Residents of Sveti Stefan and Miločer ask Đoković to help rebuild tennis courts

A group of citizens of Sveti Stefan and Miločer yesterday launched an Initiative for the reconstruction of the destroyed tennis courts in the Sveti Stefan - Miločer hotel complex and appealed to all citizens to support them, so that the white sport can return to this once elite summer resort on the Adriatic coast.

The initiative was launched after the best and most successful tennis player of all time Novak Đoković told "Vijesti" that he is trying to help remove the padlock from the city-hotel "Sveti Stefan", which has been closed since 2021.

He spoke with the Prime Minister the day before yesterday. Milojko Spajić, and said that the opening of "Sveti Stefan" was the main reason he was in Montenegro, emphasizing that he would use his name and influence to solve the problem. Đoković also confirmed that he is a global ambassador for the company "Aman", emphasizing that he is trying to work for the "general interest" of Montenegro and that he hopes that a solution to the problem will soon be "on the horizon".

A group of citizens, as they told "Vijesti", advocates for the renovation of tennis courts demolished in 2009, and the initiative also refers to the renovation of the old royal tennis courts built in 1936 on Queen's Beach in Miločer, demolished in 1979.

"The great tennis ace and athlete Novak Djokovic has expressed his intention to join the negotiation process regarding the opening of 'Sveti Stefan' and thus make his contribution. First of all, we would like to emphasize that Mr. Djokovic is more than welcome in Sveti Stefan and Paštrovići, not only as a guest and mediator in the negotiations, but also more than that. We believe that Djokovic has the diplomatic potential to contribute to finding an adequate solution for Sveti Stefan and Miločer, in accordance with the laws of Montenegro and European standards, in light of the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union," they told "Vijesti".

According to them, they are happy because Djokovic's arrival raises hope that perhaps one day the two tennis courts in the immediate hinterland of Sveti Stefan, which were demolished around 2009, will be renovated.

"Two buildings have been built on the tennis courts that serve as the Aman Hotel. Accordingly, an initiative has been launched to restore the demolished tennis courts in Sveti Stefan, for now at the level of a group of citizens, and we expect support from the local community 'Sveti Stefan', the Municipality of Budva, local NGOs, as well as the ministry responsible for sports and youth. With the demolition of those courts at the time, the youth of Sveti Stefan and guests were left without a court to play tennis, so tennis talents and tennis fans from Sveti Stefan and Šumet still use the courts in Pržno, which are also endangered because the plot they are on was reclassified as a construction plot a few years ago," they emphasized.

They believe that future guests of Sveti Stefan would really have the opportunity to play tennis in such an exclusive location, with a view of Sveti Stefan.

"Probably Djokovic would also enjoy such an environment playing tennis with a view of the pearl of the Montenegrin coast. The initiative should also be extended to the renovation of the old royal tennis courts that were located on the Queen's Beach, and were demolished in 1979. Of course, we do not want to force anything, but we believe that Djokovic will have the good will to consider these initiatives with the aim of initiating negotiations with the lessee and the authorities on the possible renovation of the courts. A Facebook group called "Initiative for the renovation of demolished tennis courts in Sveti Stefan" has also been established and we invite all interested citizens of Montenegro and the region to support us. We believe that the renovation of these courts would significantly improve the quality of the tourist and sports offer of Sveti Stefan and Budva, because such courts with a view of Sveti Stefan would be unique," they told "Vijesti".

The company "Adriatic properties" which is the tenant of Sveti Stefan, a Greek businessman Petros Statis, has been keeping the city-hotel "Sveti Stefan" and the villa "Miločer" closed since 2021, while it has suspended the construction of the new hotel "Kraljičina plaza" since the arbitration proceedings began.

A dispute was filed before the International Court of Arbitration in London in November 2022 - first, "Sveti Stefan hotels", HTP "Miločer" and the then Ministry of Economic Development folded the sheet, accusing the tenants "Adriatic properties" DOO Budva and "Aidway investments limited" from the British Virgin Islands, as well as "Aman resort", of breach of contract. The companies "Adriatic properties" and "Aidway investments limited" immediately responded with a lawsuit, demanding compensation of one hundred million euros.

Without an agreement on how the Queen's Beach and the path between it and the spa center in Milocer Park will function, hotel operator Aman does not want to open the once fashionable city-hotel Sveti Stefan, because they allegedly cannot guarantee guests' safety and privacy.