Goran Ivanisevic’s son Emanuel, 16, has followed in his father’s footsteps, embracing tennis and making his professional main-draw debut this week. Emanuel had lost in the qualifying draws in Opatija and Dubrovnik earlier this year before receiving the main-draw wild card for this week’s M15 Bol event.
The young gun faced Corban Crowther in the first round and suffered a 6-3, 6-1 loss in an hour and 22 minutes. Emanuel served at 75%, but it did not bring him much, as he still needs time to develop anything similar to his father’s booming initial shot.
Ivanisevic dropped almost half of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from six chances offered to Crowther. The young Croat generated five break points, missing them and finishing his campaign in the opening round.
Emanuel Ivanisevic debuted at Futures at 16.
Emanuel made a perfect start to his professional career, holding at love in the opening game of the encounter.
Ivanisevic created two break points in the second game, chasing an early advantage. Crowther denied them and held, avoiding an early setback. Emanuel produced another hold at love for 2-1 before his rival locked the result at 2-2 with a hold at 15.
Ivanisevic experienced issues in game five, saving a break point and squandering a game point. Corban converted his second break opportunity, moving in front and landing two aces in the next for a 4-2 advantage. Emanuel closed the seventh game after deuces, remaining within one break deficit and seeking chances on the return.
Crowther held at 30 in the eighth game, moving 5-3 in front and keeping the pressure on the other side. The young Croat suffered another break in game nine, dropping the opener 6-3 and propelling his opponent closer to the finish line after 46 minutes.
The New Zealander closed the opening game of the second set at 30 and bounced back from 15-40 in the next one, rattling off four points and delivering his second break in a row that sent him further in front. Crowther closed the third game with three aces before Ivanisevic held in the next one after a deuce, remaining within one break deficit.
Corban produced a fine hold in the fifth game for a 4-1 advantage and clinched a break at 15 a few minutes later, moving closer to the finish line. Crowther served for the win in the seventh game and experienced three break points. He denied them and sealed the deal, sending the young gun packing.