Pro career can wait for Tigers’ super sophomore

Mijacika, ranked No. 1 in the country earlier this season, leads Clemson into NCAAs

By PAUL STRELOW - pstrelow@thestate.com

CLEMSON — Of all the spots Clemson tennis standout Ani Mijacika could choose to lay out in the sun, she prefers the small, square patch of grass by the tennis center doorway, surrounded by a mass of paved courts.

One would think someone raised on the beaches of the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia would opt for somewhere more scenic.

“It’s peaceful and quiet,” she said.

Yet it is where Mijacika is known for making a racket.

The sophomore from Makarska, Croatia, is the nation’s No. 2-ranked college player and the second seed in the NCAA individual tournament, which begins May 21 in Tulsa, Okla.

She also leads the 13th-seeded Tigers into Friday’s first-round NCAA tourney regional matchup against Winthrop.

Mijacika’s balanced baseline attack and superior serve compel Clemson coach Nancy Harris to compare her game to that of Steffi Graf.

“She has athletic ability that would carry her, without a doubt, into the top 60 in the world,” Harris said.

To think, Mijacika (pronounced me-AH-jee-ka) expected to give up tennis once she reached college in her home country.

Mijacika was ranked as Croatia’s top player in its 12-and-under age category until she said injuries hindered her play for a few seasons.

Two years ago, when Harris and another U.S. coach were traveling through Split, Croatia, in the dead of winter to scout eventual Clemson signee Selma Babic, a Croatian national coach invited several other of the region’s top players to showcase their talents.

Among them were Mijacika, who lived a 1½-hour drive away, and close friend Dijana Stojic of Bosnia.

Stojic did not attend — and coincidentally has since been recruited to play for USC next season.

Mijacika hedged but went nonetheless.

“I never seriously thought I’d go to college in the U.S.,” she said.

Mijacika quickly caught Harris’ eye, and they exchanged e-mails discussing American college life.

Eastern European universities do not support athletics in similar fashion, Mijacika said, so Clemson was attractive because it offered resources to further both her education and tennis.

She comes from an affluent riviera district not afflicted by the four-year Croatian War of Independence from 1991-95. Nonetheless, her family — including father Mate, a former soccer player — suggested she go overseas to broaden her cultural horizons.

Mijacika signed with Clemson and suddenly rose back to No. 1 in the national rankings.

“It was like I didn’t feel any pressure to perform anymore,” she said.

Mijacika, who had taken English classes since first grade, struggled with homesickness during her first semester. To her good fortune, she had arrived with a built-in support system.

Babic would transfer to Long Island University, but Mijacika became tight with fellow freshman Ina Hadziselimovic, a Bosnian acquaintance Harris lucked into recruiting that same trip at the Croatian coach’s suggestion.

That entire expedition has paid substantial dividends. Hadziselimovic went 21-9 in the middle of Clemson’s order this season.

Mijacika twice has been ranked No. 1 this spring — the first time any Clemson tennis player, male or female, reached the top spot.

She has a 27-6 individual record as the top seed, including 15 wins against top-100 opponents.

Mijacika also has teamed with senior Carol Salge to form the nation’s No. 4-ranked doubles duo.

“There are certain parts of the world that it’s only been the last 10 years we’ve been able to travel into the country,” Harris said. “So there are still many good tennis players that are not even aware of what’s going on here in the United States.”

“I’m trying to urge her to become an all-court player in terms of bringing her opponent in as well as going to the net herself. If we can grow that part of her game, she should have no problem playing professionally.”