Day two of the intensive camp at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Veli Lošinj. The training schedule was the same as on the first day. After a hearty breakfast, we headed to the Ljubicic Tennis Academy gym at the Punta Vitality Hotel for an hour-long warm-up with fitness coach Oskar Amančić. All the kids were highly motivated, and that remained the case throughout the entire day. The second day of training ended at 5:30 p.m. And despite some initial tiredness, Tom is still going strong! You can read all about what happened and what I learned in my detailed conversation with head coach Luka Cvjetković , Jannik Sinner's long-time tour coach, in my second camp diary entry. Enjoy!
Yesterday, before dinner, we received the training schedule via the WhatsApp training groups. Same training times meant an early start. But first, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the hotel and completed our obligatory Uno session. This morning we woke up to overcast skies. However, it was the first day completely windless.
After the first gym session, we went onto the court with Coach Mario and training partner Aston from Australia. Rhythm drills, long balls aimed at targets, high-intensity hitting, and full concentration – that was the program for the first hour. Afterwards, we focused on serving and playing points. It was noticeable that serving and playing for points were on the agenda in every session.
During the lunch break, we drove to Mali Lošinj to restock our drinks and grab a bite to eat. Afterwards, we had a short break before heading back to the track and field courts at the tennis club at 2:30 pm for a 30-minute warm-up . Coordination ladders and ball drills perfectly prepared the kids for the second tennis session. This time, Darko was the coach, putting Tom and his training partner Melos through their paces. High intensity and quick feet are always emphasized. After practicing groundstrokes and volleys, it was time to play points. They battled for every point for one and a half sets – always under Darko's watchful eye and with his advice. And of course, there was plenty of good-natured ribbing. Yes, it's very focused and demanding, but always with a smile and a friendly word!
To finish off the day, we spent another hour in the gym doing a strength and endurance circuit : rowing machine, spinning bike, weights, resistance bands, and wheelbarrow pushes all got everyone sweating again. We finished at 5:30 pm – tired, but very satisfied!
After training, I had the opportunity to chat at length with the academy's head coach, Luka Cvjetković . Luka worked for the Piatti Tennis Academy for many years and spent several years on the tour with Jannik Sinner. When his friend Ivan Ljubicic asked Luka if he would like to become the head coach of the new Ljubicic Tennis Academy, he didn't hesitate for a moment and took the job on Lošinj. Here, he is working towards the goal of guiding one or more up-and-coming talents from around the world to the top of the sport. He is absolutely clear that this can only be achieved through hard work, which he demonstrates daily in his training sessions with his players. It's wonderful to see the trusting and very open relationship between the coaches, but especially between Luka and the players.
Luka's statements regarding the path to becoming a professional tennis player are straightforward. He is particularly critical of the relationship with many "tennis parents," who are often difficult and have completely unrealistic expectations of their own child and of the academy itself. However, he has the full support of Ivan Ljubicic, who insists that only children with the right attitude and values train at the academy. And this applies equally to the parents.
A 15-16 year old should play 60 tournament matches per year to truly understand the game of tennis. Tournaments should be chosen where the player can advance two or three rounds. Sustained victories (except for exceptional talents) indicate that the wrong tournaments are being played. The academy generally does not provide tournament accompaniment; this is primarily handled by the parents. Occasionally, a group of peers travels to tournament locations where tournaments are played for two to three consecutive weeks.
Luka then leads me across the facility to the four hard courts covered with "bubbles." These can be completely opened on the sides, so you can train here perfectly even in summer, provided you want to train on the surface. Absolutely top-notch!
Head coach Luka made a very confident and positive impression on me. The kids and their personal development are clearly the focus here. He might seem a bit too straightforward to some, but I think he has good ideas and values. And he doesn't mince words when it comes to explaining what it takes to become a successful professional. With decades of experience working with top players, he knows exactly what he's talking about!
Anyone who wants to take a look at the Academy's various camp offerings beforehand can find information in our camp listing. The Academy offers tennis courses for all age groups and skill levels
to the tennis courses of the Ljubicic Tennis Academy
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