"This year my opponent will be my good friend, a man who impacted my greatest success. There couldn't have been a better person to come to the 30th anniversary of the Umag ATP tournament," said Ivanisevic announcing his exhibition match with Australia's Patrick Rafter, as one of the central events at the 30th edition of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open in Umag.
"Thirty years of Umag is evidence that something can last in Croatia for 30 years and that it can be successful. Commendations to Umag and the people who managed to hold the tournament, which is better and better each year and we had to do something special for the exhibition match. There couldn't be anything better for me, for my career, my tennis and the beautiful centre court than to play against Patrick Rafter. There couldn't have been a better person to come to the 30th anniversary of the Umag tournament," Ivanisevic told the press conference.
The replay of the Wimbledon final match from 2001 will be held on Wednesday 17 July at the Goran Ivanisevic ATP stadium in Umag, announced Ivanisevic in his own peculiar style.
Ivanisevic won the Wimbledon title in 2001.