COURTSIDE CHATTER

“Apart from the topic of training, it is very easy to have a genuine conversation with Nick, which is very important to every player. I have a special memory of this one training in Rogla at -10 degrees, when Nick was training next to me the whole time, instead of standing aside and giving instructions.”
Mario Ančić, client, tennis player

“The combination of Nick’s training methods and my play, brought amazing results! We make a great team!”
Donna Vekić, client, tennis player

“Nick was with me from the very start. We went through a lot together, he helped me a great deal and taught me about tennis. Always having such a positive attitude, is what makes him so valuable”  

Borna Ćorić, client, tennis player

“I like Nick’s ambition to always try to become better. Also, I think Nick is a genuinely humble and great individual who is very easy to get along with and to like.”
Magnus Norman, tennis coach

“Nick is a very intelligent, open guy and a trustworthy person, who is well educated in tennis business.”
David Kotyza, tennis coach

“Tennis is a game played with the racket and won with head and heart. Hitting the ball into the right spot is the easy part. The real struggle is always within us. Doing the quality work for longer periods of time, putting yourself in a difficult situation and making changes from within yourself, that’s the hard part. My job as a coach is to analyze the situation and address the changes that should be made in order to achieve the best results. My privilege, as someone who has coached numerous young players, is not only watching them improve their skill and win matches, but also grow into more resilient people who go on to achieve big things later in life. It is the training of the mind that makes all the difference. How do I help players do that? By committing to our common goal and doing the right (and the difficult!) things every single training session in order to reach that goal.”  –  Nick

MY COACHING PRINCIPLES

“I believe more in the concept and principles, and less in solutions for any specific situation. If the former is good, the latter comes naturally”.  – John Wooden

1. Power of basics: every complex game pattern in tennis largely depends on the quality of the basic shots. Consistent quality application of the basics is a guarantee of long term improvement. Doing ordinary exercise in an extraordinary way – it’s less about what you do, and more about how you do it!

2. Physical and mental conditioning: is a foundation of success in any profession. Your level of physical and mental condition will strongly influence your achievement. You can’t reach the highest level of your physical capacity without a strong mental commitment and dedication. By expanding your physical limits, you are automatically working on your mental muscle.

3. Power of choices: most tennis matches are won or lost long before they even start. The way you practice your skills, take care of your body and mind (train, eat, sleep, learn), the kind of people you surround yourself with, how you treat others (respect, listen, be on time) are exactly the choices which build your future. “Everything that is happening at this moment is a result of the choices you’ve made in the past.” – Deepak Chopra

4. Repetition: nothing helps a player to master his skills more than quality repetition. Quality is the key word, because it includes enough focus and intensity in each shot they make. Only repetition is not enough. Hitting a winner at crucial moments requires mastering that shot to a perfection, and it can only be learned by everyday practice.

5. Practice what you preach: I aim to inspire and motivate the player to face everyday challenges with my own personal standards and lifestyle. “No written word no spoken plea, can teach our youth what they should be. Nor all the books on all the shells is what teachers are themselves.” – John Wooden