KOPER/STARNBERG, April 21, 2025
The third ITF World Tennis Tour tournament of the year in Slovenia concluded in Koper on Sunday. In the singles final of the fourth edition of the Luka Koper Open, Austria’s Julia Grabher emerged as the champion, while Kristina Novak brought home a doubles title for Slovenia.
Grabher’s Comeback Week
In a surprising twist, both singles finalists were qualifiers. Julia Grabher delivered a dominant performance in the final, defeating Georgia’s Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-2, 6-2. The Austrian had a strong week, including a quarterfinal win over Croatian talent Petra Marcinko and a semifinal victory over top seed Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.
“It’s been a tough week—I played seven matches—but I’m very happy with the win here in Koper,” said the 28-year-old Grabher, a former World No. 54. “The weather was difficult at the start of the week, but the courts were in excellent condition. This victory means a lot, especially coming back from injury. I hope to return to my best level soon. The atmosphere, the hotel, the town—it was all amazing. I even had time to enjoy a few walks by the sea.”
Novak and Sebestova Secure Doubles Glory
In doubles, Slovenia’s Kristina Novak, ranked World No. 484, partnered with Czech player Ivana Sebestova to claim the title. The pair started strong, defeating the French-Turkish duo Monnet/Oz in the semifinals 6-2, 6-1. Despite a packed schedule, Novak and Sebestova returned to the court the same day for the final, facing Russia’s Julia Avdeeva and Ekaterina Maklakova.
Novak and Sebestova took the opening set 7-5 but lost momentum in the second, dropping it 0-6. In the deciding super tie-break, the Slovene-Czech pair regained control and clinched the championship with a 10-6 win.
“I want to thank the organizers and everyone who helped with the tournament—especially for preparing the courts under tough weather conditions,” said Novak. “Also, thanks to my partner—it was our first time playing together, and we had an amazing run. A big thank-you to my parents for their support.” This marks Novak’s fifth doubles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour and her second on home soil.
A Successful Event in Koper
Tournament director Lara Jerse expressed her satisfaction with how the event unfolded: “Despite challenging weather at the beginning of the week, we successfully held all matches thanks to the dedication of the organizational team, the players’ understanding, and support from all involved. We’re happy that the final matches were played in sunny weather and a great sporting atmosphere. Congratulations to all the players, especially to Kristina Novak for her home victory. A heartfelt thank-you to all the sponsors, participants, and spectators for making this tournament a success.”
