Marin Cilic splits with coach Vilim Visak after seven-year partnership
Synopsis
Marin Cilic's split with childhood friend and coach Vilim Visak closes the chapter on one of tennis's most unlikely late-career stories — a partnership that survived two knee surgeries and produced the most improbable title in modern ATP history, won as World No. 777 in Hangzhou.
Key Takeaways
Marin Cilic and coach Vilim Visak have ended their seven-year professional partnership.
The pair won three ATP Tour titles together: Stuttgart and St.
Petersburg in 2021 , and Hangzhou in 2024 .
Cilic won the 2024 Hangzhou Open as World No.
777 , becoming the lowest-ranked ATP Tour champion since 1990 .
Cilic underwent two right knee surgeries — in early 2023 and May 2024 — during their time together.
Under Visak, Cilic reached a high of No.
14 in the ATP Rankings and the Roland Garros semifinals in 2022 .
Croatian tennis veteran Marin Cilic has parted ways with coach Vilim Visak, ending a seven-year association that produced three ATP Tour titles and a run to the Roland Garros semifinals. The former World No. 3 confirmed the split via an Instagram post on Monday night, marking the close of one of the more remarkable late-career partnerships in men's tennis.
A Partnership That Defied Expectations
Cilic and Visak began working together in 2020, reuniting two childhood friends who had grown up side by side in Croatia. During their time together, the pair claimed titles in Stuttgart and St. Petersburg in 2021, and most remarkably, the Hangzhou Open in 2024 — a victory that made Cilic the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history since 1990, competing as World No. 777.
Cilic's Emotional Farewell Message
In his Instagram post, Cilic reflected warmly on the bond that predated their professional collaboration. 'My dear friend, we've known each other since we were teenagers, living door to door, practising together, and playing tournaments together. Reconnecting after so many years and sharing the journey of the past seven years has been truly special,' he wrote.
He singled out the 2022 Roland Garros semifinal run as a highlight, along with the comeback title and 'so many other unforgettable moments.' He signed off with 'Hvala prijatelju!' — Croatian for 'Thank you, friend' — directed at @vilimvisak.
Injury Battles and the Hangzhou Miracle
Cilic, now 37, endured a gruelling injury period after the Roland Garros run. He underwent surgery on his right knee in early 2023 and played just two events that year. A comeback attempt in early 2024 lasted only two months before a second surgery on the same knee in May 2024.
His return from late August 2024 — winning three matches across two ATP Challenger events — set the stage for his wild-card entry at the Hangzhou Open, an ATP 250 event in China. Dropping just two sets throughout, he claimed his 21st tour-level title, a result that stunned the tennis world given his ranking at the time.
Visak's Tribute and What Comes Next
Coach Vilim Visak also took to Instagram to mark the occasion. 'After seven beautiful years, our professional journey together is coming to an end. I want to emphasise that it has been an exceptional honour and a great privilege to coach Marin and collaborate with him over such a long and intense period,' he wrote.
Under Visak's guidance, Cilic climbed back to as high as No. 14 in the ATP Rankings. The 2014 US Open champion — who also reached the finals of Wimbledon 2017 and the Australian Open 2018 during his prime — now enters the next chapter of his career without the coach who shepherded his most improbable comeback. Whether Cilic continues competing or seeks a new coaching arrangement remains to be seen.
Point of View
Navigated career-threatening knee injuries twice over, and then produced a title at World No. 777 that the ATP record books had never seen. What comes next for Cilic matters: at 37, with a surgically repaired knee and a 21st title already banked, the question is whether he competes on his own terms or finds a new coaching voice. The bigger story, however, is what the Hangzhou win said about resilience — and whether the sport will give it the recognition it deserves.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Marin Cilic and Vilim Visak split?
Cilic announced the split as the natural end of a professional chapter, framing it warmly rather than as a falling out. In his Instagram post, he thanked Visak for friendship and support through injuries, suggesting the separation was mutual and amicable.
How long did Cilic and Visak work together?
Cilic and Visak worked together for seven years, beginning in 2020. Their partnership produced three ATP Tour titles and a Roland Garros semifinal appearance in 2022.
What was Marin Cilic's biggest achievement with Visak as coach?
The standout achievement was the 2024 Hangzhou Open title, which Cilic won as World No. 777 — making him the lowest-ranked ATP Tour champion since 1990. The 2022 Roland Garros semifinal run was another highlight of their time together.
What injuries did Cilic suffer during their partnership?
Cilic underwent surgery on his right knee in early 2023 and again in May 2024 after a brief comeback attempt. He played just two events in 2023 and returned to competitive tennis from late August 2024.
What are Marin Cilic's career Grand Slam achievements?
Cilic won the US Open in 2014 and reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018. He was formerly ranked as high as World No. 3 on the ATP Tour.
