime 10 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
From the ATP to the Srpska Open, here is to a different 20 years as a part of the Challenger household.
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