The tournament director Aljaž Kos explained that this year’s prize fund has been raised from $50,000 to $75,000. Because of the ATP ranking, currently, he is in the 239th Place, Blaž Rola qualified directly. Jaka Kaplja and Nik Razboršek have also been invited.

Besides Ukraine player Stakhovsky, Kos also pointed out some other foreign players participating on this tournament; an Italian player Luca Vanni and Austrian player Dennis Novak. The president of the Slovenian Tennis Association Marko Umberger is positive the higher prize fund is going to attract better and higher-quality players.

Raising money for children from less privileged backgrounds
“The emphasis is this year on the charity. There is only one goal, and that is to raise as much money as possible for the children from less fortunate families so that they can play tennis as well,” stressed Umberger. According to him, tennis benefits children in many ways, they gain work habits and they can also become good candidates for scholarships in the U.S.

The director of the Slovenian tennis association Gregor Krušič explained how there is going to be a Big foot mama concert on the first evening of the tournament. Besides the concert, there is going to be an auction of Rafael Nadal’s signed tennis racket, Anže Kopitar’s hockey stick and Goran Dragić’s uniform.

The president of the Slovenian Association of Friends and Youth Ljubljana Moste-Poljane Anita Ogulin is going to make sure every donated cent goes toward helping children. “Such events bring children exactly what they need – equal opportunities,” stressed during the today’s press conference.

The ambassador of the charity project called Gibaj, mladina Rado Mulej is going to play an exhibition match head to head with Gregor Žemlja. He admits he doesn’t stand a chance, however, he will make sure he is going to be the audience’s favourite and he promises a lot of entertainment. Magnifico’s concert will close the tournament.

Since women also qualified very high, there have been several appeals, proposing the tournament should be called WTA instead of ATP, however, Krušič says, so far, this is only an idea. “We have not discussed this,” he said and added that the final decision will be known at the beginning of next year.