LJUBLJANA/STARNBERG, September 14, 2025
Slovenia secured a place in the Davis Cup World Group I qualifiers with a commanding 4–0 victory over Uruguay in Ljubljana. On Saturday the doubles team of Bor Artnak and Filip Jeff Planinsek delivered the decisive point, while 17-year-old Ziga Sesko capped off the tie with a winning debut in the final “dead rubber” match.
Slovenia wrapped up promotion to the higher tier after the first three matches. Artnak and Planinsek had both won their singles rubbers on Friday, and captain Grega Zemlja sent them out again for Saturday’s doubles. They responded in style, defeating Ignacio Carou and Ariel Behar 6–3, 6–2.
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
“We were favorites in all matches, especially on this surface,” said Artnak. “Today we fielded our best doubles team and went for the win. We didn’t expect it to be so straightforward. Jeff served great and I was solid on my returns. We weren’t facing an established pair but two singles players, and that made the difference.”
Planinsek added: “I feel really good on hard courts. We trained well all week, the surface suited us and the fans gave us extra energy. The Uruguayans aren’t used to this surface, which was our advantage. This is a great sign for the future – we have a young, talented team that’s developing nicely. Playing for your country is something special and I’ll always be proud to do it.”
Captain Grega Zemlja praised his players’ commitment: “Much depends on the individual, the team around him, the captain and the federation. In my view, playing for the national team benefits a player in every way. Davis Cup ties are usually tougher than lower-level tournaments. You can’t think you’re sacrificing your career by representing your country. These guys came because they enjoy it and want to win for Slovenia. It’s an honor not every athlete gets, and I’m proud to be their captain. This team has a bright future.”
In the final match, played for prestige, debutant Ziga Sesko gave the home crowd more to cheer about. The 17-year-old showed courage and composure to win 2–1 in sets. “It was my first Davis Cup match so I was nervous at the start,” he admitted. “I relaxed in the second set and in the end I really enjoyed it with the crowd behind me. It’s great to win for Slovenia. I’ve dreamed of this since I was little and I hope there are many more successful ties ahead.”
Slovenia has now played two home ties in 2025, defeating Indonesia in Velenje in February and Uruguay in Ljubljana in September. The World Group I qualifiers are scheduled for late January or early February next year.
