Smrikva Bowl Tournament

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… 31 editions (2 were not played for world pandemic)… around 2700 “seeds of the Legends” spread in 114 countries of the Planet… with selected 756 + memory comments left by them, their families and coaches…

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2026
GUEST BOOK 2026

Es war eine tolle Zeit!
Ich habe mich weiterentwickelt.
Ich habe neue Freunde gefunden und freue mich auf ein Wiedersehen!

Pula, 2026
Von Catharina Walter (AUSTRIA)

Smrikva Bowl is the best tournament! Tank you so much Mio and all the staff for this super tournament and week. I hope to come back with my little brother!

Pula, 2026
Juliette Brognez Gosset (BELGIUM)

Es war sehr schön, hier mit anderen Kindern zu spielen. Ich habe neue Freunde kennengelernt.
Tennis und Doppel zu spielen hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Es war richtig cool! Love Smrikva Bowl.

Pula, 2026
Amelie Hennen (GERMANY)

Smrikva Bowl is the best Tournament.

Pula, 2026
Mvaideniz Celik (TURKEY)

I love you Smrikva Bowl.

Pula, 2026
Mina Cinlioglu (TURKEY)

My dream is the become the world’s No 1

Pula, 2026
Alice Alexandersson (SWEDEN)

Pula, 2026
Kandai Mori (JAPAN)

To Mio’s family and Mio. I am writing to tell you what I think about this place. Well done for the tournament and I love how you take care of the animals and gardens. Smrikva Bowl will always be my favorite tournament.

Pula, 2026
Christian Farrugia (MALTA)

Bilo mi je jako lijepo. Jako mi je drago da sam upao na Smrikvu jer sam upoznao puno prijatelja.

Pula, 2026
Leonid Abramov (HRVATSKA)

Bilo mi je jako lijepo. Zahvaljujući ovom turniru sam upoznala puno novih prijatelja po cijelom svijetu. Hvala na takvoj lijepoj organizaciji. Htjela bih dolazit ovdje svake godine.
I LOVE SMRIKVE AND I LOVE TENNIS
TNIES JE MOJ ŽIVOT
HVALA ORGANIZATORU MIODRAGU

Pula, 2026
Ekaterina Abramova (HRVATSKA)

Hello Smrikva family,
I wanted to tell you that the Smrikva Bowl tournament was very successful and I am happy for you. This place is very fun because of playing tennis and the farm. I love tennis!!!!
Joke: why didn’t Mio want to play dous because he wanted to play trios!!!
From

Pula, 2026
Edward Spiteri Paris (MALTA)

Thank you for this amazing week. It was great experience. Thank you.

Pula, 2026
Adriana Fischer (GERMANY)

A me lo Smirka e’ piaciuto molto perche’ mi ha fatto conoscere nuovi giocatori di tutte le nazioni e altri invece li ho rivisti. Grazie

Pula, 2026
Paolo Andolfi (ITALIA)

Pula, 2026
Haruma Takahashi (JAPAN)

Pula, 2026
Haru Mizouchi (JAPAN)

Pula, 2026
Hana Kishi (JAPAN)

I love Smrikva Bowl. Thank you very much!!! Eyvallah Smrikva Bowl!!!

Pula, 2026
Mavideniz Celik (TURKEY)

Thank you for giving this opportunity and accepting me into the Smrikva Bowl.

Pula, 2026
Lal Perahya (TURKEY)

Hello! Thank you for leting me play Smrikva Bowl. It was a great experience.

Pula, 2026
Zoja Frenc (SERBIA)

Thank you for the wonderful experience.

Pula, 2026
Milton & Vogler Hofvander family (SWEDEN)

Thank you. Making this tournament it was the best tournament in my life.

Pula, 2026
Devlet Rahmani (TURKEY)

Pula, 2026
Lilou Karlsson Löfgren (SWEDEN)

Pula, 2026
Wilhelm Hesselroth (SWEDEN)

Dear Miodrag

I would like to congratulate you on a fantastic Tournament, that we experienced. It was absolutely wonderful to see so many children around the world competing.

The whole week was full of exciting activities and the kids were kept well entertained.

Zee made new friends and this experience has certainly inspired her to improve her tennis.

Thank you for the opportunity for her to now be a SMRIKVA Ambassador.

We look forward to seeing you in the future.

Kind Regards

Pula, 2026
Sibu – Zee’s mom (SOUTH AFRICA)

Hello Mio! Thank you so much for the great time and the wonderful memories; it’s as if our wall had been waiting for it. Katharina learned so much this week and is incredibly grateful to have been part of the Smrikva Bowl.

Pula, 2026
Greetings from Austria Family Walter and Coach Alexander Übl

Gentile Miodrag,

venerdì scorso siamo dovute tornare in Italia perché Clara doveva giocare con la squadra del suo circolo la finale per il 3º e 4º posto del Campionato a squadre della Regione Veneto. Siamo partite con grande dispiacere, perché ci siamo sentite davvero accolte da te.

Hai organizzato un torneo speciale: aprendo le porte della tua casa e accogliendoci nella tua terra, sei riuscito a dare vita a un’esperienza meravigliosa, sia per i ragazzi sia per noi genitori, i loro primi sostenitori dentro e fuori dal campo. Ora sei uno di noi :)

Clara ti ringrazia per tutto: per i sorrisi, per le storie condivise e per le opportunità che le hai dato di incontrare ragazzi provenienti da tutto il mondo.

Da parte mia, un ringraziamento speciale per la tua energia e la tua magia. Hai dato una luce diversa a questo cammino, non sempre facile e pieno di dubbi per noi adulti.

Qualsiasi consiglio da parte tua sarà sempre ben accetto e profondamente apprezzato.

Grazie ancora!

Un caro saluto,

Pula, 2026
Claudia Fracas (ITALIA)

Dear Mr. Bozovic,

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for an incredible week filled with unforgettable experiences and impressions. It was truly overwhelming and inspiring—not only for Roman, but also for us as parents, and especially for me. I now see many things from a different perspective and will certainly rethink my role as a mother on the tennis court in the future.

It was wonderful to witness friendships being formed, to see how fairly and maturely the children treated one another, and how the rivalry on the court immediately turned into friendship once the matches were over. We are deeply impressed and truly believe that all of us have grown in one way or another because of this week.

Warm greetings from Graz, Austria,

Pula, 2026
Platzer family (AUSTRIA)

Dear Miodrag,

We are grateful and pround to be part of this event. We are bringing our culinary trasures from poland – prepared and gathered by our family members – so that you may get a taste of our wonderful country.
Sincerely,

Pula, 2026

Jan Czecn and family (POLAND)

Good afternoon, Mio,

I hope all is well. Just a short note to really thank you for an incredible week at Smrikva. The kids had the time of their life, and you were so generous to them all. It is indeed a once in a lifetime experience as was the family week which we will cherish forever.

Thank you also for the bottles of wine you gifted my father and me. I just passed on the bottle to my father at family lunch today (it is a public holiday in Malta – Feast of St Peter ad St Paul) and he was delighted and very pleasantly surprised to receive this lovely bottle of wine as was I.
I am attaching a nice photograph I took of you with Edward on the great boat trip.

Let us keep in touch and please do let us know if we can support you with anything in Malta or if you decide to visit, please let us know. We may plan a family road trip to Croatia in future as we fell in love with your country and if we do, we will certainly make a stop at the Smirkva Lounge where we have such fond memories.

Wishing you and your lovely family all the very best and a great summer! Thank you so much for being so good to us and for allowing Edward to become an ambassador of this amazing and exclusive club of fantastic kids. We made a lot of great new friends!

Best regards,

Pula, 2026
Spiteri Paris Family (MALTA)

Poštovani Miodrag,

po par dana kraja Smrikve Bowla, vam moram reči, da smo još uvijek pod utisakom iz vašeg turnira.
Iako je Mia doživljena težak poraz u 2. krugu i nije mogla zbog osječaja, kojeg je još imala od dana prije, da igra utješnji turnir, vam moram kazat koliko nam je značilo biti dio vašeg turnira. Vaše top organizacije, vaših motivacijskih riječi do djece, vaše posesti sa životinjima, svega što se uložili za taj turnir. Jako cijenimo to.

Kad smo došli kuči, Mia je najprije išla gledat sve videe od aplication za Smrikva bowl, toliko joj je stalo do toga.

Nadam se, da se još koji dan vidimo. Želimo vam sve najbolje i također vašoj vrlo simpatični ženi Chin i svim ostalima koji so deo Smrikve Bowla! :)

Radite nepredstavljivo dobar rad za djecu i nas roditelje.

Hvala još jednom❤️

Pula, 2026
Familija Snežič (SLOVENIJA)

Dear Mio,

Let me please come back to you with a short note.

We had an amazing time and it was a great great experience being part of the tournament.

The tournament’s organisation, environment and atmosphere was simply great and shows your passion for tennis and the children. We realy appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm!

Thank you and take care. We had a great time!

Pula, 2026
Martina and Richard Hampl (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Dear Miodrag,

A few days have passed since we returned home, and now that we have had some time to settle back into our daily routine and reflect on the wonderful experience we lived at the Smrikva Bowl, I simply wanted to write to you.

First of all, thank you.

Thank you for accepting Mario into the tournament and for giving him the opportunity to be part of something so special. But even more than that, thank you for the warmth with which you, your wife, and every single member of your team welcomed Mario and our family from the very first minute. We never felt like visitors; we truly felt part of the Smrikva family.

I also want to thank you because, thanks to the Smrikva Bowl, Mario caught IMG’s attention. For our family, that was something we could never have imagined at only ten years old. Whatever happens in the future, we will always remember that this incredible opportunity began at your tournament.

One of the things I will remember most is our conversation on Brioni Island. I told you how I stopped playing tennis when I was sixteen, and how that decision left me with a sadness that stayed with me for many years. Life took me in a different direction, but somehow Mario has given me back the excitement and passion for this beautiful sport. Being able to experience tennis again through his eyes is a gift, and the Smrikva Bowl has now become a very special chapter in that journey.

I also often think about that conversation in Brioni. Listening to your experiences was fascinating, and I still believe what I told you that day: your life could easily be the script for a Hollywood movie. I was deeply impressed by everything you have achieved throughout your life, by the prestige that the Smrikva Bowl has earned over the years, and, above all, by the passion and dedication with which you continue to work every single day. It is rare to meet someone who has accomplished so much and still speaks with such enthusiasm and humility.

Your motto, “More Than Tennis,” could not describe the Smrikva Bowl more perfectly. It is much more than a slogan—you can genuinely feel it throughout the entire week. Behind every detail, there is an enormous amount of work and dedication, but above all, there is love. The love that you, your wife, and your whole team put into creating an unforgettable experience for every child and every family. That is what makes the Smrikva Bowl truly exceptional. It is not just one of the best junior tournaments in the world; it is an experience that stays with you long after you return home.

Above all, thank you for making Mario so happy. Seeing the smile on his face every day was priceless, and as parents, there is no greater reward than seeing your child genuinely happy. We often invest an enormous amount of time, effort, and sacrifice to help our children pursue their dreams. Seeing Mario live a week like this made every sacrifice feel worthwhile.

The bottle of wine you gave us on the last day has a very special place in our home. We are not going to open it just yet—we are going to keep it as a treasure until the next time we meet. Then, hopefully, we will celebrate together by sharing that bottle.

Please know that you will always have four friends in Spain: Mario, Vega, my wife Laura, and me. If you ever come to Spain, especially near Valencia, it would be a real pleasure to see you again, spend some time together, and continue one of our conversations.

And if our family schedule allows it, we would absolutely love for Mario to come back one day, perhaps later this year or next year, to spend a week training with you. It would be a privilege for him and a joy for all of us to return.

With our warmest regards,

Pula, 2026
Alberto Fernández – Mario’s father (SPAIN)

P.S. Today Mario goes back to training after a few days of rest. We are going to give Yannick the cap, and I’m sure it will make him very happy.

Thank you again Mio for an amazing week.

Pula, 2026
Henderson Family (UK)

Dear Miodrag,

We would like to thank you for such a beautifull memory.

What you do for kids is pure beauty. All the activities you prepared for children, your attitude, your words, the way you awarded each one of them were so precious and made up the tournament not just a tourtnament.

It was one beautifull celebration of children. It was MUCH MORE THAN TENNIS.

I wish to you and all the helpers long health and happiness.

Thank you again

Pula, 2026
Pavlina Sersenova (SLOVAKIA)

Dear Mio and the Smrikva team,

A heartfelt thank you for hosting such an amazing tournament.

Leon had the honour and privilege to participate, and this past week has truly been one of the biggest experiences in his young tennis career. He has learned so much, made new friends from around the world, and created memories that he will never forget.

We are deeply grateful to the incredible organisers and everyone behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to make this such a special and memorable experience. Representing his country at one of the world’s most prestigious under 10 tournaments has been an incredible honour. Leon left Croatia with new friends, valuable lessons, and even greater dreams for the future.

Thank you once again for your dedication and passion in creating such a remarkable event.

We hope to keep in touch and meet again one day.

Warm regards,

Pula, 2026
Roné Luttig & Leon Bezuidenhout (SOUTH AFRICA)

Dear Miodrag,

Adriana and I have returned home safely, bringing with us a wealth of wonderful memories, valuable insights, and even greater enthusiasm for tennis than when we left. We cannot thank you enough for the truly remarkable week you made possible for us. We feel deeply fortunate to have been a part of it, and we are truly honoured to now consider ourselves part of the Smrikva Family.

Beyond the tennis itself, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, your family, and your friends. Thank you for the warmth and hospitality you extended to us throughout our stay.

With warmest regards from Germany,

Pula, 2026
Dijana and Adriana Fiscer (GERMANY)

Dear Miodrag,

We would like to thank you once again for the opportunity for Zsófi to participate in this year’s Smrikva Bowl.

The tournament was organized and conducted at a very high professional level. Unfortunately, Zsófi was eliminated in the first rounds, but this experience has allowed us to draw the necessary conclusions for her further training. Zsófi shared that she has very fond memories of the event, and it inspires her to continue her development.

We also appreciate the other programs provided; the excursion was wonderful.

Wishing you a pleasant summer and all the best with tennis!

Sincerely,

Pula, 2026
Anna Mátyásné Illyés (HUNGARY)

Dear Miodrag,

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible experience you gave Hana and our family at the Smrikva Bowl.

Thank you for all the wonderful stories you shared throughout the event. It was amazing to see how captivated Hana was—she listened so carefully and still remembers everything you said. Your words truly inspired her.

I am also very thankful for everything the Smrikva Bowl offered, not only for the children but for us as parents as well. We learned so much, and it was a privilege to be part of such a positive and supportive environment. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and children who made the experience even more special.

Most importantly, thank you for all the advice you gave us regarding Hana. Your guidance means a great deal to our family. Since returning home, Hana has been telling all of her friends and family about her experience. She has even been asking her father for more court time because she truly wants to improve and succeed in tennis. It has been wonderful to see her so motivated and excited.

Thank you once again for your kindness, encouragement, and dedication to the children. The Smrikva Bowl has left a lasting impression on our family, and we will always be grateful for the memories and lessons we have taken away from it.

With heartfelt thanks and best wishes,

Pula, 2026
Medina Vuckic (SLOVENIA)

Hi Mio,

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for Mateos being given the opportunity to play in the Smrikva Bowl a couple of weeks ago.

Mateos had an amazing time—truly moments that both he and I will treasure for the rest of our lives.
He also learned a lot about himself during the competition…

His brother Alessandro was there watching and was completely inspired by the whole experience. He is now hoping he might be lucky enough to take part himself in a couple of years’ time.

I also wanted to say how impressed we were with the organisation, format, and setting of the event. It’s clear an enormous amount of planning goes into making it run so smoothly. The environment itself was incredibly special—the trees, animals, and surroundings made it feel truly magical.

Thank you again for everything. We’re very grateful and hope to be back again in the future.

Best regards,

Pula, 2026
Sean Macdonalds (UK)

Dear Miodrag,

It’s been a week since the Smrikva Bowl experience ended.
I wanted to thank you for organizing this wonderful event.
Joshua and me were very happy with the great week in Pula.
It’s the best tournament we’ve ever participated in, and it will remain etched in our hearts.
Thank you again for the organization and your dedication.
I wish you much success for future editions and I wish you and your wife good health for many years to come.

Pula, 2026
Alexandre CAMILLO (BELGIUM)

Dear Miodrag,

It has now been a little over a week since we returned home from Smrikva Bowl and Croatia.

The experience our son Wilhelm had is almost impossible to put into words.

In Wilhelm’s room, there is now a special little corner dedicated to all his Smrikva Bowl memories—from his cap and T-shirt to the olive oil, diploma, and everything else. It is incredible how many wonderful memories he has brought home with him.

Unfortunately, the draw was a tough one, as he faced Roman Alexander Platzer in the first round. Sadly, he lost after holding his own match point at 9–8 in the match tie-break. It was a difficult defeat, but also an invaluable learning experience. Before the final, he came closer than any of Roman’s other opponents to defeating him. Naturally, that tough loss affected him a little in the consolation draw as well, but as we keep telling Wilhelm, experiences like these help us grow.

We would also like to express how truly outstanding the entire tournament was. It was incredibly professional from beginning to end. We could never have imagined an event that combined such a high level of professionalism with such a warm, welcoming atmosphere for ten-year-old tennis players.

We would also like to compliment Croatia as a country. In the end, our whole family decided to make the trip—including Wilhelm’s grandmother—and we honestly cannot remember ever being welcomed with such kindness and warmth. The food, the culture, the beautiful sea, and the wonderful sense of humor made the trip truly unforgettable.

Since we travelled as a large family, we had to split up from time to time, which unfortunately meant that I never really found the opportunity to sit down and have a longer conversation with you and your family. We sincerely hope to return in the near future, because the memories you have given both us and Wilhelm are something we will cherish forever.

We wish you a wonderful summer, and thank you once again for everything.

With our warmest regards,

Pula, 2026
The Hesselroth Family (SWEDEN)

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2025
GUEST BOOK 2025
This is the best tournament!!! I love Smrikva Bowl

Pula, 2025
Martin Ganchev (BULGARIA)

Impero tennistico di Carrara presente! 25/06/25

Pula, 2025
ITALY

Pula, 2025
Hayato Shimamura (JAPAN)

Pula, 2025
Koto Kodaira (JAPAN)

Pula, 2025
Iori Oba (JAPAN)

Pula, 2025
Eito Ishibashi (JAPAN)

Hvala ti smrikva. Tukaj je zelo lepo. Zelo sem hvaležna, da ste me izabrali, ker sem se zelo zabavala!

Pula, 2025
Veronika Babić (SLOVENIJA)

Zelo rada igram turni in hvala za najboljši teniški turnir do sedaj. Hvala za vse. Hvala tudi Miodragu. SRMIVKE JE ZAKON! :) Wimbledon!

Pula, 2025
Tjaša Stražar (SLOVENIJA)

Thank you so much for inviting us to smrikva Bowl and me Poppy Robinson and my sister Honey who has also done Smrikva its a great place to make friends and opportunity to play amazing tennis.

Pula, 2025
Poppy Robinson (UK)

<3

Pula, 2025
Maya Teilman (DENMARK)

Drogi Miodrag
Dziekuježe moglam poznać rodzine Smrikva Bowl. Niestety nie wygral am zad nego meczu jednak wazne jest dla mnie doswiadczenie jak wielcy sa uczestnicu turnieju.
Pozdrawiam i proszeo zapraszanie koleynychmlodych talentow
I <3 SB

Pula, 2025
Maria Grabska (POLAND)

Querido Mio,
Muito obrigada, pela oportunidade de participar do Smrikva Bowl.
Aqui e un lugar muto especial onde miz amigos e joguei o esporte que eu amo „tenis.“
Parabens por tudo que voces faces aqui!
Aqui e’ un, lugar magicol, meus novos amigos -> Eugenie Killeen, Shi meng Qang, Laura, Danica Adamović, Ritisha Nehe.
Con carinho,

Pula, 2025
Lorena Guirao Kapor (Brazileira com o coracao Croata! Vamos!)

It was really fun playing tennis in Smrikve and making new friends here. It was fun and outstanding to play football with my friends.

Pula, 2025
Sinan Yaykiran (TURKEY)

Pula, 2025
Arat Akkoyun (TURKEY)

Pula, 2025
Darya Naumik (BELARUS)

Hvala vam na ovom iskustvu, bilo je super i ako moj brat za dvije godine uspije upasti biti ću presretan.

Pula, 2025
Ivan Penić (HRVATSKA)

Dear Smrikva Bowl,
Thank you for inviting me to Smrikva. I love a good time with you. I love your farm. I have a lot fun.
I <3 Smrikva Bowl
Once again, thank you for creating a tournament that feels like family. Also your gardne is very Beautiful. Best wishes! Continued success! More Than Tennis! I don’t want to leave the court!

Pula, 2025
Shi meng Wang (CHINA)

Dragi Smrikva Bowl hvala vam na pozivanju, imate jako dobro iskustvo samo tako nastavite! <3<3<3

Pula, 2025
Antonio Stanić ili Antea Tomas (HRVATSKA)

Dear Mio and Smrikva Bowl,
Thank you so much for the beautiful and incredible opportunity to be here. I met lovely friends for life and played great tennis. I hope to grow from this experience and develop into a better player. I learned so so much!

Pula, 2025
Joshua Toledano, Vamos!!! (SOUTH AFRICA)

<3 I love Smrikva <3
Thank yu for inviting me – Eugenie Killeen
I had a wonderfull time at the tournament and making new friends. Lot of love.
My new friends – Shi meng Wang, Lorena Guirao Kapor, Lea, Ritisha Nehe <3 Australia <3

Pula, 2025
Eugenie Killeen (AUSTRALIA)

Dear Mio + Smrikva family!
Firstly thank you so much for a wonderful experience/opportunity, it is clear to see how much more goes into making your tournament a continued success.
Sebastian has loved being here and representing Ireland, we have learnt a lot and will continue to work hard and improve.
Thank – you again so much,

Pula, 2025
Lena + Sebastian Fox – Pigott (IRELAND)

Dear Smrikva Bowl!
Thank you for this wonderful experience and memories!

Pula, 2025
Veronika Baburina (RUSSIA)

Dear Smrikva Bowl!
Thanks for great week. Hope to meet you one day again.

Pula, 2025
Sagi Alfassi (ISRAEL)

Grazie per la belissima esperienza. E’ stata una settimana fantastica piena di tennis e amici. Porter’ lo Smrikve sempre nel mio cuore. Cia Miodrag, che la forza sia sempre con te.
Un abbraccio,

Pula, 2025
Alessandro S.Z. e famiglia SERRA ZANETTI (ITALIA)

Dear Smrikva Team,
Thank you for the inspiring and motivating week. It was unforgettable and we will certainly keep in touch.
Thank you again and all the best,

Pula, 2025
Thomas Hessel and Lea Hessel (SLOVAKIA)

Thank you for hosting such an amazing tournament!!!
Hvala za uspomene! Ovo je iskustvo koje Pavle i mi nećemo nikada zaboraviti! Bićemo u kontaktu sigurno i radujemo se ponovnom viđanju!

Pula, 2025
Pavle Račić i porodica! (SAD – SRBIJA)

Pula, 2025
Mauro Fućak (HRVATSKA)

Thank you for everything.

Pula, 2025
Ivano Žic (HRVATSKA)

Pula, 2025
Milana Geletskaja (POLAND)

Bilo mi je jako lijepo, puno sam se zabavljala i smrikva bowl će mi ostati u ljepom sjećanju.

Pula, 2025
Ira Pupovac (HRVATSKA)

Ciao Miodrag, e’ stata una bellissima esperienza. Mi sono divertito un sacco. E’ stata una settimana piena di tennis e amicizia. Grazie Miodrag per tutto quello che fai per noi bambini. Speriamo di ripoterci vedere presto.
Un abbraccio,

Pula, 2025
Mattia Sena (ITALY)

Pula, 2025
Philip Hadzhisky (BULGARIA)

Pula, 2025
Ritisha Nehe (INDIA)

Super tournament!
I hope you keep it up so that my little brother can also play.

Pula, 2025
David Simon (BELGIUM)

Dear Mio,

On behalf of our entire family, I would like to deeply thank you for the warm welcome given to Noah and Mélissa. From what I have been able to see and feel from Belgium, they have had an amazing time.

I would like to congratulate you, your wife and your team for the fantastic week you have offered to all kids which have been so lucky to witness and share the love of/for tennis.

It is a pity that I haven’t managed to join and meet you but I hope we will come back in 2 years with Lila.

This week has been rich for all of us. Ups and downs to be honest as we were so sad that Noah was not able to show his beautiful game nor his potential during the single phase. He so wanted to do well.

He is able to do more, much more.

It was his first international experience and he has probably been overwhelmed by all new variables he has discovered at the beginning of the week. We are glad that he managed to deploy his play for the double.

But, most important, we are convinced that he has gained so much experience for the future and that the actual results were not what we were looking for in Pula. What we have found is the confirmation that Noah wants to live for tennis, that he loves tennis, that he is able to federate, to have fun while having tough experiences, that has been able to bounce back and, with the support of his coach, Justine and his family he might achieve huge things in the future. He received so much loved and Mélissa got so many positive feedbacks on him that they come back to Belgium with memories for live.

All of this would not have been possible without you. Once again, thank you.

Looking forward to meeting you in the future.

We will keep you posted on the development of our children.

Take care and all the best Mio.

Warmest regards

Pula, 2025
Guillaume Collard (BELGIUM)

Caro Miodrag,

Volevo ringraziarti di cuore per l’incredibile esperienza vissuta allo Smirka Tournament. È stato un momento speciale, intenso e formativo, che porterò sempre con me.

Ho imparato tantissimo, mi sono divertito e ho sentito davvero cosa significa far parte di un grande evento.

Grazie,

Con affetto

Pula, 2025
Rafa – Rafael Heinz (ITALY)

Caro Miodrag,

Ci uniamo a Rafa….

E’ stata un’esperienza unica che arricchisce sia dal punto di vista sportivo che dal punto di vista umano!

Verremo sicuramente a trovarti e organizzeremo con te una settimana/ due di tennis e coach mentale.

Nel frattempo un grazie di cuore e un arrivederci a presto,

Pula, 2025
Francesca Castellano e Rolf Heinz (ITALY)

Dear Mio,

It was lovely staying at the Villa and it truly felt like home.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of both the Family Week and Smrikva Bowl gathering. It was an enlightening and amazing experience which we will never forget and which we will keep close to our hearts.

The moto we will always remember is one game one nation (more than tennis meaning)…

Best wishes to you and all the family, its admirable and moving to see the love and dedication put in all of these events by the whole family. A special thanks to your wife that I had the pleasure of meeting and talking a bit more.

I am sure that all these kids through the years will cherish their time at Smrikva Bowl. It was really moving for me seeing how you remember and talk about all these kids (like they were your own) and were so moved when mentioning them and their stories. I get moved just by remembering and writing about that moment.

Hope to see you in Smrikve or any other part of the world again soon.

Regards,

Pula, 2025
Daphne Nicolatus (CYPRUS)

Dear Mio,

We arrived back home to Brussels rather late yesterday evening but our hearts and minds are still a little bit at Smrikva Bowl. David had a fantastic time throughout the whole week and gathered many beautiful memories, experiences and also some great new tennis friends!
We would like to thank you once again for having invited David to play Smrikva Bowl 2025 and for all the attention and energy you provide to each and every of the kids and to the organization of the tournament. It was really amazing.

We are still finalizing our plans for our summer weeks in Hungary, so I don’t know yet when exactly we could return to the club to pick up David’s bike. I will let you know as soon as possible and thank you for keeping the bike in the meantime.

Regarding Wilson and Patrick Moratoglou Academy, we will await more information from you. David is very excited and much appreciates this very generous prize.

After the Lucky Draw on Thursday, I took a picture of you and David with the photo sent by Carlos Alcaraz that David won. You asked me to send it to you so that you may send it to the father of Alcaraz. I am sending you attached the photo. David would be delighted if you could share it with Carlos’ father.
I hope you like the picture too!

Many many thanks once again, with best regards and greetings from Brussels,

Pula, 2025
Szonja Csorgo (David’s mum) and the whole Simon family (BELGIUM)

Dear Miodrag,

First of all, I would like to thank you, your family and your team for organizing such a wonderful event that made it very special for the kids that the beautiful memories of it will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It is such a special tournament made by special people.

Sinan had an amazing experience and made such good friends with some kids from different parts of the world.

It was also a good experience for me as a parent to listen to you, Carl and others whilst all shared their wisdom and experience. I think one example you did mention that I found interesting was the invisible force (Jedi’s) in the court and how quickly it can shift between players. Having listened to it from you the day before and the very next day, I witnessed it through my own eyes when Sinan lost in the consultation quarter finals whilst he was leading 4-3 and 0-40. He had 3 breakpoints which could give him an advantage to finish the match on his serve. But things went upside down, the force switched sides and frustration and loss of control took over as Anakin surrendered to the dark side of the force. Sinan totally was lost as a person. At one point it really hurts the parent to see the kid desperate and helpless, not being able to find solutions because the emotional roller coaster leaves the tracks and it’s almost impossible to put the train back to the railroad bed. Perhaps, many many more cases like this will be experienced by Sinan in the future but from each experience we learn and we keep growing. I would definitely look for the book “Momentum in Tennis” and have my kids (and myself) read it.

Sinan said to me it was the best tournament experience he had so again I would like to thank you on behalf of our family. I wish you to keep touching these little kids’ hearts for many more years to come.

PS: Sinan got a present from a female player, a visor cap endorsed by Fila and although signature was not clear it seems signed as T. Val. Could you please let us know about her full name please.

Thank you very much again and hope we may be able to keep you informed about more of his development and progress in the future.

Best regards,

Pula, 2025
Emrah Yaykiran (TURKEY)

Dragi gosp. Miodrag,

sad kad smo došli kući i malo se ohladili od dojmova s turnira Smrikva Bowl 2025, želimo izreći jedno veliko HVALA, prije svih Vama, Vašoj obitelji i svim Vašim vrijednim i samozatajnim suradnicima!

Hvala na neprocjenjivom doživljaju, hvala na otvorenim vratima Smrikve za našeg sina, hvala na iskustvu koje ste podijelili s nama tijekom foruma i pogađali upravo ona pitanja i dileme s kojima se velika većina roditelja susreće, hvala na prvo izvučenoj nagradi i to odmah reket Ksenie Efremove za Franu. :)

Frane je stekao nova poznanstva s djecom iz cijeloga svijeta, pa sad uz Ivana, Maksa, Marka i mnoge druge, ima prijatelje Nicklasa i Hayata….. To iskustvo ga je potaklo da još više trenira, da bolje savlada engleski jezik kako bi mogao više komunicirati, pa ljeto uz stalno dodavanje tenis lopticom sa zidom u dvorištu i malo reducirane treninge, provodi s knjigama i časopisima na engleskom jeziku, jer se osobno i neposredno uvjerio da znanje stranih jezika otvara mnoga vrata i stvara divna prijateljstva.

Njegovi novi prijatelji su i Zvrcko, Donna, Gricko i Luna, možda Vam imena nisu poznata, no to su imena koja je Frane nadjenuo Vašim životinjama, koje su ga tješile i gdje bi odlazio po mir nakon teniskih mečeva u kojima zbog treme i dojma ipak nije pokazao ono što zna i umije. Nesreća koja se dogodila malom paunu jako ga je pogodila, a i svih nas, nadam se da su djeca uvidjela da životinjama treba njihov mir i prostor.

Možda u ovom pismu ima najmanje priče o tenisu, oprostite na tome, ali cjelokupno iskustvo je MORE THAN TENNIS i životni putokaz kako samo rad, upornost, strast i nešto talenta mogu donijeti rezultat, kako u teniskoj igri, tako i u životu uz tenis kao „suputnika“!

Hvala još jednom Vama dragi Miodrag, Vašoj cijeloj obitelji, svim sucima, volonterima i svim ostalim sudionicima 30.-tog Smrikva Bowla, a svakako i Vašoj rođakinji koja nas je jako lijepo primila i ugostila u apartmanu.

Pula, 2025
Mama Tereza, tata Davor i Frane Kulušić Čuzela (HRVATSKA)

Good afternoon Mr. Bozovic!

We are glad to inform you that our family, headed by Dasha:)) arrived home safely in Minsk
We would like to once again say thank you to you and your assistants (all) for the organization: both for tennis and for the holiday for children in general. Everything was amazing! We hope that all positive emotions will be the basis for achieving results in sports and in life.

We will always be glad to see you again. It is possible that someday you will visit our city of Minsk.

Sincerely,

Pula, 2025
Dascha, Tatjana, Denis Naumik (BELARUS)

Dear Mr. Bozovic,

We would like to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to participate in the recent Smrikva Bowl.

For Maya, it was a unique and unforgettable experience – both as a tennis player and as a person. She learned a lot, enjoyed every moment, and felt honored to be part of such a special event.

Thank you again for your dedication and the warm atmosphere you created for the children and families.

With appreciation,

Pula, 2025
Maya Firer, Adi & Guy Firer (ISRAEL)

Dragi Mio,

nakon što su nam se, u proteklih tjedan dana slegli dojmovi, u ime Ivana i cijele obitelji šaljem veliku zahvalu na prilici da budemo dijelom jubilarnog, 30. Smrikve Bowla.

Ne možemo se pohvaliti, zasad, velikim iskustvom u posjetama međunarodnim turnirima, ali nekako sumnjamo da ćemo naići na ijedan sličan: istovremeno velik po igri i kvaliteti, po sjajnoj organizaciji, ali i intiman u individualnom odnosu prema sudionicima i brizi koju ste posvećivali svakom od malih “alcaraza”.

Trud, imaginacija i iskrenost koju posvećujete doista su posebni, a taj pristup i sjajna atmosfera su razlozi zbog kojih su se sva djeca, neovisno o sportskom rezultatu, osjećala uključenima svih šest dana trajanja programa.

Ponosni smo što je Ivano, a s njime i cijela obitelj, imao priliku postati dijelom Smrikve. Radite doista izvanredne stvari i želimo vam još brojne “jubilarce”!

A, sada kad znamo gdje ste, rado ćemo ponekad s Ivanom navratiti na tenisko druženje.

Srdačno,

Pula, 2025
Ivano Žic & family (HRVATSKA)

Dear Mr. Bozovic,

It’s been almost two weeks now since we returned home, and we’re still talking about the fantastic, fun, and wonderfully organized tournament. We’ve been sharing and will continue to share with our family and friends all about the beautiful surroundings, the fascinating stories, the incredibly kind people we met, the tales of the olive trees, the stunning Brioni Island and its rich history, about you, the Smrikva Bowl family, and all the passionate and dedicated people involved.

For Liam, this was an unforgettable experience, so much more than tennis! He came home full of joy, inspiration, and pride, not only because of the tennis but because of the spirit of the Smrikva Bowl. He felt part of something truly special. These days gave him memories, confidence, and new dreams to carry forward and for that, we are deeply grateful.

Thank you for your passion, your vision, and for creating a space where children can grow through sport, culture, and connection. This journey was so meaningful. Not only for the children, but also for us as parents.

Liam truly liked the environment and your organization. He is very interested to come and train tennis at Smrikva Tennis country club if possible…

Please send our warmest regards to your lovely wife.

Take care of yourselves, and we truly hope we’ll have the honor of seeing you again one day!

Best regards,

Pula, 2025
Jor family (SWEDEN)

Dear Miodrag Bozovic,

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity my daughter, Iori, had to participate in the 30th Smrikva Bowl — such a prestigious and historic tournament.

It was a truly hospitable and warm event, and we are so happy that she was able to share time with wonderful players from around the world. I understand the immense amount of effort and support that goes into organizing a tournament of this scale, and I sincerely thank you and everyone involved.

This experience has been invaluable for Iori, and I am confident it will hold great meaning for her as she moves forward in life.

Although we, as her parents, were not able to attend in person this time, we look forward to visiting someday.

Thank you once again for everything.

Warm regards,

Pula, 2025
Yoshiaya Oba (Father of Iori) (JAPAN)

Добрый день!
Очень приятно получить было от Вас письмо. Спасибо огромное за информацию. Мы после турнира отдохнули, а теперь с новыми силами Даша на тренировки. Нам очень понравилось у Вас и мы всем рекомендеум попробовать отобраться на ваш турнир. И, конечно, будем рады, если в следующем году кто-либо будет представлять нашу страну Беларусь у Вас на турнире. ВСЕГДА БУДЕМ РАДЫ ВСТРЕТИТЬСЯ С ВАМИ и ВАШЕЙ КОМАНДОЙ еще раз:))

С уважением,

Pula, 2025
Семья Наумик (BELARUS)

Mio,

Sorry for my delay in sending this email. I wanted to say a massive thank you for inviting Sebastian to play at your wonderful tournament in Croatia. He and i had the best experience and although he didn’t perform to his best abilities we still managed to learn so much and to meet people from all over the world and many friends for life.

Thank you also for all the wonderful people that work at Smirkva, the referees, the kids and of course your lovely wife.

We have been travelling and playing all summer, we are currently in Spain for 5 weeks and had the pleasure to meet and chat to Carlos as he got ready for his hard court season. Sebastian made sure to get his smirkva t-shirt signed and Carlos said what a great tournament it was! I have attached a very blurry pic of them both for you