Coach of the Month
Coach Visak on ‘lucky’ vegan burgers and Cilic’s long road back to the winner’s circle
The Croatian is the headliner of the ATP Coach of the Year in October
October 19, 2024
ATP
Vilim Visak has been training Marin Cilic since 2020.
Written by Andy West
As a coach, Vilim Visak is willing to do whatever it takes – on or off the court – to ensure his offense is ready to compete.
The Croatian, who has worked with his countryman and former PIF ATP Rankings No. 3 Marin Cilic since 2020, considers a good atmosphere away from the practice court as equally important as hard work on it. This desire to help his player feel comfortable can sometimes lead to the development of unusual methods, as happened during Cilic’s run to the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2022.
“The night before the first game, [the team] he went and ate a vegan burger, which is unusual for us, and Marin won his first match,” Visak recalled to ATPTour.com. So except for Marin, we all had to eat the same thing again, day after day. After seven days, the waiters didn’t even ask us what we were going to eat, but the schedule must be followed. There is no other choice.
“In that competition we dreamed of having anything but a vegan burger, but we try to do everything possible to keep the atmosphere good for others. That was funny to us, but it would make Marin feel happy too.”
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Marin Cilic and Vilim Visak have known each other since they were young players in Croatia. Photo courtesy of Vilim Visak
Less than six months after Visak’s nearly two-week diet of vegan burgers, his insistence on confidence was put to the ultimate test as one of the toughest periods of Cilic’s career began. The 2014 US Open champion underwent right knee surgery in early 2023 and ended up competing in just two tournaments that year. His return at the start of 2024 lasted just two months, and he underwent surgery on the same knee in May.
There is little a coach can do when it comes to a player’s recovery. However, Visak, who started coaching at the age of 22 after a brief playing career that included reaching the Roland Garros men’s quarterfinals with Novak Djokovic, understands that he still has a big role to play in keeping Cilic motivated through tough times.
“Mental fitness is as important as physical fitness,” she said. “So [I told him to] try to imagine him back on the field, playing to the best of his ability. I told him that he should stay connected to tennis, watching the matches. We talked a lot about who is playing where, who was in what form, and we also watch games thinking about strategies and talking about game plans.
“[I wanted him to] remember why he loves tennis and why he loves the game, and how far he has come. Finally, [I also wanted to help him] understand that recovery is part of the athletic journey, and is not a setback, but an opportunity to grow and come back even stronger. You have to be patient. However, it was a really difficult time for us.”
Visak was not alone in supporting Cilic’s recovery. The 2014 US Open champion team came together to help each other out of frustration.
“I wasn’t the only one, we were the whole team,” said Visak. “We have a physio and strength coach. As a team, we were always looking for ways to make the atmosphere better. I think it’s important and relaxing. And to help Marin keep his head up, I set goals that he could achieve. Small steps, so we can celebrate every little success. That is important, even if they seem small.”
That persistence in small steps paid off surprisingly when Cilic returned to competitive action. After returning to action since late August by winning three matches in two ATP Challenger Tour events, the Croatian made his return to the tour level as a wild card at the Hangzhou Open. Competing as world No. 777 at the ATP 250 in China, Cilic dropped just two sets en route to becoming the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990).
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Physio Tomislav Bucanac and Visak celebrate with Cilic after the Croatian won the title in Hangzhou. Photo courtesy of Vilim Visak
Cilic and his team were naturally delighted after the Croatian beat home favorite Zhang Zhizhen to claim his 21st straight crown. However, Visak admits that the hardships of the past two years have given him a different perspective as Cilic combined his five wins to lift the trophy in Hangzhou.
“I don’t remember what I said to him, but we were really happy,” Visak recalled, when asked what his first words were to Cilic after the final. “It was an unbelievable week. First of all, we were glad that he was on the court again. He didn’t feel his leg after the first game, after the second game, after the quarters. For us, that was all that mattered. Of course we wanted to win, but for me it was a win.
“He played the game for two hours in the first round, he woke up the next day, the knee is fine. That’s like winning a tournament. You always want to win the tournament, but we went day by day, game by game, and we got to the final. He was playing unbelievable. It was a difficult time behind us, and especially for him, and it was an amazing moment. ”
Visak’s step-by-step approach to defeating Hangzhou was a microcosm of his approach to Cilic’s injury recovery: Small setbacks happen, but the key is to focus on the long game.
“My philosophy is that tennis is not just about running and hitting balls. It’s a mind game. It’s a battle of emotions,” said Visak. “Think of it as a blank canvas, where the players show their skills, combining fitness, game strategy and mental toughness. I think every game is something new, a new challenge, and every point is an opportunity to start over.
“I think coaching is not just about teaching players how to swing a racquet. It also teaches them to use their brains and understand the game inside out, and to stay cool under pressure. I think that’s also very important, like remembering to respect the game. We are always trying to get better every day. It’s a long journey, and every game is a lesson to learn.”
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