Celebrating Ivan Dodig’s Retirement: ‘I always gave it my all’ | ATP Tour

Retirement

Celebrating Ivan Dodig’s Retirement: ‘I always gave it my all’

atptour.com only talks about his work in Croatia

November 21, 2025

On 6 February 2011, Ivan Dodig hit an ace to defeat Michael Berrer and claim his first ATP Tour Singles title in front of his fans in Zagreb. Or so the Croatian thought.

Dodig threw his race into the crowd and went to the net thinking the game was over. Chair umpire Cedric Mourier, now the head of the ATP, said the right thing was done.

“I was like, ‘There’s no way’. I couldn’t believe it,” Dodig is said to have told atptour.com. “It was a busy situation because I was throwing the race and I needed to ask this brother to please give me back the race. I was able to finish the game.”

Instead, Dodig closed out a 6-3, 6-4 victory in his lingering singles ranking and 15 years since the start of a memorable career in singles and doubles. The proud 40-year-old, who reached No.

“At the beginning of the year, I was thinking about my options. Then at the end of the year, after a few months, I had decided and people close to me knew that it would be my last year,” said Dodig. “But I didn’t pay much attention to that, and now finally, a few months ago, I decided and finally started sharing with good friends that this will be my last year.”

Having accomplished so much in his career in both singles and doubles, Dodig felt it was a good time to hang up his racing.

“Usually players break the top 100 at the age of 20, 21. I broke the top 100 [when I was] About 24. But after that, I stayed there for a long time, 15, 16 years, “said Dodig.” I got a lot of things, and I played a lot of tennis. So, it’s a really long career for me, and I’m very happy with it and he had a great time all these years. “

Dodig is from MedjuGOrje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a small town like the whole world Noah. 3 Marin Clic. Dodig is almost four years older than Cilic, but they grew up together and are good friends.

Their city is well known for Naturals. When Dodig and Cilic were growing up, the only tennis player they could watch on television was Goran Ivanisic.

“This is the way we all are [fell] In love with Tennis we started to dream,” Dodig recalled.

Clic moved to Zagreb at a young age to chase his dreams and later trained under the tutelage of Bob Brett. He reached the highest places in the sport, he won a big title with us in the 2014 open, but never let his relationship with Dodig. They even won silver medals together in the men’s category at the Tokyo Olympics.

“We should be proud. A special story and a special gift. We got it from start to finish again [spent] Most of the time we sit together and talk about it, “said Dodig.” It’s special and not that many people know, but this trip has been different from many others and we are proud of that. We moved so many children here, they traveled around the region, to play tennis. And now to see so many kids playing tennis for us, it’s a good thing. “

The same year he won in Zagreb, Dodig stunned world No. 2 Rafael Nadal 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) at the ATP Masters in Canada. The Croatian also picked up multiple wins against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Milos Reonic and Cilic, and beat the likes of Kei Nishikori.

“I’ve had a pretty good career at the club, I have to admit,” said Dodig. “A lot of wins, a lot of memories.”

Throughout his singing career, Dodig won twice. Eventually, his back began to trouble him and he played his last tour dates in July 2017, turning into doubles.

Croatia won three men’s majors, claiming glory at Roland Garros in 2015 with Marcelo Melo, in the 2021 Australian Open with Filip Polasek and in 2023 Roland Garros with Austin Krajicek. Dodig won six 1000 masters titles and competed in the nitto atp finals nine times with four different partners: Melo, Marcel Granoller, Polasek and Krajicek.

“I think I made a good, big decision at the time,” Dodig said. “I’ve outsourced other jobs to seven, eight doubles and I’ve enjoyed incredible success doubling with great partners.”

Krajicek, also Dodig Won End-End in ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by Pif Honors in 2023, said: “You are doing a great job. [It has been a privilege] To be a small part of his journey and play for him and really get to feel like he’s almost family to me. We had a great time playing together and were very successful. It’s amazing to see someone like Ivan, who was such an AA role model for so many young guys come into the game, and set such a high moral standard and his work is all really fun. I always had a lot of respect for Ivan and really wish him nothing but the best. “

For Dodig’s part, 40-year-old prospects are making a difference to the next generation.

“I hope that through my sports career I have been motivating other children to find a way and seek their dreams. I hope they can encourage themselves a little, I am persevering,” said Dodig. “I always gave everything on the tennis court – me, my family, being with the community and people who love tennis and will try to be professional.”