Croatia’s Davis Cup captain Ivan Dodig has opened a state of the art tennis complex in his hometown of Međugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a glittering exhibition match featuring Novak Djokovic, Marin Čilić, and Mate Pavić. The Dodig Tennis Centre, built by the Dodig family over several years, spans 25,000 square meters and is designed as an integrated hub combining professional training facilities, accommodation, recovery services, and additional sports amenities. The opening ceremony on Tuesday drew several thousand spectators to the internationally known Catholic pilgrimage site, with former German world No. 1 Boris Becker also in attendance.
The center features six tennis courts, five hard courts and a clay surface, including a central court with seating for approximately 2,000 spectators. Plans envision covering part of the complex for year round use, and the facility also includes four paddle courts, a restaurant, two bars, a fitness center, saunas, a museum, a shop, and 27 apartments with outdoor and indoor pools. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Ivan Dodig and Darijana Filipović, the Croatian National Assembly’s candidate for the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in forthcoming elections, who described the project as a source of pride for the region. Željko Dodig, Ivan’s brother and the center’s director, thanked guests for attending and emphasized that the complex was the result of years of hard work and collective family commitment.
For Ivan Dodig, the opening represents a homecoming for one of Croatia’s most decorated tennis players. Born in Međugorje in 1985, he reached a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 2 in September 2023 and retired from professional play in September 2025 with seven Grand Slam titles to his name, three in men’s doubles and four in mixed doubles. He won the 2015 and 2023 French Open men’s doubles titles, the 2021 Australian Open, and added mixed doubles crowns at the 2018 and 2019 French Opens, 2019 Wimbledon, and 2022 Australian Open. He also captured an Olympic silver medal in men’s doubles alongside Marin Čilić at the 2020 Tokyo Games and was part of Croatia’s 2018 Davis Cup winning team. Appointed Davis Cup captain in August 2025, Dodig has said he intends to establish a tennis academy for young players at the center, host international tournaments, and ultimately bring an ATP Tour event to Međugorje.
The ambition to make Međugorje a tennis destination is bold for a town best known as a Marian pilgrimage site that draws millions of Catholic visitors annually. By combining world class sporting infrastructure with the town’s existing tourism appeal, the Dodig family is betting that the complex can attract both elite athletes and recreational players from across Europe. Whether the center can secure a spot on the ATP calendar remains uncertain, but with Dodig’s connections and the star power on display at the opening, the project has already put Međugorje on the map for reasons beyond its religious significance.
