Split has been the capital of Pickkleballa in Europe tonight, the largest center with as many as 12 terrain has been opened …

As expected, many who read this text do not know what Pickkleball is, so let us mention that this is the fastest growing sport in the US, which is spreading Europe and is already being organized by tournaments, professional players and players record millions of earnings. He is played mostly by former tennis players and among them are Pickkleball professionals John Isner, Jack Sock, Genie Bouchard …

Stobrec: The opening of the Pickleball Club 002 Split |

Photo: Zvonimir Barisin/Pixsell

Pickkleball is one of the versions of tennis, a combination of tennis, table tennis, badminton and a fall. The terrain is like in badminton, playing two sets up to 11 points like in table tennis, the racquet is similar to the slope, the ball is the size of a tennis, only light and hollow, the point only wins the one who serves …

The terrain was placed on the former tennis courts in Stobrec, and all the pioneer of Pickkleballa in Split Ivan Renić, who is the president of the Pickkleball Club 002 Split.

– We researched a little and realized that no one in Europe had so many terrain in one place. They have English 10, Spaniards eight, but 12 there are only in Split. Most in Europe – is proud of Renic, who entered the whole project after the exhibition tournament, which was organized in Makarska last year.

– I accidentally ran into Pickkleball on the internet. I was curious about what it was, so I was « googling » a little. I saw that there was a group of people playing in Croatia. There were not many then, maybe 20-30. We quickly connected, and then things started to go even faster. In a few months, I organized the first Croatian Pickleball tournament in Makarska two years ago. We posted the announcement on social networks and suddenly strangers began to report. In the end, we gathered more than 40 players from seven countries. There were Americans, Canadians, Germans … We even had one professional player. It took a little bit to me because it turned into a big event overnight, but it went great and we continued to grow until we founded the club and made a center with 12 terrain.

The opening ceremony was attracted to five hundred guests, including numerous celebrities, Zoran Vulic, Josip Skok with his sons, Marijan Budimir, Vik Lalic, Denija Lusic, Mat Bilic, Marko Zaj …, and everyone eagerly awaited the first demonstration match that played Domenik Turkovic, Sara Lalic, Mate Srdanovic. According to the first reactions, they liked them, Pickkleball got new fans.