Pleased and happy with the organization were three of the best players in Sofia this year – Gilles Muller, Viktor Troicki and Philipp Kohlschreber
“This is our third very successful tournament in a row,” the Bulgarian Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev said in his opening speech during the Diema Xtra Sofia Open Players party.
“This is the first big event we are running within “Sofia – EU Capital of Sports 2018” this year. Three years ago with my friend Stefan Tsvetkov we decided to start negotiations for hosting ATP Tournament in Bulgaria and a lot of people were more than sceptic then. They thought we are not ready and we won’t be able to manage such an event. But now this is the third edition of a very successful tennis tournament we are running. This year is even better for having in Sofia Stan Wawrinka who is the most titled and successive tennis player ever played in Bulgaria. We are really sorry about Grigor Dimitrov’s injury and will miss him,” Kralev said.
The Minister added that he is confident the tournament will stay in Bulgaria’s sporting schedule in the future and the goal is the event to become one of Sofia’s symbols.
“Such a tournament can’t depend on one or two players. Bulgarians proved that they are people who are interested in tennis. Dubai Duty Free, the tournament’s right holders, are pleased. Now we are in a process of extending the contract,” the Minister added. He thanked to Nova Broadcatsing Group and all the sponsors who supported the event.
“Bulgaria has proved that is able to organize tournaments on a very high level with 6 tournament already done,” Paul McNamee, DIEMA XTRA tournament director, said. Pleased and happy with the organization were three of the best players in Sofia this year – Gilles Muller, Viktor Troicki and Philipp Kohlschreber.
Three times Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is coming to Bulgaria on Wednesday. He will play on Thursday against the winner between Bulgarian Indoor champion Aleksander Donski and former world 24 Martin Klizan.
