Tomislav PUCAR and Andrea PAVLOVIĆ were crowned singles champions at the Croatian National Championships, held in Vrsar.
For the fourth year in a row, Tomislav PUCAR (GSTK Zagreb) claimed the men’s singles title, defeating Andrej GAĆINA (STK Zagreb) 4-2 in a repeat of last year’s final. The match was more closely contested this time, with small details tipping the balance.
“We’ve trained together for the past 10–15 years—we know each other too well,” said PUCAR. “These matches come down to details, to being a bit more active, a bit luckier. I’ve now beaten him three times in a row, but it’s always close.”
GAĆINA, an 11-time national champion, acknowledged his mistakes in the final:
“He was calmer in the crucial moments. I made too many mistakes on easy balls—that’s what decided it. I’m frustrated with myself. It’s not about the game, it’s the easy mistakes that hurt.”
In the women’s singles, Andrea PAVLOVIĆ (STK Zagreb) overcame defending champion Hana ARAPOVIĆ (Mladost Tia Mobiteli) 4-2 to capture her second national title, her first since 2020.
“I wasn’t sure if I would even play, I’d had a cold all week and didn’t train at all. The first day was tough, but I stayed calm and fought through it. The last few years have been difficult, but I kept believing and training, hoping it would pay off—and now it has,” said PAVLOVIĆ.
Despite the singles defeat, Hana ARAPOVIĆ didn’t leave Vrsar empty-handed. She defended her mixed doubles title with Ivor BAN (GSTK Zagreb), claiming their second consecutive and fourth overall title as a pair. She also partnered with Ivana MALOBABIĆ (Varaždin) to win the women’s doubles title, their first as a team.
In the men’s doubles, Ivor BAN and Luka LOŽUŠIĆ successfully defended their crown, defeating Vedran BAKAČ and Leon BENKO 3-0 in the final.
Singles
Men’s, semifinal: GAĆINA (STK Zagreb) – ZELJKO (GSTK Zagreb) 4:0 (5, 9, 3, 8), BAN (GSTK Zagreb) – PUCAR (GSTK Zagreb) 1:4 (-4, -7, -7, 5, -8); final: GAĆINA (STK Zagreb) – PUCAR (GSTK Zagreb) 2:4 (-5, -9, 9, 6, -8, -10)
Woman’s, semifinal: TUBIKANEC (Sveta Nedelja) – PAVLOVIĆ (STK Zagreb) 2:4 (3, -4, -8, 9, -4, -6), CAKOL (Pula) – ARAPOVIĆ (Mladost Tia mobiteli) 1:4 (-7, -4, -3, 11, 5); final: PAVLOVIĆ (STK Zagreb) – ARAPOVIĆ (Mladost Tia mobiteli) 4:2 (-9, 8, 10, 7, -9, 11)
Doubles
Men’s, semifinal: PETEK/ZLATKOV (STK Zagreb) – BAKAČ/BENKO (Split/GSTK Zagreb) 2:3 (9, -7, 5, -8, -8), HENCL/JERKOVIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Rakuni) – BAN/LOZUŠIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Osijek) 2:3 (-10, -9, 9, 8, 5); final: BAKAČ/BENKO (Split/GSTK Zagreb) – BAN/LOZUŠIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Osijek) 0:3 (-15, -4, -8)
Women’s, semifinal: MALOBABIĆ/ARAPOVIĆ (Varaždin/Mladost Tia mobiteli) – BENKO/MIŠKIĆ (STK Zagreb) 3:0 (6, 6, 9), PUSTAJ/GOJKOVIĆ (Mladost Tia mobiteli/Varaždin) – CAKOL/ĆOSIĆ (Pula/Mladost Tia mobiteli) 3:0 (6, 7, 4); final: MALOBABIĆ/ARAPOVIĆ (Varaždin/Mladost Tia mobiteli) – PUSTAJ/GOJKOVIĆ (Mladost/Varaždin) 3:0 (4, 8, 10)
Mix doubles
Semifinal: BAN/ARAPOVIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli) – HENCL/MALOBABIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Varaždin) 3:0 (8, 5, 4), LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (Osijek/Mladost Tia mobiteli) – BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli) 1:3 (-8, -3, 3, 6); final: BAN/ARAPOVIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli) – BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli) 3:0 (8, 8, 5)
Men’s Singles
- Tomislav PUCAR (GSTK Zagreb)
- Andrej GAĆINA (STK Zagreb)
- Filip ZELJKO (GSTK Zagreb)
- Ivor BAN (GSTK Zagreb)
Women’s
- Andrea PAVLOVIĆ (STK Zagreb)
- Hana ARAPOVIĆ (Mladost Tia mobiteli)
- Ivana TUBIKANEC (Sveta Nedelja)
- Klara CAKOL (Pula)
Men’s Doubles
- BAN/LOZUŠIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Osijek)
- BAKAČ/BENKO (Split/GSTK Zagreb)
- PETEK/ZLATKOV (STK Zagreb)
- HENCL/JERKOVIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Rakuni)
Women’s
- MALOBABIĆ/ARAPOVIĆ (Varaždin/Mladost Tia mobiteli)
- PUSTAJ/GOJKOVIĆ (Mladost Tia mobiteli/Varaždin)
- BENKO/MIŠKIĆ (STK Zagreb)
- CAKOL/ĆOSIĆ (Pula/Mladost Tia mobiteli)
Mixed doubles
- BAN/ARAPOVIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli)
- BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost Tia mobiteli)
- HENCL/MALOBABIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Varaždin)
- LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (Osijek/Mladost Tia mobiteli)
