“This game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave made you famous!
(Laughs.) I became known in the world of chess and, little by little, I was in contact with excellent chess players like Hikaru Nakamura or Vladimir Kramnik, not to mention Maxime, even if it’s been a while since we haven’t spoken. It’s exciting for me to be known in this world, even if I’m not as good as most would like to think…
What do you like about chess?
I played as a child with my father. In Croatia, chess is part of our culture. After the news on TV, there was a ten to fifteen minute show every day. I was really not a fan of these video games where you have to react quickly. I liked to take my time. After cutting for a while, I got back to it when I was a player. It relaxed me. Today, I’m one of the biggest chess fans, I follow a lot of things, a lot of online tournaments. Every week I watch, I know everything that’s going on. I adore.
What are the links between tennis and chess?
It is interesting to note that quite a few masters that I know follow tennis. There is an obvious connection between these two worlds. These are two sports closely related to strategy, where tactics matter a lot. Either way, it’s a one-on-one battle, with no outside help. You see there are many similarities. Of course, tennis is more physical, the body language is more striking. Chess is more “mental”, and it is played more blindly.
« [Roger Federer] doesn’t have the patience to sit for hours and think about the next move he’s going to make. He wants to attack, all the time! »
In these two disciplines, you have to control emotions and frustrations.
Yes, in both cases, there is the pressure related to decision-making in important moments. When you’re in a position to win and you’re good enough, you don’t give your opponent a chance to come back into the match, it’s the same in tennis and chess. And it’s no surprise to me to see that there are many on the circuit who appreciate chess. In particular, there are a lot of physical trainers and physiotherapists, and they are good! But on the real level of each other, it’s hard to know. Because for most of us, we play online in our bedroom, all alone.
But they must be impressed with your performance against Vachier-Lagrave, right?
But I think many are better than me. It’s just that somehow I managed to shine against Maxime. I play better against the best… In tennis, it was the same thing, by the way. Maybe another similarity (laugh).
Does knowing how to play chess help you in coaching?
I don’t think that makes me a better coach. It’s just that it’s a good way to spend your free time, exercising your brain. We entertain ourselves intelligently.
Did you convince Roger Federer to get into it when you were training him?
He plays a little. But he likes to play fast games. He doesn’t have the patience to sit for hours and think about the next move he’s going to make. He wants to attack, all the time! »
2023-06-07 07:09:14
#Ljubicic #chesstennis #links #cases #pressure #decisionmaking
