RetrOpatija 2026 introduces Opatija Tennis Classic as a retro tennis event on historic courts
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, alongside the finale of the RetrOpatija event, Opatija will also gain a new sports and social program called Opatija Tennis Classic. It is a one-day doubles tournament that will be held on the courts of the Opatija Tennis Club, at Drage Gervaisa 1, and which, according to the organizers' announcement, combines recreational tennis, vintage aesthetics and the social character of Opatija's summer scene. The event is conceived as an official part of RetrOpatija, an event held from June 25 to 27, 2026, as a musical and visual time machine through the decades of the 20th century. In that context, the tournament is not aimed only at the sporting result, but also at the atmosphere associated with the early decades of tennis: white clothing, wooden rackets, socializing by the courts, music and recognizable elegance.
According to information published on the official websites of Opatija and the Opatija Tennis Classic event, the tournament will be played in a doubles format, with a limited number of participants. A model with 32 teams has been announced, divided into eight groups of four teams, with only the first-placed pair from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. Matches will be played as a tie-break up to 10 points, which gives the event a dynamic recreational and competitive format suitable for a one-day program. The organizers state that competitors will be provided with vintage wooden rackets, while a completely white dress code is mandatory for participation.
Tennis as part of Opatija's retro identity
In recent years, RetrOpatija has become recognizable as an event that turns the city into a large stage dedicated to the music, dance, fashion and popular culture of the last century. According to the announcement by the Tourist Board of the City of Opatija, the program brings together swing, rockabilly, rock, jazz and disco rhythms, while the central part of the event is connected with public spaces and the Open Air Theatre. Opatija Tennis Classic fits into such a concept, because tennis, in its historical image, carries a strong visual and social retro potential: white clothing, wooden rackets, the ceremonial nature of the game and a pronounced culture of sportsmanship naturally fit into the festival theme.
For Opatija, this kind of addition to the program is also interesting because of the city's local identity. In tourist communication, Opatija is often presented through a combination of spa, hotel, gastronomic and cultural tradition, while a sports program on historic courts further expands the festival image of the city beyond the music offer itself. According to the official announcements of the event, the Opatija Tennis Club was founded in 1931, which gives it historical weight and an authentic backdrop for a tournament based on the aesthetics of earlier sporting times. Precisely for this reason, the event is not presented as a standard recreational tournament, but as an experience that combines play, clothing, music and a social program.
Tournament format and participation rules
Opatija Tennis Classic has been announced as a doubles tournament open to enthusiasts of different levels of tennis experience, with an emphasis on love for vintage style. The official event website states that the number of places is limited to 64 competitors, that is, 32 pairs. Pairs can register, as well as individuals who can be paired with another participant, which gives the tournament a social and open character. The format with a group stage and quarter-finals allows each pair to play several matches, while the tie-break up to 10 points speeds up the pace of the competition and reduces the differences between more experienced and recreational players.
The requirement of completely white clothing is one of the key elements of the event. Such a dress code directly draws on classic tennis tradition and aesthetically connects the sports part of the program with the spirit of RetrOpatija. The organizers also announce wooden rackets for participants who do not have them, which further emphasizes the departure from contemporary equipment and the return to the visual identity of older tennis periods. This means that not only sporting readiness is required, but also the participants' readiness to embrace the concept of the event. For that reason, in addition to competitive results, the best-dressed pair of the tournament will also be specially recognized.
Free admission and program for visitors
Admission for visitors, fans and tennis lovers has been announced as free. This is important because Opatija Tennis Classic is not conceived as a closed competition only for registered players, but as a daytime program within a broader city event. Visitors will be able to watch matches, spend time by the courts and take part in the retro atmosphere that will be built throughout the day. According to the event announcement, alongside the sports program, music with a DJ is planned, with an emphasis on vintage sounds, from swing to jazz, and champagne and strawberries with whipped cream have also been announced as part of the recognizable retro ambience.
A light lunch in the club premises is also planned for tournament participants, while the program should continue with an evening reception at the Bevanda restaurant. This element further confirms that the event is being built as an all-day experience, and not only as a series of short sporting encounters. The original event announcements emphasize that the goal is to bring back a touch of sporting elegance and tradition to one of the most beautiful tennis venues on the Adriatic. The initiator and tournament director Alex Lazinica pointed out that Opatija Tennis Classic is not just a competition, but a celebration of the history of tennis, socializing and Opatija hedonism.
The prizes connect Opatija and the Croatian tennis season
According to the organizers' announcement, the main prize for the winners includes tickets for the final of the ATP tournament in Umag with overnight accommodation provided. The official Croatia Open website states that the ATP Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag 2026 will be held in July at the Stella Maris tennis complex, with tickets on sale for main-draw matches at the ATP Stadion Goran Ivanišević and Studenac Arena. In its calendar, the ATP also lists the Umag tournament as part of the July schedule for the 2026 season, which places the Opatija Tennis Classic prize within the broader framework of the summer tennis season in Croatia.
Such a prize also has symbolic value. The recreational tournament in Opatija is connected with the professional tournament in Umag, one of the best-known tennis events in Croatia. For participants, this means that the prize does not remain only at the local level, but opens up a continuation of the tennis experience at an international professional event. Alongside the main prize, a special recognition for the best-dressed pair has also been announced, which again shows that the organizers equally value the sporting result and the stylistic contribution to the atmosphere. Within such a concept, victory on the court is only one of the ways of taking part in the event.
Opatija's tennis courts as a historic backdrop
The Opatija Tennis Club is an important part of the story because it gives the event a space with its own sporting memory. According to the official Opatija Tennis Classic website, the club was founded in 1931, and the tournament is held at a location presented as a place where sporting elegance and Opatija heritage meet. In a city whose tourist history is often associated with hotels, promenades, parks and Austro-Hungarian architecture, tennis has the role of a sport that works well in such an ambience. That is why wooden rackets and white clothing in this case are not merely decorative details, but part of an attempt to unite the space, the rules of the game and the audience into a unique atmosphere.
This type of event may be especially interesting to visitors who do not experience RetrOpatija exclusively as an evening music program. Daytime sports content extends the duration of the event and creates an additional reason to stay in the city during the final day of the festival. Since the event is held in a very active tourist period, visitors planning their arrival can check accommodation in Opatija during RetrOpatija in good time, especially if they want to follow both the daytime tennis program and the evening concerts. Such a link between sport, tourism and the cultural offer fits into Opatija's model of summer events.
Registration open until June 20
Player registration is open until June 20, 2026, according to information from the tournament announcement. Since the number of places is limited, the organizers direct interested participants to the official event website, where details about the rules of play, the program and registration can be found. The limit of 32 pairs is important because of the one-day format and match schedule, but also because of the desire for the event to retain a more exclusive, club-like character. Unlike large open sports events, the emphasis here is on a controlled number of participants, a clear concept and a carefully shaped ambience.
Opatija's official announcement states that the tournament will be held precisely on Saturday, June 27, on the final day of RetrOpatija. This means that the sports program coincides in time with the peak of the festival weekend, when the strongest visitor interest in city events is also expected. On the Festival Opatija website, an evening RetrOpatija program at the Open Air Theatre has also been announced for the same date, which further confirms that June 27 will be one of the central days of the event. Visitors who want to combine a daytime stay by the tennis courts and an evening outing in the city should plan their arrival in advance, especially because of the summer demand for accommodation near Opatija events.
The broader significance of the new program
The introduction of Opatija Tennis Classic into the RetrOpatija program shows how city events can expand without losing their basic identity. Instead of keeping the retro theme only in music and clothing, the new tournament transfers it into the sports space and turns it into a participatory event. Participants are not only an audience, but active carriers of style, play and atmosphere. Such an approach is especially suited to events that want to create a recognizable experience, and not merely offer a series of unrelated programs.
For Opatija, this is also a way to present its tourist and sporting tradition in the same event. RetrOpatija already has a clearly built identity around nostalgia, music and urban charm, while Opatija Tennis Classic adds a layer that relies on club history and the culture of the white sport. If the announced format proves successful, the tournament could become a recognizable addition to the finale of the event and another reason why the end of June in Opatija is associated with retro aesthetics, time spent outdoors and content that combines sport, tourism and socializing.
Sources:
- Visit Opatija – official announcement of the RetrOpatija 2026 event and description of the program from June 25 to 27, 2026 (link)
- Visit Opatija – official announcement of the Opatija Tennis Classic event, tournament format and basic information for visitors (link)
- Opatija Tennis Classic – official event website with information about the location, registrations, rules and tournament concept (link)
- Festival Opatija – program announcement for RetrOpatija at the Open Air Theatre on June 27, 2026 (link)
- Croatia Open Umag – official information about tickets and the holding of the ATP Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag 2026 (link)
- ATP Tour – tournament calendar and information about the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag in the 2026 season (link)