Dubrovnik is being placed on the global tennis map this spring as the host of the first edition of the WTA Dubrovnik Open, a WTA 125 series tournament that opens the European clay court season from March 23 to 29. At the courts of the Dubrovnik Tennis Club in Lapad, as many as ten players from the world TOP 100 will compete, including Grand Slam champions and Olympic medallists, giving the event strong international significance.
Behind the organisation stands an experienced team led by Feliks Lukas, one of the most successful organisers of professional tennis tournaments in this part of Europe, who has already significantly positioned Croatia on the global tennis scene through his projects. In this interview, we reveal how Dubrovnik secured the hosting of this prestigious tournament, what its key advantages are as a destination for major sporting events, and what long-term impact such a project can have on sport and tourism.
• The WTA Dubrovnik Open is the first professional tennis tournament of this level in Dubrovnik. What was decisive in Dubrovnik becoming the host of the new WTA 125 tournament that opens the European clay season? What did the bidding process look like?
Dubrovnik is a globally recognisable city and a destination with experience in organising international events, which was an important factor in launching this project. A key role was played by the strong support of the City of Dubrovnik and the local community, which recognised the tournament’s potential from the very beginning.
After I was appointed as the representative of all WTA 125 tournaments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA region) on the WTA 125 Standards Committee, and given that our team is recognised as one of the most successful organisers at that level, the leadership of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) proposed the possibility of obtaining another licence.
Although we had offers from different countries, my wish was to organise the new tournament in Croatia. When Marijan Konjuh, president of the Dubrovnik Tennis Club, learned that we were considering another tournament, he contacted me with the suggestion to consider Dubrovnik. However, a key role in the final decision was played by the strong support of the City of Dubrovnik, led by Mayor Mato Franković, and subsequently the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
In the WTA calendar, we managed to secure an exceptionally attractive slot, a tournament that opens the European clay court season after the American tour, making it one of the most interesting dates at the WTA 125 level. It took more than two months of intensive discussions and lobbying for the WTA to confirm this date and approve Dubrovnik as the location, especially considering that the tennis centre in Lapad was not yet fully ready at the time.
Our experience in organising professional international tennis competitions over the past 13 years played a major role, as did Dubrovnik’s reputation as a prestigious global destination, along with the proximity and high quality of the official hotel Sumratin. All of this immediately positions Dubrovnik as an important stop in the spring part of the international clay court season.
• You have organised more than 70 professional tennis tournaments. What are the specific advantages of Dubrovnik as a destination for organising major international events, especially compared to other cities where you have worked?
Dubrovnik has numerous advantages, a strong international image, a developed tourism infrastructure, and an exceptionally attractive environment. Players, their teams, and the media always enjoy coming to destinations that have a unique identity and experience, and Dubrovnik certainly is one of them. Equally important is the openness of the local community to such projects, as support from the city and local community is often a decisive factor for the successful organisation of an international tournament.
I am confident that Dubrovnik has the potential to become for the WTA what Monte Carlo is for the ATP.
• How logistically and organisationally demanding is it to bring this level of competition to a destination like Dubrovnik? What are the key elements of a successful organisation?
Organising a WTA tournament is very complex and involves numerous elements, from the sporting aspect and infrastructure to accommodation, transport and production. Bringing world-class players also means meeting strict WTA standards, but the experience we have in organising professional tournaments allows us to offer top-level conditions in Dubrovnik from the very first edition. I would also like to thank my small team of enthusiasts and top experts who turn almost impossible situations into a top-class event. The team is mostly made up of women, led by my older sister, Master of Kinesiology and former national senior tennis champion, Tajna Lukas Rečić.
• How important is the timing in the pre-season, and what impact can such events have on a destination outside the main tourist season?
Timing is one of the most important elements of any sporting event. In this case, it is an exceptionally attractive week in the calendar. During this week in the tennis season at the highest level of professional women’s tennis, only the second week of the Miami Open Masters and the Dubrovnik Open are being played. In other words, Dubrovnik becomes the centre of professional women’s tennis in Europe during this period. Players, coaches, media, and followers of the tournament come to the city precisely during the pre-season, which is extremely important for destinations like Dubrovnik that aim to position themselves as leaders in sustainable tourism.
Sporting events of this level have a dual effect, they bring additional visitors and international visibility while also sending the message that Dubrovnik is an active year-round destination, ideal for hosting such large and demanding events.
• The City of Dubrovnik invested in the reconstruction of the tennis courts in Lapad to meet WTA standards. What are these standards, and how important is quality infrastructure for hosting major international events?
WTA tournaments have very precisely defined technical and organisational standards. This includes the quality of the courts, lighting, stands, locker rooms, and all supporting facilities necessary for hosting such a complex international sporting event. The reconstruction of the courts in Lapad included the renovation of stands, installation of new seating, modernisation of infrastructure and lighting, and upgrading locker rooms in accordance with WTA regulations.
It is particularly important to emphasise that this infrastructure remains for the city even after the tournament. This means that the investment is not only for a single event, but also for the long-term development of sport and the possibility of organising new international competitions in the future.
• One of the special features of this tournament is the incredible proximity of Hotel Sumratin to the tennis courts in Lapad. How important is this logistical aspect?
Logistics are extremely important in professional sport. When the hotel and courts are just a few minutes apart, it significantly simplifies the daily organisation of the tournament. For players and their teams, this means less time spent in transport, more time for training and recovery, and an overall more comfortable experience.
Details like these often make the difference between a good and a top-level tournament. Lapad is particularly suitable in this regard, as it enables a very compact and functional tournament concept. Everything is within reach, while still being located in one of the most beautiful parts of Dubrovnik.
Hotel Sumratin and its owners immediately recognised the benefits of such an event for promoting the destination and the local community, becoming the first official private sector partner of the WTA Dubrovnik Open upon the tournament’s announcement. This event also marks the opening of their first season.
• Another of your projects, the WTA Makarska Open, was named the second-best tournament in its category in the world. With that in mind, which standards have you brought to Dubrovnik, and what is needed for the Dubrovnik Open, already in its first edition, to “challenge” the very top of the global WTA 125 tournament rankings?
In Makarska, over several years, we developed an organisational model based on high professionalism and creating a special tournament atmosphere. This concept from Makarska and previously from Bol is something we want to transfer to Dubrovnik. This means top-level sports organisation, careful attention to players, innovative production and strong connection with the destination. Players quickly recognise where they feel good and where they want to return.
We are extremely proud that players themselves voted the WTA Makarska Open hosted by Valamar as the second-best tournament in the world, ahead of more than 50 global destinations such as Paris, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and Cancun.
As for Dubrovnik, the city already has an advantage as a globally recognised destination, so I believe we will attract great attention and set high standards from the very first edition.
• How do such tournaments impact women’s tennis in Croatia?
Such tournaments have a strong impact on the promotion of Croatian women’s sport. They also provide important support to our players at key stages of their careers, allowing them to compete at a high level in front of a home audience.
Many Croatian players have gained valuable opportunities and a springboard for further progress thanks to wildcard entries at WTA tournaments in Bol and Makarska. Petra Martić, Antonia Ružić, Tena Lukas, Petra Marčinko, Tara Würth, Lea Bošković, Ana Konjuh, and Lucija Ćirić Bagarić are just some of the players we have supported at important stages of their careers. In this way, tournaments not only bring a sporting spectacle but also directly contribute to the development of a new generation of Croatian tennis players and strengthen women’s tennis in Croatia.
• You pointed out that investment in sports infrastructure remains with the city even after the spotlight fades. How do you see the long-term impact of this tournament on the development of local tennis, as well as on the overall impression Dubrovnik leaves as a destination ready to host demanding international events?
One of the most important goals of such projects is their long-term impact. The tournament brings international visibility, but more importantly – it leaves infrastructure and experience in organising major events. For local tennis, this means better training conditions, greater interest among children, and the opportunity for local families to experience top-level tennis up close.
At the same time, for a destination like Dubrovnik, such an event sends a clear message that the city is not just a tourist postcard, but also a place capable of hosting complex international events at the highest level, helping to create a new generation of champions.
Projects like this strengthen Dubrovnik’s reputation as a destination for sport, tourism and major global events. It is also important to emphasise that investment in sport has multiple benefits, including promoting a healthy lifestyle, reducing pressure on the healthcare system and contributing to a better and higher-quality society.
