Marin Cilic has split from his coach, Vilim Visak, ending their six-year partnership.
The 2014 US Open champion hired Visak in 2020, and together they reached the Roland Garros semi-finals and won three ATP titles.
But at 37, Cilic has decided to move on from Visak, becoming the latest player to split from their coach after Wimbledon.
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Announcing the news, Cilic released a statement on social media.
Marin Cilic doesn’t rule out working with Vilim Visak again after ending their coaching relationship
Cilic shared the following message on Instagram.
“My dear friend. We’ve known each other since we were teenagers, living door to door, practicing together, and playing tournaments together. Reconnecting after so many years and sharing the journey of the past seven years has been truly special,” he said.
“The road to the Roland Garros semi-finals will always be one of my favourite memories, along with winning an ATP title at the start of my comeback and so many other unforgettable moments.
Marin Cilic at the 2022 French Open
- 1R [WIN] vs Attila Balazs, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2
- 2R [WIN] vs Marton Fucsovics, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
- 3R [WIN] vs Gilles Simon, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2
- 4R [WIN] vs Daniil Medvedev, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
- QF [WIN] vs Andrey Rublev, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
- SF [LOSS] vs Casper Ruud, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
Marin Cilic’s record in ATP finals since hiring Vilim Visak (3-2)
| Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 2021 Stuttgart Open | Grass | Felix Auger-Aliassime | WIN | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2021 Kremlin Cup | Indoor hard | Aslan Karatsev | LOSS | 2-6, 4-6 |
| 2021 St. Petersburg Open | Indoor hard | Taylor Fritz | WIN | 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2022 Tel Aviv Open | Indoor hard | Novak Djokovic | LOSS | 3-6, 4-6 |
| 2024 Hangzhou Open | Hard | Zhang Zhizhen | WIN | 7-6, 7-6 |
“Thank you for your friendship, your unwavering support, your constant drive to improve, and for always pushing me forward, especially through the challenging injuries. Most of all, thank you for always being there for me.
“I wish you nothing but the very best in everything that comes your way. And who knows… maybe our professional paths will cross again in the future.”
Cilic mentioned his run to the semi-finals of the 2022 French Open and his title win in Hangzhou two years ago as highlights of his time with Visak.
The Croat was never expected to reach the semis in Paris, especially in 2022, having last made a Grand Slam quarter-final 13 tournaments ago.
And his win in Hangzhou, China, was just as unexpected, as Cilic became the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history, lifting the trophy as the world number 777.
Cilic enjoyed his time with Visak, and the feeling is clearly mutual.
Visak also posted a thank-you message on Instagram.
“When I look back at our beginnings, from that small shared room all the way to achieving great world-class results, it is incredible to see the circle we have closed. After seven beautiful years, our professional journey together is coming to an end,” he said.
“I want to emphasize that it has been an exceptional honor and a great privilege to coach Marin and collaborate with him over such a long and intense period. Marin is an incredible athlete and an unparalleled professional; it was an absolute pleasure and a true joy to coach a player of his calibre.
“Thank you, my friend, for this wonderful journey. Our path was filled with challenges literally every single day.
“Professional sport at this level brings everything. Together we experienced beautiful successes, starting from our first joint ATP title in St. Petersburg, through the Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros, all the way to that unbelievable title run in Hangzhou following a severe injury.
“On the other hand, we also shared those tough, difficult days of battling injuries and sacrifices. What I am most proud of is the fact that we went through absolutely every situation together, as a team, never giving up.
“A huge thank you to Marin for everything, for his ultimate trust, top-tier professionalism, and dedication.
“Our sporting collaboration might be ending, but the most important thing built over these seven years remains forever.
“In me you will, above all, always have a sincere and lifelong friend, and then your biggest fan in everything that awaits you in the rest of your career and life. Thank you for everything.”
What’s next for Marin Cilic after coaching split?
It’s unclear who Cilic will replace Visak with, but when can we expect him back on court?
The Croat didn’t play any of the clay-court events after losing his first-round match at Wimbledon, but he is scheduled to compete in North America next month.
Cilic has signed up for the Canadian Open in Montreal, although he’s not on the Cincinnati Open entry list.
He is, however, expected to return in time for the US Open, where he won the title 12 years ago.
At 37, and ranked 86th in the world, who knows… This might be the last time we see Cilic in New York.
The 2026 US Open men’s singles main draw begins on Sunday, August 30.
