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17th Smrikva Bowl 2012 - one of the most important under 10 tennis tournaments in the World - will be played from 25th - 30th of june 2012

Download 17^th Smrikva Bowl 2012 presentation and application form (pdf ~3 MB)

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE 17th SMRIKVA BOWL 2012 EDITION IS CLOSED

Top players from over 30 countries have been accepted…

All the candidates that have indicated the correct e-mail adress in their application forms and have submitted the applications by the deadline date of 30th of March 2012 should have received confirmation e-mail of their acceptance or impossibility to invite them to play on 4th of April.

There will be no waiting list because 14 players have been accepted above our tournament limit of 96 players.

IF YOU HAVE APPLIED BY FAX BEFORE 30th of MARCH BUT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ANSWER E-MAIL FOR YOUR CANDIDACY… PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO miodrag_bozovic@yahoo.it

The application form – included in this presentation – must be filled out and sent by fax to Smrikve. All the information required in the form are relevant!

The number of players will be limited to 64 (extended to 96 due to very high number of top tennis talents applications received)... there will be few places available per country. Top players from each country will be preferred. This year Smrikva Bowl is dedicated to the players born in 2002.

Deadline for the application: 30th March 2012 (the waiting list might be prepared if the total number of places available are already full by the deadline date).

Each player will receive the confirmation e- mail after in Smrikve we receive the application form sent by fax. Invited players and the players from outside Europe might receive the confirmation of their acceptance before the deadline date. All the other players will receive the confirmation of their acceptance before April 8th, 2012.

We advise you to explain in details the results obtained. If the player has the official ranking in the country of origin, please attach it to the application form.

For any additional questions about the tournament please write to Smrikve: miodrag_bozovic@yahoo.it

To learn more about ISTRIA – the region where Smrikva Bowl is played please visit:

...CULTURAL E-BOOK “Istria from Smrikve“ aims to provide Smrikva Bowl players and their families with useful information about the places that should be visited in the Istria region. Here you will find information about: architecture, history, people, music, museums, major cultural events, cuisine, top restaurants and the best olive oil and wine producers.

Last year Lonely Planet indicated ISTRIA as second destination to be visited, second only to Peninsula Sinai in Egypt, on World raking list for the Regions… For 2012 National Geographic Traveler indicated Istria among TOP 20 place in the World worth visiting…

16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 Photos, Draws and Results

Photos of the 16^th Smrikva Bowl 2011 edition

16^th Smrikva Bowl 2011 Draws and Results

16^th Smrikva Bowl 2011 Press Release

Historical Smrikva Bowl Draws and Results

News

14/05/12

Top Smrikva Bowl and "Little Mo"/Smrikva Bowl players on ATP, WTA, ITF, USTA and European under 14 and 16 ranking lists (update May 2012)

Former top Smrikva Bowl players that reached certain results on the professional ranking list are mentioned below and the top Smrikva Bowl players that are still competing…

As of 15th of May 2012 the ranking summary of the very TOP former Smrikva Bowl boys and girls is the following:

• 1 player TOP 100 WTA (Petra Martic – 2001 winner)
• 1 player TOP 200 ATP (Javier Marti – 2002 winner)
• 7 boys and 9 girls… in total 16 players are in TOP 100 ITF
• 3 boys and 2 girls are in TOP 10 ETA under 16
• 5 girls are in TOP 10 ETA under 14
• 1 boy is in TOP 10 USTA under 14
• 1 boy and 2 girls are in TOP 10 USTA under 12

IN 1996 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM ISTRIA AND KVARNER (1st Smrikva Bowl)

BOYS
Vilim Visak, 1st Smrikva Bowl 1996 winner, from Croatia. Vilim’s best ranking was #612 in March 2006.

IN 1997 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM CROATIA (1997 – 2nd Smrikva Bowl)

GIRLS
Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, from Croatia. Ivana’s best ranking was #95 on WTA list in June 2006.

IN 1998 SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO BE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT (3rd Smrikva Bowl)

1999 – 4th Smrikva Bowl

GIRLS
Astrid Besser, 4th Smrikva Bowl 1999 winner, from Italy. Atrid’s best ranking was #356 on WTA list in March 2009.

2000 – 5th Smrikva Bowl

GIRLS
Tereza MRDEZA, 5th Smrikva Bowl 2000 winner, from Croatia, is currently ranked #217 on WTA list.

2001 – 6th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Marin Draganja, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #1181 on ATP ranking list.
Dino Marcan, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #315 on ATP ranking list.

GIRLS
Petra MARTIC, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #49 on WTA list (TOP 100 WTA). Petra’s best raning was #47 on WTA list in September 2011.
Indire Akiki, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #453 on WTA list.

IN 2002 SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO BE A EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

2002 – 7th Smrikva Bowl and 1st”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Javier MARTI, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 winner, from Spain, is currently ranked #174 on ATP list.
Giacomo Miccini, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 runner up, from Italy, was ranked #1059 on ATP list in May 2009.

GIRLS
Martina Caregaro, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 winner, from Italy, is ranked #423 on WTA ranking list.
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #197 on WTA list.
Ema BURGIC, ranked 3rd on 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, best ranking was #505 on WTA list in July 2010.

2003 – 8th Smrikva Bowl and 2nd”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Dominic THIEM, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 winner, from Austria, is ranked #620 on ATP ranking list. Junior ROLAND GARROS 2011 finalist, Eddie Herr International and Junior Orange Bowl under 18 winner.
George MORGAN, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 runner up, from Great Britain, is ranked #657 on ATP ranking list. Junior US OPEN 2011 semifinalist.
Ciprian PORUMB, ranked 3rd on 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003, from Romenia, was ranked #195 on ITF ranking list in March 2010.

GIRLS
Jennifer Ren, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 winner, from Great Britain, not currently ranked on WTA list.
Silvia NJIRIC, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #466 on WTA list.
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC, ranked 3rd on 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003, from Croatia, is ranked #197 on WTA list.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Emmett EGGER, played 2nd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, was ranked #76 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).

2004 – 9th Smrikva Bowl and 3rd”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Ivan Levar, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #582 on ITF ranking list.
Miki JANKOVIC, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 runner up, from Serbia, is ranked #206 on ITF ranking list and is ranked #887 on ATP ranking list.
Filip VEGER, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 semifinalist, from Croatia, is ranked #81 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF)
Danil ZELENKOV, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 player, from FYR Macedonia, is ranked #138 on ITF ranking list

GIRLS
Saska GAVRILOVSKA, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 winner, from Serbia, is ranked #578 on WTA ranking list.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Mitchel POLNET, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #717 on ITF ranking list.

Blair SHANKLE, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #119 on ITF ranking list.
Anna MAMALAT, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #832 on ITF ranking list.

IN 2005 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM 3 CONTINENTS

2005 – 10th Smrikva Bowl and 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Matteo DONATI, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 winner, from Italy, is ranked #36 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF) and is ranked #1257 on ATP list.
Laslo DJERE, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 runner up, from Serbia, is ranked #72 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).
Gianluigi QUINZI, ranked 3rd on 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005, from Italy, is ranked #4 on ITF ranking list (TOP 10 ITF) and is ranked #1200 on ATP list.
Nikola MILOJEVIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 Consolation tournament winner, from Serbia, is ranked #6 on ITF ranking list (TOP 10 ITF).
Borna CORIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Croatia, is ranked #37 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF) and is ranked #1371 on ATP list.
Luka ILIC, , 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Serbia, is ranked #121 on ITF ranking list.
Franko MIOCIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Croatia, is ranked #80 on ITF ranking list.

GIRLS
Saska GAVRILOVSKA, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 winner, from Serbia, is ranked #578 on WTA ranking list.
Olga IANCHUK, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 runner up, from Ukraine, is ranked #572 on WTA list.
Irina Maria BARA, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Romania, is ranked #62 on ITF ranking list.
Donna VEKIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Croatia, is ranked #283 on WTA list and is ranked #81 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).
Iva MEKOVEC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Croatia, is ranked #737 on WTA list and is ranked #32 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).
Camilla ROSATELLO, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, from Italy, is ranked #73 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).

“Little Mo” TEAM
Jeffrey Schorsch, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.
Jose Gracia, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.
Yale Goldberg, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.

Dorothy Tang, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.

2006 – 11th Smrikva Bowl and 5th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Gianluigi QUINZI, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 winner, from Italy, is ranked #4 on ITF ranking list (TOP 10 ITF) and is ranked #1200 on ATP list.

GIRLS
Eleanor DEAN, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 winner, from Great Britain, is ranked #82 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF) and #746 on WTA ranking list.
Ilka CSOREGI, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 semifinalists, from Romania, is ranked #34 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF)
Belinda BENCIC, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006, from Switzerland, is ranked #16 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF)

“Little Mo” TEAM
Daniel Maese, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.
Aries Wong, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is still not ranked on ITF ranking list.

Christina MAKAROVA, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #41 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100 ITF).
Gabriella Umoquit, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.

2007 – 12th Smrikva Bowl and 6th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Sacha MERZETTI, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 winner, from Italy, is ranked #427 in Europe in under 16 cathegory.
Bogdan BORZA, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 runner up, from Romania, is ranked #10 in Europe in under 16 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U16).
Gonzalo MORELL, ranked 3rd on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Spain, is ranked #241 in Europe in under 16 cathegory.
Sergiu BUCUR, ranked 4th on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Romania, is ranked #123 in Europe in under 16 cathegory.

GIRLS
Ana KONJUH, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #3 in Europe in under 16 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U16) and is ranked #102 on ITF ranking list.
Nina POTOCNIK, ranked 3rd on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Slovenia, is ranked #56 in Europe in under 16 cathegory and is ranked #217 on ITF ranking list.
Ivana JOROVIC, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 player, from Serbia, is ranked #16 in Europe in under 16 cathegory, and is ranked #95 on ITF ranking list (TOP 100).

“Little Mo” TEAM
Eduardo NAVA, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #808 on ITF ranking list.
Tommy PAUL, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #1347 on ITF ranking list.

Ndindi NDUNDA, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #1161 on ITF ranking list.
Domonique Garley, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #1997 on ITF ranking list.

IN 2008 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM 5 CONTINENTS AND TURNED INTO A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 – 13th Smrikva Bowl and 7th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Luka PANIC, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 winner, from Switzerland, is ranked #155 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Mihnea TURCU, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 runner up, from Romania, is ranked #256 in Europe in under 14 european ranking list.
Grega KOKALJ, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Slovenia, is ranked #103 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Andrea Guerrieri, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Italy, is ranked #357 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.

GIRLS
Katarina JOKIC, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 winner, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is ranked #18 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Maia LUMSDEN, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 runner up, from Scotland, is ranked #6 in Europe in under 14 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U14).
Viktoria KUZMOVA, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Slovakia, is ranked #4 in Europe in under 14 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U14).
Estela Perez-Somarriba, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Spain, is ranked #484 on under 14 european ranking list.
Olga FRIDMAN, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 player, from Ukraine, is ranked #1 in Europe in under 14 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U14).
Nikolina JOVIC, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 player, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is ranked #7 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Gabriella PATRICIA TAYLOR, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 player, from UK, is ranked #10 in Europe in under 14 cathegory (TOP 10 TE U14).

“Little Mo” TEAM
Justin LEE, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #43 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
William BLUMBERG, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #3 in the USA in under 14 cathegory (TOP 10 USTA U14).

Ingrid NEEL, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #107 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
Paulina Ferrari, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #57 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.

IN 2009 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 6 NEW COUNTRIES AND 1 NEW CONTINENT THUS REACHED THE TOTAL OF 40 COUNTRIES AND 6 CONTINENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2009 – 14th Smrikva Bowl and 8th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Alvaro REGALADO PEDROL, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 winner, from Spain, is ranked #203 in under 14 european ranking.
Samuele RAMAZZOTTI, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 runner up, from Italy, is ranked #39 in under 14 european ranking.
Karlo SUEVICH, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Slovenia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Alejandro DAVIDOVICH, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Spain, is ranked #354 in under 14 european ranking.
Miomir KECMANOVIC, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 quarterfinalist, from Serbia, is ranked #18 in under 14 european ranking.
Alexei POPYRIN, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 Consolation Draw
winner, from Australia, is ranked #49 in under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Katie SWAN, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 winner, from United Kingdom, is ranked #99 in under 14 european ranking.
Jovana VUKOVIC – JOKA, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 runner up, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Inci OGUT, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Turkey, is ranked #58 in under 14 european ranking.
Arianna CAPOGROSSO, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Italy, is ranked #77 in under 14 european ranking.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Noah SCHACHTER, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #6 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
Alex GEE, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #18 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

Michaela GORDON, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #4 in the USA in under 12 cathegory (TOP 10 USTA U12).
Ashley LAHEY, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #30 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

IN 2010 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 9 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 49 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2010 – 15th Smrikva Bowl and 9th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Nicola KUHN, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Karlo SUEVICH, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 runner up, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Yshai OLIEL, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Israel, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Andrei Taica Radu, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Romania, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Jovana VUKOVIC, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Paula Arias Manjon, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 runner up, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Neli SUNJIC, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Kristina NOVAK, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Italy, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Max Motlagh, played 9th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #63 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

Claire LIU, played 9th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #5 in the USA in under 12 cathegory (TOP 10 USTA U12).
Alexa Butera, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #54 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

IN 2011 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 4 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 53 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2011 – 16th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Duje AJDUKOVIC, 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 winner, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Mihailo POPOVIC, 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 runner up, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Alejandro SERRANO OSOBA, ranked 3rd on 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Stipan Madzar, ranked 3rd on 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Olga DANILOVIC, 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 winner, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Ksenija TMUSIC, 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 runner up, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Emilija KOJCIC, ranked 3rd on 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Betina TOKAC, ranked 3rd on 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011, from Turkey, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

Please visit www.smrikve.com to learn more about Smrikve, Istria from Smrikve, Smrikva Bowl, one of the most important under 10 tennis tournaments in the World, and Villa Smrikve, for your accommodation with swimming pool in Stinjan (Pula – Pola) if you decide to spent your holiday in Istria, Croatia.

13/05/12

Daria Solovyeva and Yshai Oliel visiting Smrikve and La Bottega... :)

La Bottega di Smrikve is a natural development of the story started in 1996 when the Smrikva Bowl tennis talents story began…

...and after Matic Podlipnik, the under 12 Slovenian Champion, visit with his tennis friends few weeks ago… I was pleased to see in Smrikve… both winners of this year TE Europe under 12 Cakovec 2012 edition with trophies of both single and doubles: Yshai Oliel and Daria Solovyeva... Dasha

... TALENTED PLAYERS THAT WE ACCEPT DURING THE YEAR FOR SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME AS GUESTS OF OUR SCHOOL ARE LINKED TO THE SMRIKVA BOWL NETWORK… and the preference of the accepted players always go to the talents we had opportunity to meet during Smrikva Bowl or players recommended by the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors… traditionally they have good understending of the Smrikve philosophy…

During the Renaissance period La Bottega (the art and craft workshop) was the nursery site for the formation of the artists… and was probably the source of the Renaissance itself…

... and I like to think of La Bottega… as a tennis island for Smrikve friends… :)... and was very pleased that Yshai and Jan came from Cakovec to Smrikve just to say hello and I was so pleased to see Yshai and his game development two years after his Smrikva Bowl… I was impressed with what I saw… and I enjoyed the same way Jan’s thoughts on various issues… I beleive Jan is a great Master of tennis talent development…

I will never know how many kids playing Smrikva Bowl are playing it because their parents would like them to become professional tennis players and how mutch of them play it because they enjoy the game… and I do not know that neither for any “La Bottega” di Smrikve friend…

What I do know is that any kind of sport can help kids in their growth and I also know that people that do excel in any field require total dedication and a lot of sacrifice to reach the excellence.

There is one part in Andre Agassi’s biography book that I liked a lot… it is about inspiration, faith and what does it mean to be a good coach… to have the right word in the right moment… this part is related with Gil… and is about people that do beleive in other people and help them to write their life stories and to write their own one… and looking at the following Dasha’s picture I would like to report his words for both Dasha… Yshai… two extraordinary kids loving this game and trying their best to maybe write one day their names on one of the stars…

Here are Gil’s words reported by Andre in his book when he accepted to caoch him:

“I’m not one of those people who expresses or articulates feelings very well, but from now on, just know this: It’s on, man. It is on.

You know what I’m saying? We’are in a fight, and you can count on me until the last man is standing. Somewhere up there is a star with your name on it. I might not be able to help you find it, but I’ve got pretty strong shoulders, and you can stand on my shoulders while you’re looking for that star. You hear? For as long as you want. Stand on my shoulders and reach, man. Reach.”

Smrikve Lounge is entering its final preparation phase… the same as 17th Smrikva Bowl 2012 edition…

Lounge will be a special place to relax… Dasha already left her traces in Lounge garden… and Yshai liked it a lot too…

... in 3 weeks time we should have this new Smrikve “ship” built and ready to host the stars of tomorrow…

“Quand tu veux construire un bateau, ne commence pas par rassembler du bois, couper des planches et distribuer du travail, mais reveille au sein des hommes le desir de la mer grande et large.” – Antoine de Saint Exupéry

04/05/12

25 Smrikva Bowl players out of 64 were in the Main Draws of the Croatia CUP - TE under 12 tournament played in Cakovec. Still in the Main Draws are 4 out of 4 players... SOLOVYEVA, KARANUSIC, OLIEL, SUEVICH... and the winers are Yshai and Dasha...

This week an important under 12 TE Europe tournament was played in Cakovec in Croatia named CROATIA CUP and I was pleased to recognize a lot of the Smrikva Bowl names in the Main Draws…

...and I was pleased to see in Smrikve both winners of this year edition today with trophies of both single and doubles: Yshai Oliel and Dasha Solovyeva...

... and Dasha won doubles with Kristina Novak :)

Out of 64 players in both girls and boys Main Draws I recognized 25 former Smrikva Bowl players and La Bottega guests… and in the quarterfinals there were 10 out of 16 players:

Anja GAL (Slo)
Daria SOLOVYEVA (Rus) – La Bottega di Smrikve 2011
Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb)
Lorena GAVRIC (Cro)
Andja KARANUSIC (Cro)
Kristina NOVAK (Slo)

Yshai OLIEL (Isr)
Duje AJDUKOVIC (Cro)
Karlo SUEVICH (Cro)
Bodin ZARKOVIC (Srb)

in the semifinals there were 7 out of 8 players:

Daria SOLOVYEVA (Rus) – La Bottega di Smrikve 2011
Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb)
Andja KARANUSIC (Cro)

Yshai OLIEL (Isr)
Duje AJDUKOVIC (Cro)
Karlo SUEVICH (Cro)
Bodin ZARKOVIC (Srb)

in the finals there were 4 out of 4 players:
Daria SOLOVYEVA (Rus) – La Bottega di Smrikve 2011
Andja KARANUSIC (Cro)

Yshai OLIEL (Isr)
Karlo SUEVICH (Cro)

... and THE WINNERS of both single and doubles were: Yshai and Dasha…. :)

GIRLS:

Daria SOLOVYEVA (Rus) – La Bottega di Smrikve 2011
1st round: Daria SOLOVYEVA – Tamara LUZIJA (Cro) 6:1, 6:1
2nd round: Daria SOLOVYEVA – Lana SIPEK (Cro) 6:3, 6:0
Quarterfinals: D.SOLOVYEVA-O.OLIYNYKOVA (Ukr) 4:6,6:1,6:1
Semifinals: Daria SOLOVYEVA – Ariella CURCI (Ita) 6:2, 6:1
Finals: Daria SOLOVYEVA – Andja KARANUSIC (Cro) 6:4, 6:1

Andja KARANUSIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Andja KARANUSIC-Sophie MUNTEAN (Fra) 1:6,6:2,6:4
2nd round: Andja KARANUSIC – Iva ZELIC (Cro) 6:3, 6:3
Quarterfinals: Andja KARANUSIC – Kristina NOVAK (Slo) 6:3, 7:6
Semifinals: Andja KARANUSIC – Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb) 6:3, 6:3
Finals: Andja KARANUSIC – Daria SOLOVYEVA (Rus) 4:6, 1:6

Kristina NOVAK (Slo) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 semifinalist
1st round: Kristina NOVAK – Emma ZAKORDONIEC (Pol) 6:3, 6:1
2nd round: Kristina NOVAK – Karla KILIC (Cro) 6:3, 6:2
Quarterfinals: Kristina NOVAK – Andja KARANUSIC (Cro) 3:6,6:7

Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner
1st round: Jovana VUKOVIC – Lea JURKOVIC (Cro) 6:1, 6:1
2nd round: Jovana VUKOVIC – Neli SUNJIC (Cro) 6:0, 6:1
Quarterfinals: Jovana VUKOVIC-Lorena GAVRIC (Cro) 6:3,5:7,6:0
Semifinals: Jovana VUKOVIC – Andja KARANUSIC (Cro) 3:6, 3:6

Lorena GAVRIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Lorena GAVRIC – Liliana KONCZ (Hun) 6:0, 6:0
2nd round: Lorena GAVRIC – Arabella KOLLER (Aut) 7:6, 6:3
Quarterfinals: Lorena GAVRIC – J.VUKOVIC (Srb) 3:6,7:5,0:6

Anja GAL (Slo) -15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Anja GAL – Domenika TURKOVIC (Cro) 7:5, 6:1
2nd round: Anja GAL – Iva KRIVIC (Cro) 6:0, 6:4
Quarterfinals: Anja GAL – Ariella CURCI (Ita) 6:3, 4:6, 0:6

Snezana STEVIC (BiH) -16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Snezana STEVIC – Leonarda JANKO (Cro) 7:6, 6:1
2nd round: Snezana STEVIC – O.OLIYNYKOVA (Ukr) 4:6,6:2,6:4

Neli SUNJIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 semifinalist
1st round: Neli SUNJIC – Alejandra RUFFINI (Cro) 6:1, 6:3
2nd round: Neli SUNJIC – Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb) 0:6, 1:6

Iva ZELIC (Cro) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Iva ZELIC – Adela JOLDIC (BiH) 6:4, 6:3
2nd round: Iva ZELIC – Andja KARANUSIC (Cro) 3:6, 3:6

Karla KILIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Karla KILIC – Klara ONDREJCEKOVA (Svk) 6:2, 7:5
2nd round: Karla KILIC – Kristina NOVAK (Slo) 3:6, 2:6

Andjela SKROBONJA (Srb) -16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Andjela SKROBONJA – Iva KRIVIC (Cro) 7:6, 6:7, 0:6

Lea JURKOVIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Lea JURKOVIC – Jovana VUKOVIC (Srb) 1:6, 1:6

Adela JOLDIC (BiH) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Adela JOLDIC – Iva ZELIC (Cro) 4:6, 3:6

Emma ZAKORDONIEC (Pol) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Emma ZAKORDONIEC – Kristina NOVAK (Slo) 3:6, 1:6

BOYS:

Yshai OLIEL (Isr) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 semifinalist
1st round: Yshai OLIEL – Mark KEKI (Hun) 6:3, 6:2
2nd round: Yshai OLIEL – Goran TUFEKCIC (Ger) 6:1, 6:0
Quarterfinals: Yshai OLIEL – Raphael LAMBLING (Fra) 6:0, 6:0
Semifinals: Yshai OLIEL – Duje AJDUKOVIC (Cro) 6:2, 6:0
Finals: Yshai OLIEL – Karlo SUEVICH (Cro) 6:0, 6:2

Karlo SUEVICH (Cro) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 finalist
1st round: Karlo SUEVICH – S.S.KEUSCHNIG (Aut) 6:1, 6:3
2nd round: Karlo SUEVICH – Stipan MADZAR (Cro) 6:0, 6:0
Quarterfinals: Karlo SUEVICH – O.GALIMARDANOV (Rus) 6:1, 6:2
Semifinals: Karlo SUEVICH – Bodin ZARKOVIC (Srb) 6:4,5:7,6:1
Finals: Karlo SUEVICH – Yshai OLIEL (Isr) 2:6, 0:6

Duje AJDUKOVIC (Cro) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 winner
1st round: Duje AJDUKOVIC – Gabriele BOSIO (Ita) 6:4, 6:1
2nd round: Duje AJDUKOVIC – Antun KATANEC (Cro) 6:0, 6:0
Quarterfinals: Duje AJDUKOVIC-M.DROBNJAKOVIC (Srb) 6:1,7:6
Semifinals: Duje AJDUKOVIC – Yshai OLIEL (Isr) 2:6, 0:6

Bodin ZARKOVIC (Srb) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Bodin ZARKOVIC – Leon KOS (Cro) 6:1, 6:2
2nd round: Bodin ZARKOVIC- S. BERBEROVIC (BiH) 6:0,6:0
Quarterfinals: Bodin ZARKOVIC – Tobias PUERRER (Aut) 6:1, 6:3
Semifinals: Bodin ZARKOVIC – Karlo SUEVICH (Cro) 4:6,7:5,1:6

Jan KUPCIC (Slo) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Jan KUPCIC – Alessio SAVOLDI (Ita) 6:3, 4:6, 6:1
2nd round: Jan KUPCIC – Oscar GALIMARDANOV (Rus) 1:6, 3:6

Stipan MADZAR (Cro) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 semifinalist
1st round: Stipan MADZAR-Leonhard KEHRBEIN (Ger) 6:4, 6:1
2nd round: Stipan MADZAR – Karlo SUEVICH (Cro) 0:6, 0:6

Mark KEKI (Isr) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Mark KEKI – Yshai OLIEL (Isr) 3:6, 2:6

Ivan BRAJKO (Cro) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Ivan BRAJKO – M.DROBNJAKOVIC (Srb) 6:3,1:6,0:6

Andreja PETROVIC (Nor) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Andreja PETROVIC -Yan BONDAREVSKIY (Rus) 2:6,3:6

Nemanja MALESEVIC (BiH) – 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011
1st round: Nemanja MALESEVIC – Antun KATANEC (Cro) 3:6, 1:6

Borna SEATOVIC (Cro) – 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010
1st round: Borna SEATOVIC-O.GALIMARDANOV (Rus) 4:6,1:4 ret.

26/04/12

Matic Podlipnik, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 player, with his tennis friends Blažka Tratnik, Žan Gorenec Diemat, Luka Miklavčič, Jan Vehovec and Gašper Topčič completed their second workshop at La Bottega di Smrikve and returned home...

La Bottega di Smrikve is a natural development of the story started in 1996 when the Smrikva Bowl tennis talents story began…

... and the following are few pictures of the story that we wrote in our memories with Matic Podlipnik and his friends... Jan Vehovec, Žan Gorenec Diemat, Blažka Tratnik, Luka Miklavčič and Gašper Topčič over the last week during their second workshop at La Bottega… for Gašper this was his first time at La Bottega…

... scientists agree that to create long term memories you need to do things with heart and combine them with emotions… thus Rovinj… pizza at Sergio restaurant in the old downtown… Smrikve courts… and all the actors present at our second workshop were helping to add little things that may help our little talents in their growth… there is a say that the seeds of today may be the flowers of tomorrow… ;)... you never know… :)

When I look at the above picture taken on our road to Sergio Restaurant… the mind can create infinitive thoughts… kids looking at the same direction… sharing similar dreams… being and developing friend(SHIPS)... and among infinitive thoughts I decided to take out a saying…

“If you want to build a (friend)SHIP, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea…” and growing one can learn and agree that… “”love does not consist of gazing at each other but looking outward in the same direction”... :)

... at Sergio Restaurant… kids hearts were with Barcelona and mouths enjoyed Sergio’s pizza :)... while jokes shared by Gašper were more than funny for everyone ;)...

... we try not to miss the ice cream on Brioni seaside… the spring… the wind… the sun… and after the walk… the ice cream seems increadibly good :)...

... exploring… and going towards the limit is something each of us does while we try to learn something…

... and on the courts each of them had the role… or part… Blažka was runing this part…

... and here would be hard to gues what Žan was doing… that was practicing some cawboys dancing steps :)...

Five months ago me and Miro shared our time with Matic and his friends… and this second workshop was dedicated in adding some new little building blocks identified for each student during their first stay… and elements that are valid for all of them…

Good bye… and best wishes kids! :)

23/04/12

World Book Day... Smrikva Bowl Ambassador's Library... at La Bottega...

Today is World Book Day...

...and this morning I received a friend’s note “Lets celebrate your love for books and share your knowledge… For that I will do nothing but just reading books… :)”

”... reading and books are just so important because it falls a day after the Earth day. This is what I think about how important reading is… no matter what kind of books u are reading …. a few pages a day… keep your brain damage away…”

In 2009 we started the building of the Smrikva Bowl library. Each Smrikva Bowl player is requested to bring with him a cultural book that will remember his stay in Smrikve and will represent his culture of origin that one day guests of Smrikve will be able to consult, enjoy and discover.

... and combined with the Ambassador’s donated book La Bottega di Smrikve has another tennis book and video library :)...

Phisically Smrikva Bowl Library was arranged in August 2011 and is used both as Library space and “La Bottega” teaching room too… thus in our Library you can find in addition to Ambassador’s donated books the following tennis books and DVDs…

Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors are today spread in 53 countries and all the continents. Historically their task was to search the talented kids in their countries of origin and invite them to play the Smrikva Bowl but from this year they are also our Cultural Ambassadors.

The old olive tree Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors plant every year is a symbol of friendship and intergenerational responsibility and Smrikva Bowl’s idea of children, sport, music and culture that are able to pass all frontiers are incorporated in the creation of this Smrikva Bowl Library.

I used to write in my first book on European Union and Cosmopolitan Democracy that we are those who represent the current civilization.

This is an important concept. Today people live an average of about 80 years. What we call civilization is mostly made up of the human knowledge we have accumulated until today, which our institutions pass onto future generations.

The books represent the greatest human memory that can help us understand what we see combined with cumulated personal experience of our daily lives. But given the fragility of the circle of life it is very easy for people to ignore these facts and lose sight of our human knowledge. It takes just a few generations to lose this great heritage.

We have gotten used to rapid technological progress, but social and civil progress is slower and more complex. Humans learn throughout their whole lifetime, from books and schools, but we also mostly learn from our personal experiences.

Smrikva Bowl mission is to develop and spread cosmopolitan values. Love, friendship and empathy are cosmopolitan values per excellence for people and humanity…