June 8, 2019 – Slovenian Tamara Zidanšek and Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo will play on Sunday in the big final of the WTA Croatia Bol Open. The final begins at 8 pm, and the crowd will be warmed up an hour earlier with a performance by Nina Badrić’. After the final, the world-famous pianist Lola Astanova will perform as part of the closing ceremony.
Zidansek defeated her young fellow countrywoman Kaja Juvan 2:6, 7:5, 7:5 in a real thriller in the semifinals. Juvan was near the victory in the third set and led 5:2, but failed to withstand Zidanšek’s comeback.
“Since the first round, all matches have been difficult, and I expected that against Kaja. This is the first time we’ve played each other, and it is not easy to play against a girl from Slovenia knowing that we are so little,” said Zidanšek.
Where did Zidanšek get the power to turn the game around after Kaja led in the third set? “I had nothing to lose; I relaxed and succeeded.”
Can Zidanšek defend the title? “I hope I will succeed,” she said.
Kaja Juvan missed an excellent opportunity to get into the final.
“I had a lot of opportunities, and I was close. Tamara started playing great tennis after my 5:2 lead, played a lot of winners and decided the result. It’s great that we have a lot of good Slovenians in tennis, and Tamara showed me that I could do even more,” said Juvan.
Many spectators cheered for Kaja.
“Yes, thank you to all those who supported me, they lifted me up, and in the end, even Tamara applauded. It was a pleasure to play here,” Kaja said.
There was not too much uncertainty in the second semifinal. Sara Sorribes Tormo played excellent, safe, and calm and defeated Anna-Karolina Schmiedelova 6:4, 6:0.
“I had a lot of chances in the first set to seal the game, but in the end, I managed it all, and that was the key, that first set. My key is that I tried to mix up my play so that she did not feel comfortable on the court. I’m good friends with Tamara, this is my first WTA final, and I will fight until the last drop of sweat to win. I’m here with my mother, I am enjoying it and will even more if I win the tournament,” said Sorribes Tormo.
Mandy Minella and Timea Bacsinszky celebrated in the doubles final 0:6, 7:6 (3), 10:4 against Renata Vorac and Cornelia Lister.
You can read more about the tournament here.
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