Zadar, the city of basketball, became a tennis mecca for two days thanks to the popular humanitarian sports project Game Set Croatia. Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic and his foundation brought together the biggest names in Croatian sport- from Olympic medalists to world champions across various disciplines-all for a great cause.
Through their participation, each athlete supported this worthy project, which aims to collect funds for the construction of a multifunctional sports court at Petar Zoranić Primary School in Stankovci. Led by Marin Cilic, each athlete picked up a tennis racket and showed off their tennis skills to the joy of the spectators in attendance and those watching from home.
Among the athletes were soccer legends and World Cup medalists Luka Modrić and Danijel Subašić, Eduardo Da Silva, who traveled from Brazil especially for this occasion; tennis players Mate Pavić, Borna Gojo and Ivan Ljubičić; NBA stars Ivica Zubac and Dario Šarić, Croatian basketball legends Andrija Stipanović, Ante Žižić, Zoran Planinić and Rok Stipčević. Arguably the greatest rowing duo in the sport, Valent and Martin Sinković; one of the best skiers in the world Filip Zubčić; Taekwondo gold medalist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo Mateja Jelić; winner of Olympic, world and European gymnastics medals Tin Srbić, one of the best Croatian shot put specialists Stipe Žunić and table tennis player Andrej Gaćina also competed. Manuel Štrlek, Luka Stepančić and Ivano Balić, winners of numerous handball medals for Croatia, replaced the handball with tennis rackets. The audience also witnessed the tennis skills of current European karate champion Anđelo Kvesić, captain of the women’s Croatian football team Doris Bačić; cross-bow world and European champion Valentina Pereglin, and Zrinka Ljutić, one of the most promising skiers in the world, and also a 2x scholarship recipient of the Marin Čilić Foundation.
This project would not have been possible without the support of our partners, who recognized this worthy initiative: Hrvatska Elektropriveda, Zagrebačka banka, Vindija, Croatian Tourist Board, OTP banka, Procter & Gamble, Kaufland, L’Angelica, Romerquelle, Privredna Banka Zagreb, Humed Pharma, Groupama Osiguranje, Telemach, Ina Maziva, Podravka and Falkensteiner and ŠC Višnjik, who served as event host. Rounding out our impressive partners are: City of Zadar, Zadar County, University of Zadar, TZ Zadar County, Tovedo, Go2Digital, Avant Car, kofer., Juicefast, Envy, Head, Šesnić & Turković, Babycentar, Autan, Armani Beauty, Cruyff and Foreo.
The goal of this initiative is two-fold: to raise funds for the renovation of a multifunctional sports court to provide the community of Stankovci in Zadar County a space to play and grow and to promote the importance of an active lifestyle at every age.
