News

05/08/18

Alex DE MINAUR & Donna VEKIC, 14th and 10th Smrikva Bowl players, reached the finals at CITI OPEN 2018 event in Washington

Alex DE MINAUR, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 quarterfinalist, currently ranked #72 WTA, reached the finals at Washington CITI OPEN 2018 ATP 500 event:

His road to the finals was the following:

Main Draw:
1st round: Alex De Minaur – Vasek Pospisil (Can) 6:7,6:2,6:3
2nd round: Alex De Minaur – Steve Johnson (USA) 6:4,7:5
3rd round: Alex De Minaur – Hyeon Chung (Kor) 6:2,4:6,6:2
Quarterfinals: Alex De Minaur – Andy Murray (UK) wo
Semifinals: Alex De Minaur – Andrey Rublev (Rus) 5:7,7:6,6:4
Finals: Alex De Minaur – Alexander Zverev (Ger) 2:6,4:6

Players ranking:
Vasek Pospisil (Can) – #92 ATP
Steve Johnson (USA) – #34 ATP
Hyeon Chung (Kor) – #23 ATP
Andy Murray (UK) – #832 ATP
Andrey Rublev (Rus) – #46 ATP
Alexander Zverev (Ger) – #3 ATP

and with this result Alex will reach his new best ATP ranking.

Donna VEKIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, currently ranked #44 WTA, also reached the finals at Washington CITI OPEN 2018 WTA event:

Her road to the finals was the following:

Main Draw:
1st round: Donna Vekic – Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6:3,6:4
2nd round: Donna Vekic – Fanny Stollar (Hun) 6:2,3:6,7:6
Quarterfinals: Donna Vekic – Magda Linette (Pol) 6:1,7:6
Semifinals: Donna Vekic – Saisai Zheng (Chn) 7:5,6:3
Finals: Donna Vekic – S.Kuznetsova (Rus) 6:4,6:7,2:6

Players ranking:
Caroline Dolehide (USA) – #113 WTA
Fanny Stollar (Hun) – #155 WTA
Magda Linette (Pol) – #62 WTA
Saisai Zheng (Chn) – #85 WTA
Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) – #128 WTA

and with this result Donna will reach her new best WTA 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, SMRIKVE LOUNGE, Villa TASTE, for your accommodation with swimming pool in Stinjan (Pula – Pola) if you decide to spent your holiday in Istria, Croatia.

29/07/18

Olga DANILOVIC, as lucky loser, win her first WTA title at premier WTA event in Moscow - Moscow River Cup 2018

Olga DANILOVIC, 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 winner, currently ranked #187 WTA, is the winner of USD 750k Premier WTA event played in Moscow – MOSCOW RIVER CUP 2018:

Her road to the victory was the following:

Main Draw:
1st round: Olga Danilovic – Anna K.SCHMIEDLOVA (Svk) 6:2,6:4
2nd round: Olga Danilovic – Kaia KANEPI (Est) 7:6,7:5
Quarterfinals: Olga Danilovic – Julia GOERGES (Ger) 6:3,6:3
Semifinals: Olga Danilovic – Aleksandra SASNOVICH (Blr) 6:2,5:7,7:5
Finals: Olga Danilovic – Anastasia POTAPOVA (Rus) 7:5,6:7,6:4

Qualification Draw:
1st round: Olga Danilovic – Vivian HEISEN (Ger) 6:4, 6:4
2nd round: Olga Danilovic – Paula BADOS GIBERT (Esp) 6:7,6:4,3:6

Players ranking:
Vivian HEISEN (Ger) – #600 WTA
Paula BADOS GIBERT (Esp) – #178 WTA

Anna Karolina SCHMIEDLOVA (Svk) – #83 WTA
Kaia KANEPI (Est) – #51 WTA
Julia GOERGES (Ger) – #10 WTA
Aleksandra SASNOVICH (Blr) – #41 WTA
Anastasia POTAPOVA (Rus) – #204 WTA

Olga Danilovic so far won 3 junior Grand Slam doubles titles:
Junior US OPEN 2017 doubles winner
Junior WIMBLEDON 2017 doubles winner
Junior ROLAND GARROS 2016 doubles winner

and with today first victory of WTA event she will significantly improve her WTA ranking and get very close to TOP 100 WTA Club.

16/07/18

Top Smrikva Bowl and "Little Mo"/Smrikva Bowl players on ATP, WTA, ITF and European under 14 and 16 ranking lists (update July 2018)

Former top Smrikva Bowl players that reached certain results on the professional ranking list and the top Smrikva Bowl players current ranking.

You will also find the approximate list of the past Smrikva Bowl and “Little Mo” players who got US University scholarship thanks to their tennis skills…

• 22 TOP 200 WTA Smrikva Bowl Players Club with their best historical ranking:

Belinda BENCIC – 2006 player – #7 WTA (Feb 2016)
Ana KONJUH – 2007 runner up – #20 WTA (Jul 2017)
Petra MARTIC – 2001 winner – #35 WTA (Apr 2018)
Donna VEKIC – 2003-2005 player – #42 WTA (Jun 2018)
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC – 2003 semif.- # 47 WTA (Feb 2015)
Viktoria KUZMOVA – 2008 semifinalist – #81 WTA (Jun 2018)
Ivana LISJAK – 1997 winner – #95 WTA (Jun 2006)
Jana FETT – 2005 player – #97 WTA (Oct 2017)
Katie BOULTER – 2006 player – #117 WTA (Jul 2018)
Nina STOJANOVIC – 2006 player – #121 WTA (Feb 2017)

Ivana JOROVIC – 2007 player – #134 on WTA (Oct 2016)
Deborah CHIESA – 2006 player – #143 WTA (Jun 2018)
Martina TREVISAN – 2003 player – #144 WTA (Aug 2017)
Tereza MRDEZA – 2000 winner – #150 WTA (Oct 2015)
Irina Maria BARA – 2005 player – #151 WTA (Apr 2018)
Gabriela TAYLOR – 2008 player – #168 WTA (Jun 2018)
Clair LIU – 2010 “LM”/SB player -#170 WTA (Jul 2018)
Katie SWAN – 2009 winner – #176 WTA (Jul 2018)
Dejana RADANOVIC – 2006 player – #192 WTA
Olga DANILOVIC – 2011 winner – #194 WTA

Nina STOJANOVIC – 2006 player – #55 WTA doubles (Nov 2017)
Camilla ROSATELLO – 2005 player – #134 WTA doubles (Jan 2018)
Ema BURGIC – 2002 semifinalist – #145 WTA doubles (Oct 2016)

• 19 TOP 200 ATP Smrikva Bowl Players Club with their best historical ranking:

Dominic THIEM – 2003 winner – #4 ATP (Nov 2017)
Borna CORIC – 2005 player – #20 ATP (Jun 2018)
Alex DE MINAUR – 2009 player – #68 ATP (Jul 2018)
Laslo DJERE – 2005 runner up – #86 ATP (Jan 2018)
Nikola MILOJEVIC – 2005 CD winner – #143 ATP (Oct 2017)
Tommy PAUL – 2007 “LM”/SB player – #149 ATP (Jan 2018)
Federico GAIO – 2002 player – #158 ATP (Aug 2016)
Matteo DONATI – 2005 winner – #159 ATP (Jul 2015)
Gianluigi QUINZI – 2006 winner – # 167 ATP (Jul 2018)
Javier MARTI – 2002 winner – #170 ATP (Apr 2012)

Miomir KECMANOVIC – 2009 quarterf.- #176 ATP (Feb 2018)
Nino SERDARUSIC – 2005 player – #193 ATP (Jul 2018)
Nicola KUHN – 2010 winner – #196 (Apr 2018)
Lloyd HARRIS – 2007 player – #199 ATP (Oct 2017)

Marin DRAGANJA – 2001 winner – #20 ATP doubles (Apr 2015)
Dino MARCAN – 2001 runner up – #87 ATP doubles (May 2017)
Luca MARGAROLI – 2002 – #130 ATP doubles (May 2017)
Ivan SABANOV – 2002 semi – #192 ATP doubles (Feb 2018)
Matej SABANOV – 2002 semi – #196 ATP doubles (Feb 2018)

As of 16th of July 2018 the ranking summary of the very TOP former Smrikva Bowl boys and girls is the following:

• 51 WTA players TOP 1000 WTA

Belinda BENCIC – 2006 player – #45 WTA
Donna VEKIC – 2003-2005 player – #47 WTA
Viktoria KUZMOVA – 2008 semifinalist – #54 WTA
Petra MARTIC – 2001 winner – #60 WTA
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC – 2003 semif.- #62 WTA
Katie BOULTER – 2006 player – #117 WTA
Jana FETT – 2005 player – #120 WTA
Deborah CHIESA – 2006 player – #143 WTA
Irina Maria BARA – 2005 player – #151 WTA
Claire LIU – 2010 player – #170 WTA

Katie SWAN – 2009 winner – #176 WTA
Gabriela TAYLOR – 2008 player – #177 WTA
Martina TREVISAN – 2003 player – #189 WTA
Dejana RADANOVIC – 2006 player – #192 WTA
Olga DANILOVIC – 2011 winner – #194 WTA
Jessica PIERI – 2007 player – #206 WTA
Nina STOJANOVIC – 2006 player – #228 WTA
Ivana JOROVIC – 2007 player – #235 WTA
Tena LUKAS – 2005 player – #243 WTA
Tereza MRDEZA – 2000 winner – #245 WTA

Ana KONJUH – 2007 runner up – #255 WTA
Andreea ROSCA – 2009 player – #260 WTA
Olga IANCHUK – 2005 runner up – #261 WTA
Camilla ROSATELLO – 2005 player – #301 WTA
Tereza MIHALIKOVA – 2008 player – #369 WTA
Berfu CENGIZ – 2009 player – #379 WTA
Miriam BULGARU – 2008 player – #398 WTA
Angelica MORATELLI – 2004 player – #405 WTA
Maia LUMSDEN – 2009 player – #406 WTA
Oana Georgeta SIMION – 2005 player – #428 WTA

Nina POTOCNIK – 2007 player – #459 WTA
Martina CAREGARO – 2002 winner – #487 WTA
Dea HERDZELAS – 2006 quarterfinalist – #500 WTA
Karin KENNEL – 2005 player – #533 WTA
Seone MENDEZ – 2009 player – #535 WTA
Lea BOSKOVIC – 2009 player – #552 WTA
Giorgia MARCHETTI – 2005 player – #556 WTA
Ingrid NEEL – 2008 player – #580 WTA
Nina ALIBALIC – 2008 player – #590 WTA
Ashley LAHEY – 2009 player – #607 WTA

Haruna ARAKAWA – 2008 player – #614 WTA
Tatiana PIERI – 2007 player – #664 WTA
Pia CUK – 2006 player – #667 WTA
Michaela GORDON – 2009 player – #719 WTA
Zoe KRUGER – 2012 semif. – #856 WTA
Angela *FITA BOLUDA*- 2009 player – #865 WTA
Ana BISKIC – 2009 player – #882 WTA
Iva PRIMORAC – 2006 player – #884 WTA
Paula ARIAS MANJON – 2010 runner up – #903 WTA
Himari SATO – 2012 winner – #977 WTA

Giada CLERICI – 2004 player – #997 WTA

• 34 players TOP 1000 ATP

Dominic THIEM – 2003 winner – #9 ATP
Borna CORIC – 2005 player – #21 ATP
Alex DE MINAUR – 2009 player – #68 ATP
Laslo DJERE – 2005 runner up – #100 ATP
Nikola MILOJEVIC – 2005 CD winner – #162 ATP
Gianluigi QUINZI – 2006 winner – # 167 ATP
Matteo DONATI – 2005 winner – #174 ATP
Miomir KECMANOVIC – 2009 player – #186 ATP
Nino SERDARUSIC – 2005 player – #193 ATP
Tommy PAUL – 2007 player – #214 ATP

Lloyd HARRIS – 2007 player – #217 ATP
Gian Marco MORONI – 2008 player – #253 ATP
Federico GAIO – 2002 player – #259 ATP
Javier MARTI – 2002 winner – #316 ATP
Youssef HOSSAM – 2008 player – #359 ATP
Nicola KUHN – 2010 winner – #368 ATP
Alexei POPYRIN – 2009 cd winner – #374 ATP
Alejandro DAVIDOVICH FOKINA – 2009 semi – #376 ATP
Robin KERN – 2002 player – #421 ATP

Adelchi VIRGILI – 1999 winner – #485 ATP
Patrik RIKL – 2009 player – #505 ATP
Yshai OLIEL – 2010 semifinals – #590 ATP
Nerman FATIC – 2004 semifinalist- #614 ATP
William BLUMBERG – 2008 player – #641 ATP
Nik RAZBORSEK – 2003 player – #666 ATP
Miguel SEMMLER – 2007 player – #685 ATP
Bogdan BORZA – 2007 runner up – #696 ATP
Andrea GUERRIERI – 2008 player – #817 ATP
Matej SABANOV – 2002 semifinals – #873 ATP

Jeffrey SCHROSCH – 2005 player – #892 ATP
Luca MARGAROLI – 2002 player – #923 ATP
Gabi Adrian BOITAN – 2009 player – #986 ATP
Neven KRIVOKUCA – 2005 player – #994 ATP

• 10 players TOP 100 ATP RACE TO MILAN NEXT GEN

Alex DE MINAUR – 2009 player – #5 ATP
Gian Marco MORONI – 2008 player – #17 ATP
Miomir KECMANOVIC – 2009 player – #18 ATP
Lloyd HARRIS – 2007 player – #19 ATP
Alexei POPYRIN – 2009 player – #37 ATP
Alejandro DAVIDOVICH FOKINA – 2009 semi – #39 ATP
Nicola KUHN – 2010 winner – #40 ATP
Tommy PAUL – 2007 player – #55 ATP
Patrik RIKL – 2009 player – #65 ATP
Youssef HOSSAM – 2008 player – #91 ATP

• 6 boys and 7 girls… in total 13 players are in TOP 100 ITF

BOYS:
- #17 Lorenzo MUSETTI
- #31 Nicolas ALVAREZ VARONA
- #34 Damien WENGER
- #81 Holger Vitus Nodskov RUNE
- #85 Cezar CRETU
- #95 Filip KOLASINSKI

GIRLS:
- #58 Maria TIMOFEEVA
- #59 Himari SATO
- #64 Francesca CURMI
- #67 Olga DANILOVIC – Junior USOPEN 2017 winner (doubles), Junior WIMBLEDON 2017 winner (doubles), Junior ROLAND GARROS 2016 winner (doubles)
- #87 Paula ARIAS MANJON – Junior ROLAND GARROS 2016 winner (doubles)
- #96 Giulia PEONI
- #100 Helen PELLICANO

• 4 boys are in TOP 10 ETA under 16 – (Lorenzo MUSETTI #2, Holger Vitus Nodskov RUNE #5, Luca NARDI #6, Carlos ALCARAZ GARFIA #7)

• 1 boy and 2 girls are in TOP 10 ETA under 14 – (Mili POLJICAK #4, Linda FRUHVIRTOVA #2, Aliona FALEI #9)

IN 1996 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM ISTRIA AND KVARNER (1st Smrikva Bowl)… IN 1997 TOP PLAYERS FROM CROATIA gathered on the 2nd Smrikva Bowl… IN 1998 3rd SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO GATHER FIRST FOREIGN PLAYERS… and in 2001 – 6th Smrikva Bowl was the last year with dominance of the top national players…

Vilim VISAK (CRO), 1st SB 1996 winner, best ranking #612 ATP (Mar 2006)
Ivana LISJAK (CRO), 2nd SB 1997 winner, best ranking #95 WTA (Jun 2006)
Astrid BESSER (ITA), 4th SB 1999 winner, best ranking #356 WTA (Mar 2009)

Tereza MRDEZA (CRO), 5th SB 2000 winner, #245 WTA
Adelchi VIRGILI (ITA), 5th SB 2000 winner, #485 ATP

Marin DRAGANJA (CRO), 6th SB 2001 winner, #137 ATP doubles
Dino MARCAN (CRO), 6th SB 2001 runner up, best ranking #87 ATP doubles (May 2017)
Petra MARTIC (CRO), 6th SB 2001 winner, #60 WTA

US University (1996-2001):
Nikolina Grbac – US University
Indire Akiki – US University
Maja Plavšić – US University
Deni Žmak – US University
Sandra Žmak – US University
Filip Krička – US University

IN 2002 SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO BE A EUROPEAN TENNIS TALENTS GATHERING

2002 – 7th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Federico GAIO (ITA), 7th SB 2002, #259 ATP
Javier MARTI (ESP) – 7th SB 2002 winner – #316 ATP
Robin KERN (GER), 7th SB 2002, #421 ATP
Luca MARGAROLI (SUI), 7th SB 2002, #923 ATP
Ivan SABANOV (CRO), 7th SB 2002 semif., #208 ATP doubles
Matej SABANOV (CRO), 7th SB 2002 semif., #217 ATP doubles

GIRLS
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO), 7th SB 2002 runner up, #62 WTA
Martina CAREGARO (ITA), 7th SB 2002 winner, #487 WTA

US University scholarship:
Nikolina Grbac (CRO) – US University
Ema Burgic (BIH) – US University
Jordaan Sanford (USA) – US University
Morgan Basil (USA) – US University

2003 – 8th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Dominic THIEM (AUT), 8th SB 2003 winner, #9 ATP
Nik RAZBORSEK (SLO), 8th SB 2003, #666 ATP

GIRLS
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO),8th SB 2003 semif., #62 WTA
Martina TREVISAN (ITA), 8th SB 2003, #189 WTA

US University scholarship:
Maja Salibasic (BIH) – US University
Alen Salibasic (BIH) – US University
Karlo Skvorc (CRO) – US University
Robert Đula (CRO) – US University
Emmett Egger (USA) – US University
Robert Stineman (USA) – US University
Karen Forman (USA) – US University
Katie Klyczek (USA) – US University

2004 – 9th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Miki JANKOVIC (SRB), 9th SB 2004 runner up, #256 ATP (Aug 2016)
Filip VEGER (CRO), 9th SB 2004 semif, #478 ATP (Feb 2015)
Nerman FATIC (BiH), 9th SB 2004 semif, #614 ATP

GIRLS
Angelica MORATELLI (ITA), 9th SB 2004, #405 WTA
Giada CLERICI (ITA), 2004 player, #997 WTA

US University scholarship:
Saska Gavrilovska (SCG) – US University
Maja Salibasic (BIH) – US University
Giacomo Campus (ITA) – US University
Karlo Skvorc (CRO) – US University
Zvonomir Babic (CRO) – US University
Mitchell Polnet (USA) – US University
Ryan Andrada (USA) – US University
Anna Mamalat (USA) – US University
Blair Shankle (USA) – US University

IN 2005 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP TENNIS TALENTS FROM 3 CONTINENTS

2005 – 10th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Borna CORIC (CRO), 10th SB 2005, #21 ATP
Laslo DJERE (SRB), 10th SB 2005 runner up, #100 ATP
Nikola MILOJEVIC (SRB), 10th SB 2005 Cons.winner, #162 ATP
Gianluigi QUINZI (ITA), 10th SB 2005 semif., #167 ATP
Matteo DONATI (ITA), 10th SB 2005 winner, #174 ATP
Nino SERDARUSIC (CRO), 10th SB 2005, #193 ATP

GIRLS
Donna VEKIC (CRO), 10th SB 2005, #47 WTA
Jana FETT (CRO), 10th SB 2005, #120 WTA
Irina Maria BARA (ROU), 10th SB 2005, #151 WTA
Olga IANCHUK (UKR), 10th SB 2005 runner up, #261 WTA
Camilla ROSATELLO (ITA), 10th SB 2005, #301 WTA
Oana Georgetta SIMION, 10th SB 2005, #428 WTA
Karin KENNEL (SUI), 10th SB 2005, #533 WTA
Kristina OSTOJIC (SRB), 10th SB 2005, #1066 WTA

US University scholarship:
Maja Salibasic (BIH) – US University
Vladica Babic (MNE) – US University
Ella Perinovic (CRO) – US University
Blaga Delic (CRO) – US University
Saska Gavrilovska (SCG) – US University
Martin Lozano Laura (ESP) – US University
Aziz Kijametovic (BiH) – US University
Mladen Mitak (CRO) – US University
Zvonimir Babic (CRO) – US University
Harry Busby (UK) – US University
Jose Gracia (USA) – US University
Jeffrey Schorsch (USA) – US University
Yale Goldberg (USA) – US University
Dorothy Tang (USA) – US University

2006 – 11th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Gianluigi QUINZI (ITA), 11th SB 2006 winner, #167 ATP

GIRLS
Belinda BENCIC (SUI), 11th SB 2006, #45 WTA
Katie BOULTER (UK), 11th SB 2006, #117 WTA
Deborah CHIESA (ITA), 11th SB 2006, #143 WTA
Dejana *RADANOVIC*(SRB), 11th SB 2006, #192 WTA
Nina STOJANOVIC (SRB), 11th SB 2006, #228 WTA
Dea HERDZELAS (BiH), 11th SB 2006 quarterf., #500 WTA

US University scholarship:
Filip Kraljevic (CRO) – US University
Aziz Kijametovic (BIH) – US University
Ross James Wilson (GBR) – US University
Mladen Mitak (CRO) – US University

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

BOYS
Lloyd HARRIS (RSA), ,12th SB 2007, #217 ATP
Miguel SEMMLER (ESP) ,12th SB 2007, #685 ATP
Bogdan BORZA (ROU), 12th SB 2007 runner up, #696 ATP
Sergiu BUCUR (ROU), 12th SB 2007 semif., #1701 ATP

GIRLS
Jessica PIERI (ITA), 12th SB 2007, #206 WTA
Ivana JOROVIC (SRB), 12th SB 2007, #235 WTA
Ana KONJUH (CRO), 12th SB 2007 runner up, #255 WTA
Nina POTOCNIK (SLO), 12th SB 2007 semif., #459 WTA
Tatiana PIERI (ITA), 12th SB 2007, #664 WTA
Chiara GRIMM (SUI), 12th SB 2007 quarterf., #1028 WTA

“Little Mo” TEAM
Tommy PAUL (USA), 6th “Little Mo”/SB, #214 ATP

US University scholarship:
Petra Granic (CRO) – US University
Silvia Chinellato (I) – US University
Ksenija Dmitrovic (SRB) – US University
Marija Curnic (CRO) – US University
Nicolo De Fraia (I) – US University
Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore (ESP) – US University
Dominique Garley (USA) – US University

IN 2008 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP TENNIS TALENTS FROM 5 CONTINENTS AND TURNED INTO A WORLD TENNIS TALENTS GATHERING

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

BOYS
Gian Marco MORONI (ITA), 13th SB 2008, #253 ATP
Youssef HOSSAM (EGY), 13th SB 2008, #359 ATP
Andrea GUERRIERI (ITA), 13th SB 2008 semif., #817 ATP
Sven LAH (SLO), 13th SB 2008, #1105 ATP

GIRLS
Viktoria KUZMOVA (SVK), 13th SB 2008 semif., #54 WTA
Tereza MIHALIKOVA (SVK), 13th SB 2008, #369 WTA
Maia LUMSDEN (UK), 13th SB 2008 runner up, #406 WTA
Nina ALIBALIC (AUS), 13th SB 2008, #590 WTA

“Little Mo” TEAM
Ingrid NEEL (USA), 7th “Little Mo”/SB, #580 WTA

US University scholarship:
Estela Perez Somarriba (ESP) – US University
Marija Curnic (CRO) – US University
Nikolina Jovic (BiH) – US University
Katerina Jokic (BiH) – US University
Petra Granic (CRO) – US University
Grega Kokalj (SLO) – US University
Sven Lah (SLO) – US University
Charles Broom (UK) – US University
William Blumberg (USA) – US University

Maia Lumsden (UK) – UK University

IN 2009 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 6 NEW COUNTRIES AND 1 NEW CONTINENT THEREFORE 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
Alex DE MINAUR (AUS), 14th SB 2009 quarterf., #68 ATP
Miomir KECMANOVIC (SRB), 14th SB 2009 quarterf., #186 ATP
Alexei POPYRIN (AUS), 14th SB 2009 Cons.winner, #374 ATP
Alejandro DAVIDOVICH FOKINA (ESP), 14th SB 2009 semif., #376 ATP
Patrik RIKL (CZE), 14th SB 2009 quarterf., #505 ATP
Karlo KRANIC (CRO), 14th SB 2009, #1263 ATP

GIRLS
Katie SWAN (UK), 14th SB 2009 winner, #176 WTA
Andrea Amalia ROSCA (ROU), 14th SB 2009 quarterf., #260 WTA
Berfu CENGIZ (TUR), 14th SB 2009 player, #379 WTA
Seone MENDEZ (AUS), 14th SB 2009, #535 WTA
Haruna ARAKAWA (JPN), 14th SB 2009, #614 WTA

“Little Mo” TEAM
Ashley LAHEY (USA), 8th “Little Mo”/SB, #607 WTA
Michaela GORDON (USA), 8th “Little Mo”/SB, #719 WTA

US University scholarship:
Georgina Walker (GBR) – US University
Dea Lako (CRO) – US University
Georgina Axon (GBR) – US University
Max Stewart (GBR) – US University
Alvaro Regalado Pedrol (ESP) – US University
Andrej Omeragić (CRO) – US University
Karlo Kranic (CRO) – US University

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 (ESP), 15th SB 2010 winner, #368 ATP
Yshai OLIEL (ISR), 15th SB 2010 semif., #590 ATP
Tomas MACHAC (CZE), 15th SB 2010 quarterf., #1208 ATP
Filippo MORONI (ITA), 15th SB 2010, #1606 ATP
Damien WENGER (SUI), 15th SB 2010, #995 ATP doubles

GIRLS
Paula ARIAS MANJON (ESP), 15th SB 2010 runner up, #903 WTA
Irina CANTOS SIEMERS (BEL), 15th SB 2010 quarterf., #1077 WTA
Dalila SAID (EGY), 15th SB 2010, not ranked
Ania HERTEL (POL), 15th SB 2010, #124 ITF
Mihaela Lorena MARCULESCU (ROU), 15th SB 2010, #281 ITF
Kristina NOVAK (SLO), 15th SB 2010 semif., #444 ITF

“Little Mo” TEAM
Claire LIU (USA), 9th “Little Mo”/SB, #170 WTA

IN 2011 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 5 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 54 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2011 – 16th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Nicolas ALVAREZ VARONA (ESP), 16th SB 2011 quarterf., #1040 ATP
Cezar CRETU (ROU), 16th SB 2011, #85 ITF
Eric VANSHELBOIM (UKR), 16th SB 2011, #170 ITF
Mihailo POPOVIC (SRB), 16th SB 2011 runner up, #239 ITF
Duje AJDUKOVIC (CRO), 16th SB 2011 winner, #290 ITF
Makary ADAMEK (POL), 16th SB 2011, #359 ITF
Marco FURLANETTO (ITA), 16th SB 2011, #443 ITF
Stipan MADZAR (CRO), 16th SB 2011 semif., #908 ITF
Vanja DOBRNJAC (BiH), 16th SB 2011 quarterf., #1037 ITF

GIRLS
Olga DANILOVIC (SRB), 16th SB 2011 winner, #194 WTA
Betina TOKAC (TUR), 16th SB 2011 semif., #1181 WTA
Andjela SKROBONJA (SRB), 16th SB 2011 player, #123 ITF
Iva ZELIC (CRO), 16th SB quarterf., #154 ITF
Oana Smaranda CORNEANU (ROU), 16th SB 2011, #174 ITF

IN 2012 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 4 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 58 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION… and for the first time in the quarterfinals there were still five continents represented: AFRICA, ASIA, AMERICA, OCENIA and EUROPE

2012 – 17th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Lorenzo MUSETTI (ITA), 17th SB 2012 quarterf., #17 ITF
Alibek KACHMAZOV (RUS), 17th SB 2012, #144 ITF
Sebastian GIMA (ROU), 17th SB 2012 runner up, #176 ITF
Viktor JOVIC (SRB), 17th SB 2012 semif., #281 ITF
Piotr PAWLAK (POL), 17th SB 2012, #284 ITF
Mikolaj LORENS (POL), 17th SB 2012, #345 ITF
Borna DEVALD (CRO), 17th SB 2012 quarterf., #402 ITF
Michael Francis EALA (PHI), 17th SB 2012, #431 ITF
Goran ZIVOTIC (SRB), 17th SB 2012 winner, #436 ITF
Peter ALAM (UK), 17th SB 2012, #685 ITF
Felix NORDBY (NOR), 17th SB 2012, #1019 ITF

GIRLS
Zoe KRUGER (RSA), 17th SB 2012 semif., #856 WTA
Himari SATO (JPN), 17th SB 2012 winner, #977 WTA
Helene PELLICANO (MLT), 17th SB 2012 quarterf., #1006 WTA

Maria TIMOFEEVA (RUS), 17th SB 2012, #58 ITF
Francesca CURMI (MLT), 17th SB 2012, #64 ITF
Kristyna LAVICKOVA (CZE), 17th SB 2012, #131 ITF
Avelina SAYFETDINOVA (RUS), 17th SB 2012, #148 ITF
Živa FALKNER (SLO), 17th SB 2012, #161 ITF
Weronika BASZAK (POL), 17th SB 2012, #169 ITF
Charlotte OWENSBY (USA), 17th SB 2012 quarterf., #191 ITF
Luisa MEYER AUF DER HEIDE (GER), 17th SB 2012 runner up, #248 ITF
Pia LOVRIC (SLO), 17th SB 2012 semif., #331 ITF
Matilde PAOLETTI (ITA), 17th SB 2012 quarterf., #353 ITF

IN 2013 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 5 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 63 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2013 – 18th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Holger Vitus Nodskov RUNE (DEN), 18th SB 2013, #81 ITF
Carlos ALCARAZ GARFIA (ESP), 18th SB 2013 runner up, #119 ITF
Luca NARDI (ITA), 18th SB 2013, #272 ITF
Hamad MEDJEDOVIC (SRB), 18th SB 2013 semif., #449 ITF
Jerome KYM (SUI), 18th SB 2013, #531 ITF
Piotr KUSIEWICZ (POL), 18th SB 2013, #1590 ITF
Stefan POPOVIC (SRB), 18th SB 2013, #28 ETA U16
Daniel RINCON (ESP), 18th SB 2013 semif., #51 ETA U16
Danilo RAICEVIC (MNE), 18th SB 2013, #69 ETA U16
Filip MANDOVIC (SRB), 18th SB 2013, #181 ETA U16
Gal EMERSIC POTOCNIK (SVN), 18th SB 2013, #213 ETA U16
Fran MITROVIC (CRO), 18th SB 2013, #222 ETA U16
Vojtech VEIGERT (CZE), 18th SB 2013, #230 ETA U16
Bartol BORSE (CRO), 18th SB 2013, #332 ETA U16
Alejandro TURRIZIANI ALVAREZ (ESP), 18th SB 2013 winner, #392 ETA U16
Lovre ERCEG (CRO), 18th SB 2013, #482 ETA U16
Aleksa KRIVOKAPIC (MNE), 18th SB 2013, #514 ETA U16
Adi DAGAN (ISR), 18th SB 2013, #1114 ETA U16
Mateja JANICIJEVIC (SRB), 18th SB 2013, #1419 ETA U16

GIRLS
Selin Lidya SEPKEN (TUR), 18th SB 2013 semif., #283 ITF
Noa KRZNARIC (CRO), 18th SB 2013 winner, #391 ITF
Andjela LOPICIC (SRB), 18th SB 2013, #1647 ITF
Kyle BILCHEV (UK), 18th SB 2013 runner up, #1661 ITF
Antonia RUZIC (CRO), 18th SB 2013, #1759 ITF
Kornelia HUNCAK (CRO), 18th SB 2013 semif., #294 ETA U16
Ana VILCEK (SRB), 18th SB 2013, #1335 ETA U16

IN 2014 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 2 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 65 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2014 – 19th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Mili POLJICAK (CRO), 19th SB 2014, #4 ETA U14
Luka MIKRUT (CRO), 19th SB 2014, #19 ETA U14
Raffaele MARIANI (SUI), 19th SB 2014, #26 ETA U14
Vilius GAUBAS (LIT), 19th SB 2014, #26 ETA U14
Bor ARTNAK (SVN), 19th SB 2014, #31 ETA U14
Svetlin KEREMEDCHIEV (BLG), 19th SB 2014, #35 ETA U14
Pedro RODENAS (ESP), 19th SB 2014, #36 ETA U14
Kalin IVANOVSKI (MKD), 19th SB 2014, #47 ETA U14
Lun OBRUL (SVN), 19th SB 2014, #47 ETA U14
Matija SAMARDZIC (MNE), 19th SB 2014, #51 ETA U14
Nikola ZEKIC (SRB), 19th SB 2014, #55 ETA U14
Noa VUKADIN (CRO), 19th SB 2014, #62 ETA U14

William JANSEN (GBR), 19th SB 2014, #75 ETA U14
Carlos GUERRERO ALVAREZ (ESP), 19th SB 2014, #75 ETA U14
Dragomir DRAGANOV (BLG), 19th SB 2014, #67 ETA U14
Enrico BALDISSERRI (ITA), 19th SB 2014 semif., #105 ETA U14
Dan Vasile DUTA (ROU), 19th SB 2014, #122 ETA U14
Ivan SODAN (CRO), 19th SB 2014, #122 ETA U14
Krsta PETROVIC (SRB), 19th SB 2014, #129 ETA 14
Patrick BRADY (THI), 19th SB 2014 winner, #133 ETA U14
Danil SOBOLIEV (UKR), 19th SB 2014 semif., #190 ETA U14
Ante CIKOJEVIC (GER), 19th SB 2014 runner up, #319 ETA U14

GIRLS
Linda FRUHVIRTOVA (CZE), 19th SB 2014 semif., #2 ETA U14
Aliona FALEI (BLR), 19th SB 2014 runner up, #9 ETA U14
Patricie KUBIKOVA (CZE), 19th SB 2014, #25 ETA U14
Joelle STEUR (GER), 19th SB 2014, #27 ETA U14
Patricija PAUKSTYTE (LTU), 19th SB 2014, #39 ETA U14
Denislava GLUSHKOVA (BGR), 19th SB 2014, #41 ETA U14
Lucija CIRIC BAGARIC (CRO), 19th SB 2014, #54 ETA U14
Divna RATKOVIC (MNE), 19th SB 2014, #68 ETA U14
Stela PEEVA (BGR), 19th SB 2014, #78 ETA U14
Suana TUCAKOVIC (BIH), 19th SB 2014 semif., #91 ETA U14
Emma RIZZETTO (ITA), 19th SB 2014, #120 ETA U14
Emma VALLETTA (ITA), 19th SB 2014 semif., #124 ETA U14
Irene ARTIGAS (ESP), 19th SB 2014, #133 ETA U14
Tea LUKIC (SRB), 19th SB 2014 winner, #134 ETA U14
Petja DRAME (SLO), 19th SB 2014, #134 ETA U14
Sarah MUELLER (GER), 19th SB 2014, #142 ETA U14
Veronica SIRCI (ITA), 19th SB 2014, #165 ETA U14
Anna KANTOR (HUN), 19th SB 2014, #165 ETA U14
Neriya YONA (ISR), 19th SB 2014, #178 ETA U14
Kyoka KUBO (JPN), 19th SB 2014, #419 ETA U14

IN 2015 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 9 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 73 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2015 – 20th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Branko DJURIC (MNE), 20th SB 2015 winner, #18 ETA U14
Dino PRIZMIC (CRO), 20th SB 2015 quarterf., #25 ETA U14
Marc MAJDANDZIC (GER), 20th SB 2015 semif., #32 ETA U14
Matej DODIG (CRO), 20th SB 2015, #72 ETA U14
Mikalai BANKOU (BLR), 20th SB 2015, #74 ETA U14
Giacomo NOSEI (ITA), 20th SB 2015, #162 ETA U14
Dimitar PENCHEV (BGR), 20th SB 2015, #219 ETA U14
Andrea MEDURI (ITA), 20th SB 2015, #235 ETA U14
Federico BONDIOLI (ITA), 20th SB 2015, #363 ETA U14
Jose Aless HERNANDEZ (ESP), 20th SB 2015 semif., #906 ETA U14
Iker SEVILLA (ESP), 20th SB 2015 runner up

GIRLS
Linda FRUHVIRTOVA (CZE), 20th SB 2015 semif., #2 ETA U14
Mara GAE (ROU), 20th SB 2015 semif. ,#47 ETA U14
Klio Maria IOANNOU (CYP), 20th SB 2015, #65 ETA U14
Malwina ROWINSKA (POL), 20th SB 2015, #73 ETA U14
Alena KASATKINA (RUS), 20th SB 2015 winner, #109 ETA U14
Jaquelyn OGUNWALE (UK), 20th SB 2015 winner, #118 ETA U14
Leticia TAROCCO (CRO), 20th SB 2015 winner, #122 ETA U14
Anja PETKOVIC (SRB), 20th SB 2015 runner up, #129 ETA U14
Petra MARCINKO (CRO), 20th SB 2015, #165 ETA U14
Anastasia GRECHKINA (RUS), 20th SB 2015, #165 ETA U14
Tena RAJKI (CRO), 20th SB 2015, #160 ETA U14
Vanesa DANKO (HUN), 20th SB 2015, #187 ETA U14
Alexandra EALA (PHI), 20th SB 2015 , #241 ETA U14 – Les Petits As 2018 winner

IN 2016 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 6 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 79 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2016 – 21st Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Kaylan BIGUN (USA), 21st SB 2016 winner – Auray 2018 winner
Luis Garcia PAEZ (ESP), 21st SB 2016 runner up
Petr BRUNCLIK (CZE), 21st SB 2016 semif.
Meecah BIGUN (USA), 21st SB 2016 semif.

GIRLS
Ela Nala MILIČ (SVN), 21st SB 2016 winner
Camilia SAMEL DRUZ (FRA), 21st SB 2016 runner up
Yufei REN (CHN), 21st SB 2016 semif.
Mia RISTIĆ (SRB), 21st SB 2016 semif.

IN 2017 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD AGAIN SIX CONTINENTS REPRESENTED AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 85 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2017 – 22nd Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Roben GAVANI (BGR), 22nd SB 2017 winner
William REJCHTMAN VINCIGUERRA (SWE), 22nd SB 2017 runner up
Duje MARKOVINA (CRO), 22nd SB 2017 semif.
Štepan SKLENIČKA (CZE), 22nd SB 2017 semif.

GIRLS
Rositsa DENCHEVA (BGR), 22nd SB 2017 winner
Shanice ROIGNOT (FRA), 22nd SB 2017 runner up
Chu LI-YA (TWN), 22nd SB 2017 semif.
Mai GOTO (JPN), 22nd SB 2017 semif.

IN 2018 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD AGAIN SIX CONTINENTS REPRESENTED AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 87 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION…

2018 – 23rd Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Vito DARDERI (ARG), 23rd SB 2018 winner
Niels McDONALD (GER), 23rd SB 2018 runner up
Žiga ŠEŠKO (SLO), 23rd SB 2018 semif.
Riki IMAI (JPN), 23rd SB 2018 semif.

GIRLS
Alisa OKTIABREVA (RUS), 23rd SB 2018 winner
Iva LAKIĆ (MNE), 23rd SB 2018 runner up
Daria KORESHKOVA (RUS), 23rd SB 2018 semif.
Zlatina ANGELOVA (BUL), 23rd SB 2018 semif.

01/07/18

Some pictures of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 actors... taken during the Sixth and Final day of their Smrikva Bowl... the AWARDING day... the cake and swimming pool day :)

Smrikva Bowl finals are played since 1996 with linesman and ball kids… and at 8:30 AM everything was ready for the final act of this year 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Opera stage… :)

The Finals and Awarding ceremony day of the 23rd annual started with traditional Staff gathering…

… over 100 invisible hands that make MORE THEN TENNIS a reality for a week… year after year…

The girls finals are per tradition scheduled at 9:00 AM and it always start with flower pictures of the finalists…

… the Main actors of this year Opera final act were Alisa Oktiabreva from Russia and Iva Lakić from Montenegro :)…

… here is the Chair Umpire Damir giving Alisa and Iva the final instructions before their opera start… enjoy the game and let’s the public enjoy your tennis talent level…

On the court #2 the girls were at same time ready for the Finals… and their Chair Umpire Dragan was giving them the final instructions for the game… The finals was played between Petra Škokić from Croatia…

and Dunja Kulpinac from Serbia… Dunja was able to collect more points during the finals and was the winner of the day…

and here we return to see Alisa in action…

… it was a lovely tennis day… for all the people who gathered around the court #1 where all the 23rd annual finals were played… and here is Iva in action…

… after girls Consolation finals at the court #2 the boys Consolation finals started… between Eyad Ezzat from Egypt

and Vitorio Stankov from Bulgaria…

Today Eyad was able to win the Consolation Draw…

From the first edition ball kids are part of the stage… and I wish to thanks: Stefo, Paolina, Uxue, Neptun, Laura, Fran, Amalia, Ippei and Riki for making the finals of today special :D

… this year Alisa was able to collect more points then Iva and take the bike for the first time to Czech Republic although she is Russian :)…

Alisa Oktiabreva crowned herself the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 edition winner… and this is the shaking hands moment between Iva and Alisa…

I am sure this is only one of the first meetings for the most Smrikva kids and there will be many matches in the future for most of them… and many opportunities to measure their skills development…

… after the girls exhibition of their skills it was the time of boys…

Two boys to reach the finals were Vito Darderi from Argentina and Niels McDonald from Germania.

The garden of Smrikve during Smrikva Bowl always remind me a bit of a Central Park… after the final instructions from the Chair Umpire Damir Vito and Niels were ready to step on the court #1 for their game show exhibition…

Ready for the game…

here is Vito in action…

… Niels …

and Vito again after his last point celebrating the Championship point…

… a very interesting and inspiring experience for the most young children who are starting to love tennis…

soon after the finals we were ready for the awarding ceremony…

there were many awards given today… and here are the awarded players around Alisa and Vito…

the traditional signature of the US OPEN ball donated by Justin Lee in 2009… Alisa …

and here is Vito…

picture together for the memory wall….

and winners’ bike ride :D

started with Alisa …

… followed by Vito bike ride…

and here is the cake before swimming pool :D

… and before leaving for home the winners and awarded players invited all the friends into the swimming pool :)

It was a super particular edition… and I hope most of the kids will get a little of inspiration to keep developing their tennis talent…

Thanks to all the participants… players… families… coaches… Smrikva Bowl Staff and friends… for making 23rd annual… ANOTHER GOOD YEAR… :)

30/06/18

23rd SMRIKVA BOWL 2018 Press Release

PULA, CROATIA 25 th JUNE – 30 th JUNE 2018
- one game one nation-

23nd Smrikva Bowl 2018 – tennis tournament for boys and girls under 10 – gathered 111 boys and girls representing over 40 Smrikva Bowl countries and six continents. It was another successful annual and Smrikva Bowl starting with this year edition counts its Ambassadors in 87 countries and six continents.

Smrikva Bowl winners:

• Vilim Višak (CRO) Natali Zuliani (CRO) 1996
• Željko Perić (CRO) Ivana Lisjak (CRO) 1997
• Filip Kovačić (CRO) Mateja Horvat (CRO) 1998
• Borko Mudronja (CRO) Astrid Besser (ITA) 1999
• Adelchi Virgili (ITA) Tereza Mrdeža (CRO) 2000
• Marin Draganja (CRO) Petra Martić (CRO) 2001
• Javier Marti (ESP) Martina Caregaro (ITA) 2002
• Dominic Thiem (AUT) Jennifer Ren (UK) 2003
• Ivan Levar (CRO) Saška Gavrilovska (SRB) 2004
• Matteo Donati (ITA) Saška Gavrilovska (SRB) 2005
• Gianluigi Quinzi (ITA) Eleonor Dean (UK) 2006
• Sacha Merzetti (ITA) Virgina Pena (ESP) 2007
• Luka Panic (SUI) Katarina Jokić (BiH) 2008
• Alvaro Regalado (ESP) Katie Swan (UK) 2009
• Nicola Kuhn (ESP) Jovana Vuković (SRB) 2010
• Duje Ajduković (CRO) Olga Danilović (SRB) 2011
• Goran Životić (SRB) Himari Sato (JPN) 2012
• Turriziani Alvarez (ESP) Noa Krznarić (CRO) 2013
• Patrick Brady (UK) Tea Lukić (SRB) 2014
• Branko Đurić (MNE) Alena Kasatkina (RUS) 2015
• Kaylan Bigun (USA) Ela Nala Milič (SVN) 2016
• Roben Gavani (BGR) Rositsa Dencheva (BGR) 2017
• Vito Darderi (ARG) Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS) 2018

Vito Darderi from Argentina won the boys finals, while Alisa Oktiabreva from Russia, living in Czech Republic, won the girls finals.

The winners won, among other, the mountain bikes – the traditional Smrikva Bowl prize – a week stage at Patrick Mouratoglou Academy, and Wilson International support.

23rd SMRIKVA BOWL 2018 MAIN RESULTS

Boys:

Finals:
Vito Darderi (ARG) – Niels McDonald (GER) (2:4,4:1,10:7)

Semifinals:
Vito Darderi (ARG) – Riki Imai (JPN) (4:1,4:0)
Niels McDonald (GER) – Žiga Šeško (SLO) (4:2,5:3)

Quarterfinals:
Vito Darderi (ARG) – Matej Kukrika (CRO) (5:4,4:2)
Niels McDonald (GER) – Emil Bećović (SWE) (4:2,4:0)
Riki Imai (JPN) – Skender Katana (MNE) (4:0,1:4,10:6)
Žiga Šeško (SLO) – Thilo Behrmann (AUT) (4:2,5:3)

Girls:

Finals:
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS) – Iva Lakić (MNE) (4:0,4:1)

Semifinals:
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS) – Zlatina Angelova (BGR) (4:1,4:2)
Iva Lakić (MNE) – Daria Koreshkova (RUS) (4:0,4:1)

Quarterfinals:
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS) – Marta Dobrić (CRO) (4:0,4:1)
Iva Lakić (MNE) – Shamiso Ndoro (GBR) (4:2,4:2)
Zlatina Angelova (BGR) – Andrea Ivanova (BGR) (2:4,4:2,10:8)
Daria Koreshkova (RUS) – Amalia Widdowson (GBR) (4:5,4:2,10:4)

Thanks to the all Smrikva Bowl supporters and especially to the:
Smrikva Bowl Friends, Staff, Golden and Honorary Members!

30/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 winners are: Alisa Oktabrieva (RUS) and Vito Darderi (ARG)

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and Results

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Press Release

29/06/18

Some pictures of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 actors :)... taken during the Fifth day of their Smrikva Bowl... the day when "IGRA" game winners were known... :))... and the day when the finalists of this year edition were known... the BRIONI day :)

The fifth day was the day when the semifinalist of the Main and Consolation Draw were known… but was also the day of Brioni Islands visit and the day of the “IGRA” Game finals :)

I am pleased to present the list of the actors of the Day who make it to the finals in their singles and towards the victory in special “IGRA” doubles…

MAIN DRAW FINALIST:

BOYS
Niels McDonald (GER)
Vito Darderi (ARG)

GIRLS
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS)
Iva Lakić (MNE)

CONSOLATION DRAWS FINALIST

BOYS
Vitorio Stankov (BGR)
Eyad Ezzat (EGY)

GIRLS
Dunja Kulpinac (SRB)
Petra Škokić (CRO)

“IGRA” GAME WINNERS and RUNNER UPS:

Roger Koike (JPN)
Riku Kato (HKG)

Luka Nikolić (NED)
Pietro Verno’ (ITA)

After the presentation of the actors of the Day… I am pleased to share a little piece of the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors Day celebrated on 21st of September… because today we spent on Brioni Islands… once upon a time named the Islands of Peace…

Smrikve, September 2010

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21st and this day has been elected to be also the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors’ Day.

It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many people. For the first time this holiday was celebrated in 1981.

The Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors Day, although celebrated on the same day as the World Peace Day, is dedicated to civilisation, intergenerational responsibility and tennis. Without civil society in a modern world there is no guarantee for peace.

In 1981 the United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the third Tuesday of September (the opening day of regular sessions of the General Assembly) as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace and civilisation values.

In 2001, the day was changed from the third Tuesday to specifically the twenty-first day of September. A new resolution was passed by the General Assembly, sponsored by the United Kingdom (giving credit to Peace One Day) and Costa Rica (the sponsors of the original day) to give the Day of Peace a fixed date and declare it as a global ceasefire day.

In 1991, on September 21st, I left Smrikve for Milan, it was the war time in my country, 5 years before, on the same day, in 1986, I sailed with a boat to Dubrovnik with school friends living a nice life time memory experience.

Having our calendar year 365 days if we live for some time and create our own experience we learn that the same day can remind us something nice and something not nice… it is a circle…

Not nice could be compared to a mistake in tennis… we learn from the mistakes. They help us understand what is not good or what we do not do properly…

To end this comment I am pleased to repeat words of a Nobal Prize for Peace who was guest speaker to one of Ambrosetti’s Young Leader Group meetings. It is a tradition that every guest dedicate few words to the Group and he wrote down the following:

“The future is always in a minority. Yet the history of the future is more important than the history of the past. It is for the old to remember the past. It is for the young to build the world of tomorrow.

Do it! You can build a world without wars. You can build a new humanity.”

Everything around us lives in a delicate equilibrium and with intelligence we should try to understand it and respect it. The knowledge, human curiosity and will to learn are important. They are all parts of the civilisation path.

Shimon Peres used in his note the statement: “Do it!” thus reminded me Yoda’s wisdom words when he shares his knowledge with young Jedi: “Try not. Do or do not “ :)

If people believe in the future there is future. If people do not believe in the future there is no future.

Miodrag Bozovic

Here are our IGRA Game Finalist :)

… and tomorrow is the single FINALS Day… the day of the Cake…

Awarding Ceremony Day… and the Day of the Swimming Pool :D

GO SMRIKVA GO!!! :D

29/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 5th DAY results and ORDER OF PLAY for the 6th day 30th of June

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and 5th DAY Results

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play, SMRIKVE, 30th of June, 6th day

29th of June:
1:30 PM : BRIONI Islands trip
7:30 PM : Semifinals and Finals of the IGRA Game + PIZZA for all the players cheering for the finals of the IGRA GAME :D

FINALIST Main Draw:
Boys:
Niels McDonald (GER)
Vito Darderi (ARG)

Girls:
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS)
Iva Lakić (MNE)

FINALIST Consolation Draw:
Boys:
Vitorio Stankov (BGR)
Eyad Ezzat (EGY)

Girls:
Dunja Kulpinac (SRB)
Petra Škokić (CRO)

29/06/18

Some pictures of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 actors... taken during the fourth day of their Smrikva Bowl... the day when the children participated lucky draw :)... and pictures with few words related to Smrikva Bowl Mission story...

During the long Fourth Smrikva Bowl Day the semifinalist of all the single draws and IGRA game were known :)…

… and I am pleased to take the opportunity to share few words related to Smrikva Bowl Mission story with our new Ambassadors generation ;)…

SEMIFINALIST Main Draw:
Boys:
Žiga Šeško (SLO)
Niels McDonald (GER)

Riki Imai (JPN)
Vito Darderi (ARG)

Girls:
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS)
Zlatina Angelova (BGR)

Iva Lakić (MNE)
Daria Koreshkova (RUS)

SEMIFINALIST Consolation Draw:
Boys:
Ian Boloban (BIH)
Vitorio Stankov (BGR)

Riku Kato (HKG)
Eyad Ezzat (EGY)

Girls:
Duru Baycan (TUR)
Dunja Kulpinac (SRB)

Petra Škokić (CRO)
Janet Lambreva (BGR)

Just few promised words behind Smrikva ;)…

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

What does that mean?…

CULTURE, CHILDREN, SPORT and MUSIC are part of the Smrikva Bowl idea of the cosmopolitan world. It is a matter of civilization …

…a truly wise windy, product of imagination, once whispered… “Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.” (M.Y.)… and fairy tales seems to help that beauty…

… but I am sure you will cross in the future with the following opinion… “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” (A.E.)…

I noted that all of you are very calm during hard points… and usually in tennis game, as well as in many other fields, it does not matter what goes wrong but your reaction to it…

… we received special gifts for the Lucky Draw from… Dominic Thiem, Katie Swan, Borna Coric, Nicola Kuhn, Tereza Mihalikova, Donna Vekic, Miomir Kecmanovic, Matteo Donati, Alex De Minaur, Gianluigi Quinzi, Kei Nishikori, Luca Appino, Katie Boulter, Andreea Rosca, Juan Martin Del Potro, Alex and Miko Eala, Gregor Dimitrov, Ivan and Matej Sabanov, Olga Danilovic…

… and their success could teach us how fear and anger are for the brain the same as cramps for the muscles…

and… what Master Yoda noted “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”…

… in tennis seems to be the same… if you want to win more… you master your skills and believe in your game ;)

There are different ways to look at sport. There are different ways to look at music, culture, love and also to children.

The vision of sport preferred in Smrikve can be described and extended to: culture, music and children using the following Nelson Mandela – Madiba’s words…

… “Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire and the power to unite people in a way little else can – it is an instrument of peace.”

… a wise men living in China 2500 years ago once observed… “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.” … hmmm… sounds very interesting… hm hm :)

an interesting opinion…

… and to set your heart right you need good characters… those who wish to contribute to the greater public good had to begin by working on themselves…

… only then they will see progress radiate out from their personal circles to society at large…

Today is the semifinals day… the BRIONI Islands Day… and IGRA GAME Day :D… a lot to do and a lot to see ;)….

GO SMRIKVA GO!!! :D

29/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 4th DAY results and ORDER OF PLAY for the 5th day 29th of June

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and 4th DAY Results

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play, SMRIKVE, 29th of June, 5th day

29th of June:
1:30 PM : BRIONI Islands trip
7:30 PM : Semifinals and Finals of the IGRA Game

27/06/18

Some pictures of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 actors... taken during the third day of their Smrikva Bowl... the day when they start super IGRA game... pictures to share Smrikva Bowl Library story...

Third Smrikva Bowl day is the day when the IGRA game start… and is also the day when the quarterfinalist of the edition start to be known…

Third day is also the FORUM day… knowledge sharing day…

I am pleased to take the opportunity to share a bit of the story of our Library with the actors of the third day…

It was 2009 when we started to build the Smrikva Bowl library… and each Smrikva Bowl player was 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…

With this year edition Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors are spread in 87 countries and all the continents… and the library reached over 1000 books from over 70 countries…

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…

Cultural Ambassadors is both spreading the Smrikva idea and spreading the ISTRIA from SMRIKVE E-book… the cultural e-book for travelers…

It was shared yesterday with kids that 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.

…in some languages… the word generations means also history… and in my first book on European Union and Cosmopolitan Democracy I come to a simple conclusion that we are those who represent the current civilization.

O yes ;)… 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.

there is a big importance of a quality book… o yes ;)

They represent a great 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 ;)

I’d like to observe that 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.

I just wish to say that Smrikva Bowl’s more then tennis is something you find above… hm… not only tennis… music… culture… children… sport… four interesting pillars…

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

Friendship… is long term trust… and long term bridge… always takes time to get built… and always require maintenance ;)…

… and IGRA game is spreading… it is reaching different places… different continents…

… with music… run… play… and say “IGRA” :)

Quarterfinalist of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018

MAIN DRAW:

BOYS:
Thilo Behrmann (AUT)
Žiga Šeško (SLO)

Niels McDonald (GER)
Emil Bećović (SWE)

Skender Katana (MNE)
Riki Imai (JPN)

Matej Kukrika (CRO)
Vito Darderi (ARG)

GIRLS:

Marta Dobrić (CRO)
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS)

Andrea Ivanova (BGR)
Zlatina Angelova (BGR)

Shamiso Ndoro (GBR)
Iva Lakić (MNE)

Daria Koreshkova (RUS)
Amalia Widdowson (GBR)

CONSOLATION DRAW:

BOYS:
Lenny Petit (FRA)
Ian Boloban (BIH)

Noa Pasarić (CRO)
Vitorio Stankov (BGR)

Dimitar Kisimov (BGR)
Riku Kato (HKG)

Eyad Ezzat (EGY)
Antoni Kasperski (POL)

GIRSL:
Paola Pieragostini (SLV)
Duru Baycan (TUR)

Ela Giergia (CRO)
Dunja Kulpinac (SRB)

Petra Škokić (CRO)
Astrid Joha-Bilić (CRO)

Silvia Adriana Caliman (ESP)
Janet Lambreva (BGR)

… and the LOTTERY!!! is on schedule for tomorrow at 4:00 PM… o yes… many possibilities…

… we will see who win what ;)….

… the Tennis Talents FORUM is worth recalling… always a nice moment to share just few elements that could be useful to the families and coaches on their path in helping their children to reach their potential…

Tomorrow is the day of QUARTERFINALS… and the day of IGRA… it is also the LOTTERY DAY!!!! “LUCKY DRAW” :D

GO SMRIKVA GO :D

27/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 3rd DAY results and ORDER OF PLAY for the 4th day 28th of June

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and 3rd DAY Results

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play, SMRIKVE, 28th of June, 4th day

28th of June:
1 PM : IGRA Game will follow the single matches
4 PM : Lucky Draw, followed by IGRA Game

26/06/18

The day when I become SMRIKVA BOWL Ambassador - 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 generation

Today a bit after 8:00 PM the Smrikva Bowl players of this year edition became Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors… the ceremony started at 6:00 PM…

I am pleased to repeat the story of the Smrikva Bowl Olive Trees traditionally planted in Smrikve… being this moment one of the most important parts of the Smrikva Bowl story…

In 2005, for the 10th Smrikva Bowl anniversary, we started a tradition of planting an Olive tree… The Olive tree selected was at the beginning older than the oldest man living on the earth today. The tree that we planted for the 10th Smrikva Bowl was over 150 years old…

…during the ceremony, every Ambassador put a tiny piece of land close to the root of the Olive tree and say his or her name. This way the tree gets their names…

This year again was the name and a Grand Slam ;)… the children know the story…

During the ceremony of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl Olive Tree Generation… the tree received new names…

… Olive tree is a symbol of peace… but the age of the tree means intergenerational responsibility…

Every person is born without knowing anything about life on this earth and it is the responsibility of every generation to understand and to learn to preserve all that each of us is born with… :)

… The Lion King cartoon is an artwork and most of the life messages one can find in it are in line with the Smrikva Bowl founding ideas… ;) Life messages you find in Lion King are in line with the message of the Ambassadors’ Olive Tree; they are in line with the values of friendship and love; they are in line with empathy…

… Love, friendship and empathy are all Cosmopolitan values per excellence, as far as people and humanity are concerned… it is true that the relationship between Mufasa, Sarabi and Simba reminds me of both: parents and family love, but also about the intergenerational responsability.

Timon, Pumbaa and Simba relationship reminds me about love between friends. Pumbaa also make me think abuout empathy, intuition and loyalty and the relationship between Simba and Nola reminds me again about the importance of love… :)

Rafiki, the wise old baboo, with his many centuries old tree reminds me about the importance of knowledge and experience of the older… that there are many other particular moments that every person on its own, based on his or her own life experience, discover by watching these artworks.

You might be interested to know that most of the characters’s names in this cartoon have a particular meaning in Swahili language…

Simba means “lion”… Nala means “gift”, and love is for me one of the greatest gifts that people can receive and give during their life

Sarabi means “mirage”… Pumbaa means “dull-witted” or “stunned”… and Rafiki means “friend” :)… These names with their meanings make me think of the American Indians and the way they used to give the names to their people.

As I wrote at the beginning of today’s article every person is born without knowing anything about life on this earth and it is the responsibility of every generation to understand and to learn, to preserve all that each of us is born with.

When Mufasa was explaining to Simba that is not easy to be the King… he tried to explain that a good King should know that everything around us lives in a delicate equilibrium and with intelligence we should try to understand it and respect it…

is true that every generation face new challenges but there are many examples in the past how the old generations managed and solved particular problems… ;) and this is why… knowledge, human curiosity and will to learn are important…

It was another long Smrikva day… ended with a Grand Slam dream victory and good LEDO ice cream at the end :)… everybody wished to make true their dream ;)

Tomorrow is the new day… IGRA game day… it is the day to choose IGRA partners…

and the FORUM day… the 23rd Smrikva Bowl generation will discover the IGRA game…

GO SMRIKVA GO :D… with LEDO ice cream award GO :D

Tomorrow we will learn and experience something new again :)

26/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 2nd DAY results and ORDER OF PLAY for the 3rd day 27th of June

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and 2nd DAY Results

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play, SMRIKVE, 27th of June, 3rd day

25/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 1st DAY results and ORDER OF PLAY for the 2nd day 26th of June

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and 1st DAY Results

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play Main Draw, SMRIKVE, 26th of June, 2nd day

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play Consolation Draw, VODNJAN, 26th of June, 2nd day

24/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 started today at 8:00 AM with presentation of 111 tennis talents from six continents...

With new countries Smrikva Bowl will reach 87 countries represented on the tournament since Smrikva Bowl foundation in 1996…

… it was a pleasure to meet and present each one personally… representing all the continents of our Planet… and it is always a pleasure to wish to the players a good game… :)

Tomorrow at 6:00 PM 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 players will be nominated Ambassadors and will plant as per tradition an Olive Tree.

The creation of the Smrikva Bowl Library started in 2009 and with this year donations we will be over 1000 cultural books from around 70 countries… tomorrow at 6:00 PM each book will be presented… and the old olive tree of the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 generation will be planted…

WELCOME TO THE … 23rd SMRIKVA BOWL GENERATION!

24/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws and Order of Play

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 Draws

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play for Girls, SMRIKVE, 25th of June, 1st day

23rd SB 2018 Order of Play for Boys, VODNJAN, 25th of June, 1st day

24/06/18

23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 "seeds of the Legends of tomorrow" list... :D

World in Smrikve … Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors network will be spread in 87 countries after Tuesday’s Ambassador Nomination Ceremony… new countries Ambassadors will be nominated again…

The level of the players is expected to be very high again this year among 111 registered participants from six continents…

The list of the names of the players that honored us with their arrival to Smrikve this year:

Girls
Marta Dobrić (CRO)
Staša Bulatović (MNE)
Gabriela Georgieva (BGR)
Ema Šantić (CRO)
Sarina Schnyder (SUI)
Alja Senica (SLO)
Dunja Kulpinac (SRB)
Alisa Oktiabreva (RUS)
Justine Tardif (CAN)
Nika Bumbak (CRO)
Georgiana Mititelu (ROM)
Paola Pieragostini (SLV)
Andrea Ivanova (BGR)
Astrid Joha-Bilić (CRO)
Nika Peskar Majoli (CRO)
Naz Ada Aligur (TUR)
Florentina Kastner (GER)
Selena Romero Calvo (ESP)
Ana Bonovil (CRO)
Sara Pogorevc (SLO)
Hanna Kolak (POL)
Zlatina Angelova (BGR)
Tatiana Cantos Siemers (ESP)
Lana Virc (SRB)
Shamiso Ndoro (GBR)
Eva Khrustaleva (RUS)
Ana Stojneva (SLO)
Mila Gugučevska (MKD)
Valeria Kravchenko (ITA)
Eva Andreeva Munteanu (ROM)
Elena Stjepić (BIH)
Iris Saville (GBR)
Iva Lakić (MNE)
Fung Tak Sum (HKG)
Janet Lambreva (BGR)
Uxue Azurza Frade (ESP)
Petra Škokić (CRO)
Milla Dimitrijević (GER)
Daria Koreshkova (RUS)
Maja Wrobel (POL)
Ela Giergia (CRO)
Silvia Adriana Caliman (ESP)
Duru Baycan (TUR)
Amalia Widdowson (GBR)

Boys

Ryan Zuberbühler (CRO)
Antoni Kasperski (POL)
Karim Tamer Ali Bebars (EGY)
Viggo Wagenknecht (GER)
Victor Mazerie (FRA)
Thilo Behrmann (AUT)
Dario Carballal Figaredo (ESP)
Wiktor Jež (POL)
Žiga Šeško (SLO)
Ariu Marić Modrušan (CRO)
Marko Dragović (MNE)
Maita Munyimani (AUS)
Riku Kato (HKG)
Claudio Paolini (ITA)
Calvin Gnjidić (GER)
Marcel Benjamin Kovacs (HUN)
Ryuto Suzuki (JPN)
Neptun Candemir (TUR)
Nicolas Ordonez Alvarez (ESP)
Filippo Alfano (ITA)
Matic Sitar (SLO)
Noa Pasarić (CRO)
Niels McDonald (GER)
Roko Klisović (CRO)
Victor Ryden (SWE)
Aleksandar Mitev (BGR)
Hrvoje Jutreša (CRO)
Emil Bećović (SWE)
Vitorio Stankov (BGR)
Luka Nikolić (NED)
Patrick Valentin Moise (ROM)
Lovro Milat (CRO)
Volodymyr Dombrovskyi (UKR)
Oliver Majdandžić (GER)
Ippei Matsushima (JPN)
Uroš Rađenović (SRB)
Mattia Aiassa (ITA)
Mauro Mavračić (CRO)
Marcel Guzinski (POL)
Maksim Despotović (SLO)
Skender Katana (MNE)
Matija Brajkov (SRB)
Fran Lorković (CRO)
Roko Tadić (CRO)
Riki Imai (JPN)
Eyad Ezzat (EGY)
Lenny Petit (FRA)
Shinnosuke Ryota (JPN)
Dimitar Kisimov (BGR)
Pietro Vernò (ITA)
Eudald Gonzales Ollich (ESP)
Ian Boloban (BIH)
Samuil Chestovaliev (MKD)
Stefan Sladaković (CRO)
Hasan Efe Kayik (TUR)
Matej Kukrika (CRO)
Stefan Nikolić (SRB)
Trian Lakha (GBR)
Kryštof Komínek (CZE)
Jakov Dubovečak (CRO)
Roger Koike (JPN)
Fatih Halilagić (BIH)
Thom Gabelić (SWE)
Dasar Ymeri (XKX)
Alex Bergomi (SUI)
Emir Mujezinović (BIH)
Vito Darderi (ARG)

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 8:00 AM while, tomorrow at 6:00 PM 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 players will be nominated Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors that will be followed by the Olive Tree planting ceremony…

24/06/18

Orientation and registration days for the 23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 players <3

Wonderful to meet the seeds in person… their coaches and families of this year edition during Smrikva Bowl orientation and registration moment…love it :D

18/06/18

"Smrikve theatre stage" for the "seeds of the Legends" is entering final phase of the preparations...23rd Smrikva Bowl 2018 edition...

21st of September, on Smrikva Bowl Ambassador’s Day, we traditionally start to receive candidacies from all around the World… and after 9 months… at the end of June the talents of the year gather together… it is the 23rd annual… and so many of the kids who honored us with their visit are writing beautiful tennis pages with their rackets around the World…

I am please to recall parts of an article written at the beginning of 2010… when I compared for the first time Smrikva Bowl to a theater stage…

… When I think of Smrikva Bowl I try to imagine it as a theatre where every year we work hard to set the stage where the world’s talents can gather… Every year we gather all this different actors, great talents, very special kids, arriving from different cultures, having different dreams,…

We set the stage and later on they are in charge with their will, dreams and hard work… they are the ones who write the most different stories…

Smrikva Bowl is still very young tournament but I would like to think that some of these kids will write… inspiring stories in most different professional fields.

I also know that according to the statistics only few of the kids participating Smrikva Bowl will make it to become top professional tennis players, but I like to think that they will make it in other professional fields they choose in their lives.

I read Andre Agassi’s book and through the whole book he was repeating to friends and people meeting… that he doesn’t like tennis thus it seems to me that he never had the option to choose, but in end he ended up being the Champion and according to Luke Jensen a person with big heart and very good friend.

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 much of them play it because they enjoy the game.

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.

When I think of Andre’s words of not loving what he was doing for most of the time of his life I start thinking of other 90% of people around the World that make for living doing jobs they do not like, but “La vita e’ bella” Roberto Benigni would say and tennis helped Andre to grow up.

There is one part in the 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 believe in other people and help them to write their life stories and to write their own one…

Here are Gil’s words reported by Andre in his book when he accepted to coach 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.”

In every life there are people that influence what we do and how we do it.

The Smrikva Bowl festival dream to inspire its players and Ambassadors to believe in their dreams and work hard to reach them.

Sport and music are in general good educators and the vision of sport preferred in Smrikve is the one Nelson Mandela once said:

“Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire and the power to unite people in a way little else can – it is an instrument of peace.”

There are over thousands of stories written every week by Smrikva seeds in over 85 countries and all the continents… :) and very soon I will have the pleasure to meet over 100 new seeds of the 23rd SMRIKVA BOWL 2018 edition from all the continents again…

The BOWL story… SMRIKVA BOWL story…