Serbia Open to Tennis

The Serbia Open may not be in the same league as Grand Slam events like Roland Garros or Wimbledon, but this modest tournament is quickly becoming a respectable competitor with the potential to grow in stature and gain the accolades of more significant ATP Tour events.

This year's tournament runs from April 23 to May 1.

What makes the Serbia Open special is the unique location of the Novak Tennis Complex, which is situated beside the Danube in the heart of central Belgrade, a brisk walk from Republic Square.

A stroll down Tadeusa Koscuskog Street, which meets Knez Mihajlova at Kalemegdan, is all it takes for visitors coming from the city centre to reach the venue, while the number 26 bus can be caught at Republic Square and will take tennis lovers all the way to the short tunnel leading to the venue’s main entrance.  Those heading from Belgrade’s slightly more distant residential suburbs can take advantage of tram lines 2, 5 and 10.  Another option is to board tram 11 from the railway station, travel to the end of the line and take a five-minute walk to the venue.

Once there, a number of entertaining side events will be in place to complement what should be an enthralling tournament, with Novak Djokovic leading the charge to win his fifth title in 2011 and take his impressive run beyond the 24 straight wins which saw him capture the Australian Open, the Dubai Championships and back-to-back Master Series events in Miami and Indian Wells.

Hospitality marquees will have high-tech tennis equipment on display and for sale, while various prize competitions have been organised to keep fans busy during breaks. A music stage with deejays and live bands should provide the icing on the cake in the evenings. Last but not least, an open-air restaurant in the middle of the complex will supply refreshments and lunch.

In addition to entertainment, there are also opportunities for exercise outside the venue. A six-mile bicycle track begins at the Danube quay beside the tennis complex and leads all the way to the city’s Ada Ciganlija recreational centre. The Ada area offers a range of sporting activities,  including five-a-side football, basketball, rugby, baseball, golf, American football, water-skiing, roller-skating, cycling and jogging around a man-made lake encircled by a long line of bars that are rated among Belgrade’s most popular night spots.

Visitors staying near the Serbia Open will find that the boat-bars and restaurants tucked in next to the complex are just as enjoyable, while there are also a couple of basketball courts nearby that are available to those with an appetite for a three-on-three challenge. The Kalemegdan medieval fortress and its treasures are just a stone’s throw away across the ring road that leads to the venue.  One of its more recent offerings is a Sunday morning (10:45 a.m.) rugby touch game, organised by local enthusiasts on a field beneath the towering walls that overlook the Danube.

Strong field takes centre stage

Djokovic will start as clear favourite to win his second Serbia Open. However, it will not be easy for the world No.2 this time around, as he faces a strong field headed by compatriot and close friend Viktor Troicki.
 
Fellow Davis Cup teammate Janko Tipsarevic completes Serbia’s trio in the tournament, while Alberto Montanes leads the five-man Spanish contingent for the trophy.

Last year’s finalist, John Isner, will also have high hopes of repeating or even surpassing his 2010 success, while Argentine Juan Monaco could be the dark horse of the 28-man event, with eight players taking part either through wild cards or pre-tournament qualifying rounds.

Top 20 entrants: Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia), Albert Montanes, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Feliciano Lopez, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain), John Isner, Robert Kendrick (United States), Juan Monaco (Argentina), Fernando Gonzales (Chile), Kei Nishikori (Japan), Somdev Devvarman (India), Filippo Volandri (Italy), Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan), Tobias Kamke, Michael Berrer (Germany), Ricardo Mello (Brazil), Blaz Kavcic (Slovenia).