Dino Prizmic’s standout season on the ATP Challenger Tour is promising information for the way forward for Croatian tennis. Whereas what lies forward could excite followers, his background is a narrative of its personal. The 18-year-old began enjoying tennis at Tenis Klub Cut up, the place Goran Ivanisevic, Mario Ancic and Mate Pavic additionally realized the sport.
The #NextGenATP star Prizmic remembers being age 9 when Ivanisevic informed him he was impressed along with his recreation and inspired him to maintain engaged on his forehand and serve. Not too unhealthy to listen to from a former World No. 2.
At age 14, Prizmic began to take his tennis extra severely and moved to the capital metropolis Zagreb, the place there have been extra gamers to practise with.
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Now, the teenager is boasting constructive outcomes on the Challenger stage that has helped raise him to a career-high No. 175 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, an enormous enchancment from a yr in the past, when he was exterior the Prime 800.
“Challenger tournaments are essential for me to find out about gamers,” Prizmic informed ATPTour.com. “It’s good to play actually good and be mentally able to bodily combat.”
The teenager is transitioning to Challengers following a formidable junior profession. At this yr’s Roland Garros boys’ singles occasion, Prizmic dropped only one set throughout six matches to win the title. He has solely continued his ascent since triumphing in Paris.
Eight days after his 18th birthday, Prizmic gained his maiden ATP Challenger Tour crown in Banja Luka to grow to be the youngest Croatian champion since a 17-year-old Borna Coric in 2014.
Dino Prizmic wins the Challenger 100 occasion in Banja Luka. Credit score: Banja Luka Open
“It has been a shock as a result of I believe seven or eight months in the past, I could not actually consider that I might win a junior Grand Slam and a Challenger title,” Prizmic mentioned. “For me it is a large expertise and I believe I’ll proceed like this.
“I really feel superb as a result of I do know I’ve labored onerous this yr. I simply need to know for myself that this stage of tennis is essential. I additionally need to be taught extra and play higher tennis sooner or later.”
Prizmic is the primary participant to win a Grand Slam junior crown and a Challenger title in the identical season since Wu Yibing in 2017. The Croatian can be the primary participant to win the Roland Garros boys’ singles title and a Challenger trophy in the identical season since Stan Wawrinka in 2003.
Shortly after Prizmic gained on the Parisian clay, Novak Djokovic, who’s coached by Ivanisevic, posted an Instagram story congratulating the teenager, writing, ‘Čestitke Dino’, which interprets to, ‘Congratulations Dino’.
“My response was like, ‘I am unable to consider it!’ as a result of Novak shared this put up on Instagram story,” Prizmic mentioned. “It is a large factor for me after all as a result of he’s my idol and I am very glad about that.”
Dino Prizmic in motion on the 2023 Roland Garros boys’ singles occasion. Credit score: Julian Finney/Getty Photographs
Prizmic has drawn inspiration from the 94-time tour-level titlist, who claimed his record-breaking twenty third main crown simply 24 hours after the teenager lifted the junior title.
Motivated by the 36-year-old Djokovic’s bodily and psychological power, Prizmic even adopted an all-natural food plan akin to the Serbian’s. Prizmic permits one cheat day a yr: his birthday.
“I began that once I was 15 as a result of I noticed Novak and different gamers do not eat candy issues and I simply wished to additionally do this,” Prizmic mentioned. “On court docket, I really feel superb, not drained. Massive distinction on vitality ranges on court docket.
“I additionally need to eat proper for myself. Beef, eggs, greens every single day are so necessary for me. Each time I see [sweets], I do not need to look there! It is robust however I do know it is for my tennis, as a result of tennis is my life. I want to do this.”
Prizmic earned his maiden tour-level victory on residence soil in Umag final month, when he reached the quarter-finals earlier than falling to eventual champion Alexei Popyrin.
The Croatian is aiming for a maiden look on the Subsequent Gen Finals, which options the world’s high 21-and-under gamers. At the moment sixteenth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Subsequent Gen Race, Prizmic is utilizing the Challenger Tour to develop his recreation earlier than rising to the world’s greatest phases.
“I need to play with the very best gamers on the ATP Tour and so for me, that is just the start,” mentioned Prizmic.
Youngest Croatian Challenger Champions
| Participant | Age | Title |
| Borna Coric | 17 years, 10 months, seven days | Izmir 2014 |
| Mario Ancic | 17 years, 10 months, 11 days | Belgrade 2002 |
| Dino Prizmic | 18 years, eight days | Banja Luka 2023 |