For Luka Talan Lopatic, it was always Roger. I’m a big Federer fan,” Luka Talan Lopatic said, tennisnet.com reported, naming Roger Federer as his all-time favorite player even as he battles to establish himself on the professional circuit. The 18-year-old Slovenian is taking his first steps on the international stage this week at the IV Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, where he has already cleared qualifying and won a first-round main-draw match at the World Tennis Tour M25 event.
Lopatic currently sits at No. 861 in the ATP Rankings, his career-high position, according to tennistourtalk.com. The ranking marks progress from a junior career in which he climbed to No. 56 in the world, a foundation he hopes to translate to the pro game.
From Ljubljana to Alicante to Oklahoma
Lopatic’s path has crossed three countries. Born in Ljubljana, he moved to Spain at age nine and has spent nearly a decade there, tennistourtalk.com reported. He is based in Alicante, where he trains under coach Isidro at the ATC – Alicante Tennis Competition and the Club Atlético Montemar.
Last November, he spent one year in the United States playing college tennis at the University of Oklahoma while studying Sports Business. “It was a very nice experience. The facilities, the coaches and the teammates I had were really good. I am very grateful for that because I learned a lot,” he told tennisnet.com. His days there ran from morning training to classes to fitness work, sometimes packing two or three lectures into a single day. “The schedule was always full,” he said. “But when you have your teammates around you in class and at training, everything becomes easier.”
He has not ruled out returning to the U.S. college system, but for now he wants to concentrate on the professional tour. “I want to stay here, play Futures tournaments and see how things develop. Maybe I can move on to Challengers soon, if possible,” he said.
A Mental Test in Valencia
Lopatic describes himself as a versatile player who likes to attack but can also counter and construct points. That mix was tested in his opening-round win over 19-year-old Spaniard Sergi Fita Juan. “There were a lot of opportunities that I should have taken, but I couldn’t. In the end, I played well in the important moments,” he told tennistourtalk.com. After taking the first set, he found another gear late in the second to close out the match.
Lopatic Details Personal Interests Beyond Tennis
Off the court, Lopatic collects watches, his collection comprising eight Casio models and one each from Tissot and Orient. “I have too many Casios,” he said, laughing, adding that he hopes the brand might one day sponsor him. He also follows football and basketball, supporting Real Madrid.
His next milestone is concrete: finishing the year around No. 600 in the ATP Rankings. “If I keep developing continuously, the results will come,” he said. “My goal would be to end the year around 600. If it doesn’t work out, that’s fine too. The most important thing is to keep making progress.”
He has already represented Slovenia in the Davis Cup, an experience he called a special honor, and hopes for more call-ups now that he is back in Europe. With his Valencia run underway, the next checkpoint is his second-round match at the M25 event.
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