Coach of Month
Coach Visak on ‘fortunate’ vegan burgers & Cilic’s lengthy street again to the winners’ circle
Croatian is the topic ATP Coach Highlight for October
October 19, 2024
ATP
Vilim Visak has coached Marin Cilic since 2020.
By Andy West
As a coach, Vilim Visak is ready to do no matter it takes — on or off the court docket — to make sure his cost is able to compete.
The Croatian, who has labored together with his countryman and former No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings Marin Cilic since 2020, considers a constructive ambiance away from the follow court docket equally as vital because the laborious work performed on it. This want to assist his participant really feel snug can generally result in the event of weird routines, because it did throughout Cilic’s run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2022.
“The evening earlier than the primary match, [the team] went to have a vegan burger, which is one thing uncommon for us, after which Marin received his first match,” Visak recalled to ATPTour.com. “So apart from Marin, all of us needed to go and eat the identical factor once more, daily. After seven days, the waiters didn’t even ask us what we should eat, however routines have to be adopted. No different alternative.
“For that match we dreamed of getting something besides the vegan burger, however we attempt to do every thing we will to maintain the ambiance constructive for the remaining. That was humorous for us, however it was to make Marin additionally really feel good.”
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Marin Cilic and Vilim Visak have identified one another since they have been junior gamers in Croatia. Picture courtesy of Vilim Visak
Barely six months after Visak’s near-fortnight-long food plan of vegan burgers, his emphasis on positivity was put to the final word take a look at as one of many hardest durations of Cilic’s stellar profession started. The 2014 US Open champion underwent surgical procedure on his proper knee in early 2023 and finally contested simply two tournaments that yr. His comeback in early 2024 lasted simply two months, and he underwent one other surgical procedure on the identical knee in Might.
There may be little a coach can do in relation to a participant’s bodily restoration. But Visak, who started teaching aged 22 after a brief taking part in profession that included reaching the Roland Garros boys’ doubles quarter-finals with Novak Djokovic, understood he nonetheless had a serious function in retaining Cilic motivated by way of the robust instances.
“Psychological toughness is simply as vital as getting higher bodily,” he stated. “So [I told him to] attempt visualising himself again on the court docket, taking part in his finest. I advised him he ought to keep related to tennis, watching the matches. We spoke quite a bit about who’s taking part in the place, who was in what kind, and in addition watching matches serious about technique and speaking about recreation plans.
“[I wanted him to] keep in mind why he loves tennis and why he loves the sport, and the way far he had already come. Lastly, [I also wanted to help him] perceive that restoration is a part of the athletic journey, and it isn’t a setback, however an opportunity to develop and are available again even stronger. You have to be affected person. However in fact, it was a very robust time for us.”
Visak was not alone in supporting Cilic’s restoration. The 2014 US Open champion’s workforce banded collectively to assist one another by way of the frustrations.
“It was not simply me, we have been an entire workforce,” stated Visak. “We have now a physio and health coach. As a workforce, we have been at all times searching for methods to make the ambiance constructive. I believe it is vital and enjoyable. Additionally to assist hold Marin’s head up, I set some objectives he may truly attain. Small steps, so we may rejoice each little win. That is vital, even when they appear tiny.”
That persistence with small steps paid off spectacularly upon Cilic’s return to aggressive motion. After easing again in to match motion from late August by profitable three matches throughout two ATP Challenger Tour occasions, the Croatian made his tour-level comeback as a wild card on the Hangzhou Open. Competing because the World No. 777 on the Chinese language ATP 250, Cilic dropped simply two units en path to changing into the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour historical past (since 1990).
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Physio Tomislav Bucanac and Visak rejoice with Cilic after the Croatian received the title in Hangzhou. Picture courtesy of Vilim Visak
Cilic and his workforce have been naturally ecstatic after the Croatian defeated residence favorite Zhang Zhizhen to say his twenty first tour-level crown. But Visak acknowledges that the struggles of the previous two years gave him a unique perspective as Cilic racked up his 5 wins to raise the trophy in Hangzhou.
“I don’t keep in mind what I stated to him, however we have been actually, actually completely satisfied,” recalled Visak, when requested what his first phrases to Cilic have been after the ultimate. “It was an unbelievable week. Firstly, we have been completely satisfied that he was on the court docket once more. He did not really feel his leg after the primary match, after the second match, after the quarters. For us, solely that was vital. After all we wished to win, however for me that was the win.
“He performed the match for 2 hours within the first spherical, wakened the subsequent morning, and the knee was good. That is such as you received the match. You at all times need to win the match, however we went daily, match by match, and we have been within the last. He was taking part in unbelievably. It was a tricky time behind us, and particularly for him, and it was a tremendous second.”
Visak’s step-by-step method to the Hangzhou triumph was a microcosm of his method to Cilic’s harm restoration: Small setbacks occur, however the bottom line is to deal with the lengthy recreation.
“My philosophy is that tennis isn’t just about operating and hitting balls. It is a thoughts recreation. It is a battle of feelings,” stated Visak. “Consider it as a clean canvas, the place gamers present their expertise, combining health, match technique and psychological toughness. I believe each match is one thing new, some new problem, and every level is the prospect to begin contemporary.
“I believe teaching isn’t just instructing gamers to swing the racquet. It’s additionally instructing them to make use of their mind and perceive the sport inside out, and to remain cool beneath strain. I believe that’s additionally essential, as is remembering to respect the sport. We at all times attempt to be higher day-after-day. It is a lengthy journey, and each match is a lesson to study.”
