Makarska Open 2023, So Much More than WTA Tennis

June 14, 2023 – A week of sporting excellence and entertainment concludes at the Makarska Open 2023.

The longer I live in Croatia, the more I realise that the passions and dreams of dedicated individuals are what is driving this country and its tourism story. My recent trip to inland Istria was a case in point, a region away from the coast with almost no tourism 30 years ago, but an absolute luxury gourmet champion destination today. Check out Inland Istria, Croatian Tourism’s Greatest Success Story.

I first met Feliks Lukas in Bol about 15 years ago. Fresh in from New York, his youthful energy and passion for tennis were immediately evident. Here was a chap delivering a WTA tennis tournament on a Dalmatian island at the beginning of June, before the season had really started.

I quickly realised that, as passionate as Feliks was about tennis (and he truly is), his passion to showcase Croatia in the very best light internationally and his desire to promote the way he thinks things should be done mean that his groundbreaking WTA events go far beyond the tennis. And away from the courts, his ability to bring in international names from all walks of life have made first the Bol Open, and now the Makarska Open, events that transcend the actual tennis.

Global superstar Lola Astanova performed at the last Bol Open, and this enchanting video of her performing on Bol has had over 1.6 million organic views on her official channel alone. And what a stunning showcase of Zlatni Rat it is. Astanova was also a guest and performing at this year’s event.

Makarksa Open 2023 was also significant in that it saw the entrance of the Sports Illustrated media brand into the Croatian market and the world of tennis for the first time.

“We are extremely honored that Authentic and Sports Illustrated have chosen the WTA Makarska Open as the venue for one of their spectacular events. This is a great recognition for our organizing team, which strives to grow and develop every year, and this year we have brought one of the most sought-after parties in the world to the city under Biokovo,” said Lukas. It was quite a party.

The concerts and parties that followed close of play were one aspect of an excellent week, hosted and supported by Valamar Hotels. But there was also an eye on the next generation and the development of tennis in Croatia, including the very popular Kids Day (see video below).

And, of course, there was tennis. As with every year, the event attracted a strong pool of top female tennis talent. There were singles, doubles, as well as wheelchair tennis events. Egyptian Mayar Sherif came back from deficits in both the second and third sets to outlast Jasmine Paolini and capture the WTA 125 Makarska Open crown. Ingrid Neel and Wu Fang-Hsien won the doubles title.

You can follow the progress of Feliks, whose motto is The Best is Yet to Come via his Lukas Sport website.

 

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