The handball fever will end this week, but Zagreb citizens will not be disappointed, as the tennis fever will start on January 31 and last until February 8. The fourth edition of PBZ Indoors will be humbler than before, but all Croatia`s best players will be playing.

No economic crisis in Zagreb for tennis

- The economic crisis has shaken the whole world, but thanks to sponsors and the main sponsor of the tournament, the city of Zagreb, we have managed to organise everything on the highest level and we hope the audience will shift from handball courts to tennis courts – tournament director Branimir Horvat said, emphasising that this year, the surface would be red, to continue with the celebrations handball has introduced.

Even though many thought that the tournament was going through a crisis, these thought will be defeated by the prize fund, which amounts to 450,000 euros and overall tournament expenses will amount to 15 million kuna (approximately 2.08 million euros). Unfortunately, the biggest stars of the tennis world won`t be playing this year, but all the best Croatian players will.

- Ljubicic, Karlovic, Ancic, Karanusic and Cilic will be playing – Horvat explained.

Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic expressed satisfaction with such a tournament being played and promised to take efforts so that it is realised every year, regardless of what crises may come,

As a novelty which has to goal to popularise tennis, Zagreb has organised the arrival of primary and secondary school pupils for the qualifiers tournament, for free. The main tournament starts on February 2 and will be charged. All tournament days will cost 350 kuna (approximately 49 euros).