SLOVENJ GRADEC/STARNBERG, August 25, 2026
The penultimate World Tennis Tour (WTT) tournament of the season in Slovenia, the M25 Slovenj Gradec, delivered a week of high-quality tennis and strong performances from the home players. No fewer than 12 Slovenian players competed in the main draw of the $30,000 event, with Sebastian Dominko and Filip Jeff Planinsek both reaching the semifinals.
Dominko recorded three victories on his way to the last four. The Slovenian opened his campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over compatriot Tilen Kovac before producing one of the tournament’s notable results by defeating top seed and 2022 junior Wimbledon champion Mili Poljicak of Croatia 7-6(6), 6-1 in the second round.
He then battled past Italy’s Giuseppe La Vela 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. His run came to an end in the semifinals, where Austria’s Sebastian Sorger prevailed 6-4, 6-1.
Planinsek also reached the semifinals after an impressive run. He defeated fellow Slovenian Marko Retelj 6-4, 7-6(4) in the opening round before beating Vid Mohar without dropping a game. In the quarterfinals, Planinsek defeated Argentina’s Valeriano Aboian 6-0, 6-2.
The Slovenian made an excellent start against Austrian qualifier Jonas Gundacker in the semifinals, taking the opening set 6-2. Gundacker, however, raised his level and completed the comeback to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The all-Austrian final saw third seed Sebastian Sorger justify his status as favourite, defeating qualifier Jonas Gundacker 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to claim the title.
There was also a strong Slovenian showing in the doubles. Jan Kupcic reached the final, while Tilen Kovač advanced to the semifinals.
Tournament director Dejan Murko was pleased with the successful staging of the event, which was the first M25 tournament hosted by Tenis Klub 96 after two editions at M15 level.
“With the conclusion of the tournament, we successfully staged one of the biggest international tennis events we have organized so far at Tenis Klub 96. This year’s tournament represented an important step forward for us. After two editions in the M15 category, we hosted an M25 tournament for the first time, with a prize purse of $30,000.
“The higher category brought stronger international competition, higher-quality tennis and greater organizational demands. We are very satisfied with the way the tournament was conducted. Despite challenging weather conditions, the great effort of the organizing team, officials and everyone involved allowed us to stage the tournament at a high level.
“We are particularly pleased with the positive feedback from the players. An important goal of organizing such a tournament is also to give Slovenian players the opportunity to compete against strong international opposition on home soil, gain valuable experience and earn ATP points.
“The tournament also had special value for the club’s youngest members. Throughout the week, they were able to watch professional players, training sessions and matches up close and experience the atmosphere of an international tournament. We believe these experiences are an important motivation for their continued work and development.
“At the conclusion, I would sincerely like to thank Tennis Slovenia, the Municipality of Slovenj Gradec, all sponsors and partners, as well as the many volunteers and club members, without whom we could not have staged such an event.
“Our wish is to continue developing and improving the tournament in the future. This year’s edition once again showed us that we can organize a high-quality international sporting event that makes an important contribution to the development of Slovenian tennis and the local community, while also promoting the Koroška region as a sporting and tourist destination,” Murko said.
