Marin Cilic's first Wimbledon semi-final against American Sam Querrey will be greeted with great excitement in his hometown, a famous Catholic pilgrimage site in southern Bosnia.
Cilic, the world No 6, was born in Medjugorje, a town made popular due to alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary, but represents Croatia after moving to the neighbouring country as a teenager to further his career.
His parents though still live in Cilic's birthplace, with some 20,000 people celebrating in Medjugorje when he won the 2014 US Open, his lone grand slam title.
"We improvised at the time, we celebrated two or three days after the final when Marin arrived to Medjugorje," said Zeljko Dodig, head of the local tennis club where Cilic started to play.
Another party is planned in Medjugorje if Cilic wins this year's Wimbledon title, although Dodig said nothing has been prepared yet with two matches still to play.
"We would have to see if he would be available to come here in the coming days."
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Cilic, hoping to reach his second major final, has won all four previous meetings with 24th seed Querrey, including two at Wimbledon in 2009 and 2012.
Querrey defeated defending champion Andy Murray in the quarter-finals, while Cilic beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller with the help of 33 aces.
He is the third Croatian man to reach the last four at Wimbledon after Goran Ivanisevic - the 2001 champion - and Mario Ancic.
Cilic's parents are eagerly awaiting their son's semi-final at their Medjugorje home.
"I feel great, how else could I feel!" his father Zdenko told the Croatian Sportske novosti paper.
Cilic's progress to the semi-finals dominated Croatian papers on Thursday.
"Cilic goes till the end!" read the Sportske novosti front page headline while the Vecernji list wrote "Cilic goes towards the top".
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
