Ivana Lisjak

After picking up the tennis racket at the age of three, Ivana quickly climbed up the tennis ranks in Croatia where she was No.1 in the girls under 10, 12, 14, and 16.  Ivana was also ranked No.1 in Europe under 12 and 14 and played for the Croatia junior and national tennis team (FED CUP) for seven years.

Turning a professional at the age of 14, the right-handed Ivana quickly became a force on the pro circuit as a baseliner who preferred the hardcourts. Ivana played in all Grand Slam tournaments, won 8 International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro circuit tournaments, and was a14 times a runner up in ITF tournaments. Ivana received her highest career ranking of 95 WTA[1] in 2006. This ranking was when she had reached the third round of the French Open but where she lost to former No.1 world player Martina Hingis of Switzerland.

Early in 2011, Ivana took time off from tennis to heal her chronic lower-back injury.  The summer of 2013 Ivana launch a comeback after spending over two years trying to control her back pain that "[w]hen it would (flair up), I would not be able to walk," lamented Lisjak.[2] Ivana was able to win her matches against many former top 100 rank players at the $50,000 FSP Gold River Women’s Challenger. During this come back she was able to participate in three tournaments and got her ranking back to the Top 300 over the course of one month. She attributes this quick rise to be an able to look at the game from the coach's eyes and being able to approach the stressful moments in the match in a calmer way. She says she was able to use her coaching experience to identify the dynamics of the game and use different kinds of strategies and tactics against her opponents. Unfortunately her back flared up again and she decided to retire for good, but this short comeback was some of the most enjoyable tennis she ever played.

In 2013, Ivana obtained her WTA coaching license, which is only available to players that were able to break Top 100 in their professional career. Ivana also has her USTA and PTR coaching license.  Her coaching career began after being seen practicing at local tennis clubs.  She has been approached several times by parents to see if she was interested in being a personal coach and mentor to their children aspiring to be better tennis players.  Ivana decided that as a coach she would only take one student at a time so that she can fully focus on that person, their needs, and feel truly vested in them as a person and player.  Her coaching philosophy is regimenting schedules, strong work ethic, dedication, persistent, and resilience.  Ivana believes that talent can get you only so far, but that the physical conditioning and resilience on the court is critical for players to take their careers to the next level.   Several of these students have become top ranked players in the USA.  

While a professional tennis player, Ivana received a Bachelors in Sports Management and a Bachelors in Business and Economics (Business Administration) where she had several academic accomplishments including being a member of Sigma Alpha Pi and the Honor Society. Ivana is taking this academic background and drive as a professional athlete to make her mark in business. She is an interior designer and project manager[3] for residential to commercial projects both within the U.S. and abroad. She also consults to companies who are looking to engage with consumers ranging from the weekend athlete to the aspiring professional athletes.  

• Ivana Lisjak at the Women's Tennis Association
• Ivana Lisjak at the International Tennis Federation