Coach Vilim Visak on serving to Marin Cilic again from harm | ATP Tour

Coach of Month

Coach Visak on ‘fortunate’ vegan burgers & Cilic’s lengthy highway again to the winners’ circle

Croatian is the topic ATP Coach Highlight for October

October 19, 2024

As a coach, Vilim Visak is ready to do no matter it takes — on or off the courtroom — 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 apply courtroom equally as vital because the exhausting work executed on it. This want to assist his participant really feel snug can typically result in the event of strange 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 gained 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 must eat, however routines have to be adopted. No different alternative.

“For that event we dreamed of getting something besides the vegan burger, however we attempt to do all the pieces we are able to to maintain the ambiance constructive for the remaining. That was humorous for us, nevertheless 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 regimen 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 Could.

There’s little a coach can do in terms of 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 holding Cilic motivated by the powerful occasions.

“Psychological toughness is simply as vital as getting higher bodily,” he stated. “So [I told him to] attempt visualising himself again on the courtroom, taking part in his finest. I informed him he ought to keep linked to tennis, watching the matches. We spoke lots about who’s taking part in the place, who was in what kind, and likewise watching matches fascinated about technique and speaking about sport plans.

“[I wanted him to] bear 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 is not 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 extremely powerful time for us.”

Visak was not alone in supporting Cilic’s restoration. The 2014 US Open champion’s crew banded collectively to assist one another by the frustrations.

“It was not simply me, we have been an entire crew,” stated Visak. “We now have a physio and health coach. As a crew, we have been at all times on the lookout for methods to make the ambiance constructive. I believe it is vital and stress-free. Additionally to assist maintain Marin’s head up, I set some targets he might really attain. Small steps, so we might have a good time 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 turning into the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour historical past (since 1990).

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_{^{Physio Tomislav Bucanac and Visak have a good time with Cilic after the Croatian gained the title in Hangzhou. Picture courtesy of Vilim Visak}}

Cilic and his crew have been naturally ecstatic after the Croatian defeated house 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 special perspective as Cilic racked up his 5 wins to raise the trophy in Hangzhou.

“I don’t bear in mind what I stated to him, however we have been actually, actually glad,” recalled Visak, when requested what his first phrases to Cilic have been after the ultimate. “It was an unbelievable week. Firstly, we have been glad that he was on the courtroom 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. In fact we needed to win, however for me that was the win.

“He performed the match for 2 hours within the first spherical, awoke the subsequent morning, and the knee was good. That is such as you gained the event. You at all times wish to win the event, however we went daily, match by match, and we have been within the remaining. He was taking part in unbelievably. It was a troublesome 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 secret is to concentrate on the lengthy sport.

“My philosophy is that tennis is not only about operating and hitting balls. It is a thoughts sport. It is a battle of feelings,” stated Visak. “Consider it as a clean canvas, the place gamers present their abilities, 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 start out contemporary.

“I believe teaching is not only 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 underneath 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.”