The Slovenes have not yet tasted the joy of victory in Tivoli.

On Friday, June 18, 2026, the WTT Star Contender table tennis tournament began in Ljubljana's Tivoli Hall. The event marked the first major international competition hosted in Slovenia, drawing attention from both local and global sports enthusiasts. However, the opening day did not bring any victories for Slovenian players, who faced early challenges against top-tier opponents. Among the most notable setbacks was the elimination of Peter Hribar, one of Slovenia’s leading players, in his debut matches.

In the men's singles category, Hribar lost in the first round to Japan's Hiroto Shinozuka with a score of 3:0. His performance was particularly disappointing given his status as a national representative. In addition to his singles match, Hribar had also participated in mixed doubles, partnering with Mijo Podobnik. They were defeated by the Chinese pair Wen Ruibo and Huang Youzheng, failing to win even a single game. This marked an early exit for Hribar from both the singles and doubles competitions.

The situation was similar for other Slovenian players. Deni Kožul, the reigning national champion, came close to advancing but ultimately fell short in his singles match against France's Joe Seyfried. After losing the first two sets, Kožul managed to tie the match at 2:2 before facing a decisive fifth set. Despite showing strong resilience, he lost the final set after making critical errors. Kožul expressed disappointment, acknowledging that while their overall play wasn't poor, they made unnecessary mistakes and failed to capitalize on opportunities.

Ana Tofant, competing in women's singles, faced an equally tough challenge. She played five sets against the world No. 78, Xiaoxin Yang from Monaco, and eventually lost 3:2. Although she fought hard and kept the match competitive, especially in the fifth set where she trailed 6:7, she was unable to recover and concede defeat.

Darko Jorgić, another prominent Slovenian player, also experienced difficulties. Competing in men's doubles alongside Deni Kožul, Jorgić faced a formidable challenge against China's Lin Shidong and Yuan Li. The pair started strongly, winning the first two sets, but ultimately succumbed to the pressure and lost 2:3. Jorgić described the loss as frustrating, noting that while they had chances, the outcome was influenced by both their performance and the draw.

Despite these early exits, there were still opportunities ahead for some Slovenian players. Jorgić will compete in the second round of the singles competition on Saturday, facing an unknown opponent from Taiwan, Hung Jing-Kai. He admitted that he has limited knowledge about his upcoming rival, having previously defeated Romanian Ionescu 3:0, which indicates a potential threat. Jorgić expressed hope that he would perform better and make fewer mistakes than in his previous match.

Meanwhile, Ana Tofant will continue her participation in the tournament, playing in the first round of the women's singles competition later in the evening. Her performance in this match could determine whether she advances further in the competition.

Other Slovenian players have already concluded their matches. Both Hribar and the mixed doubles team of Podobnik and Stražar have been eliminated from the competition. This leaves Jorgić as the sole remaining Slovenian competitor in the men's singles bracket.

The results highlight the high level of competition at the WTT Star Contender tournament, where even top-ranked players face significant challenges. For Slovenia, the absence of any victories on the opening day underscores the need for continued development and preparation for future international competitions. As the tournament progresses, the focus will shift to how the remaining Slovenian players can adapt and improve their performances in subsequent rounds.