BAD RAPPENAU, June 5, 2026

Luka Mikrut has already claimed his first two ATP Challenger titles and is steadily climbing the rankings. Currently ranked No. 195 in the world, the 22-year-old Croatian is building his career from his training base in Zagreb while pursuing his long-term goal of breaking into the ATP Top 100.

After his first-round win against Spanish qualifier Alex Marti Pujolras at the Neckarcup in Bad Rappenau, we spoke with him about his comeback from injury, life on tour, Croatian tennis, and his ambitions for the future.

Tennis TourTalk: Luka, congratulations on the win today. It was a tough match. How did you feel on court?

Luka Mikrut: Thank you very much. It was a really tough match. I expected a difficult battle because I’m still coming back from an injury. Every match is important for me at the moment. My opponent played very well and I didn’t know much about him beforehand, so I’m very happy to get through.

You mentioned the injury. What exactly happened, and how are you feeling physically now?

I slipped and fell on my back with my arms extended. My left wrist was injured quite badly and it took some time to recover. I returned to the tour the week before Roland-Garros. Coming back is never easy because you need time to regain confidence and match rhythm. Physically I’m feeling much better now and I’m happy to be competing again.

Where are you based these days? Tell us a little about your training situation.

I’m based in Zagreb. I live there because it’s the best place for me to practice. We have many strong Croatian players there, great facilities, and it’s convenient for travelling to tournaments.

Croatian tennis is enjoying another strong period. How do you see the current situation?

I think Croatian tennis is in a good place. In particular, Dino Prizmic is having a great season. We have known each other from kindergarten. I am really happy for him. We have a strong tradition in Croatia and hopefully we can continue producing top players.

Who was your role model growing up?

Roger Federer, without a doubt. I watched a lot of old matches and videos of him. He was my biggest tennis idol. But of course, I am also a fan of Goran Ivanisevic.

Outside of tennis, are there any athletes or characters who inspire you?

Actually, Rocky Balboa. I know he’s a movie character, but I love the mentality, the determination and the way he never gives up. That inspires me a lot.

So you’re a movie fan?

A huge movie fan. My mother owned a video rental shop, so movies have always been a big part of my life.

What’s your favourite movie?

Rocky is probably number one. But I also love Star Wars. I’m a big fan of that series as well.

What other sports do you follow?

I enjoy a lot of sports. Football is probably the main one outside of tennis. I support Hajduk Split. I also like darts and watch many different sporting events whenever I have time.

How would you describe yourself as a player? What are your strengths on court?

I think I’m an all-around player. I don’t want to talk too much about specific strengths and weaknesses, but on a good day I feel I can compete with anybody. Sometimes I can be a little unpredictable, both in a good way and a bad way, but I’m working on becoming more consistent.

What are your goals for the rest of the season?

Before the season started, my goal was to break into the Top 100. Of course, that’s still something I’d love to achieve, but the most important thing is to stay healthy, enjoy competing, and keep improving.

Thank you.

Interview: Florian Heer