VALENCIA, November 4, 2026
A friendly smile, a Lacoste outfit and plenty of ambition. Luka Talan Lopatic may still be at the beginning of his professional tennis journey, but he already has a clear idea of where he wants to go. At just 18, the Slovenian is taking his first steps towards establishing himself on the professional circuit. And there are encouraging signs that he is heading in the right direction.
This week, at the IV Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, a World Tennis Tour M25 event, Lopatic has already made an impression. Having successfully battled his way through qualifying, he followed it up with a victory in the first round of the main draw. With matches coming thick and fast, he still found time between his singles and doubles commitments to sit down for a chat.
Currently ranked No. 861 in the ATP Rankings, Talan Lopatic has reached a new career-high position. As a junior, he climbed as high as No. 56 in the world, giving him a solid foundation for the transition to the professional game.
His journey, however, has already taken him across several countries. Born in Ljubljana, Lopatic moved to Spain at the age of nine and has now spent almost a decade in the country. He is currently based in Alicante, where he trains under coach Isidro, splitting his time between different clubs and facilities, including ATC – Alicante Tennis Competition and Club Atlético Montemar.
Spain has therefore become something of a second home. But last November, another adventure awaited him: the United States.
One year of college tennis – a valuable experience
Talan Lopatic headed overseas to experience college tennis at the University of Oklahoma. Combining competitive tennis with academic studies, he spent one year immersed in the American college system, studying Sports Business while training and competing alongside his teammates.
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“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 recalls.
Life on campus was certainly busy. Practice sessions, fitness work and university classes filled most of his days, sometimes with two or three lectures squeezed into the schedule.
“Basically, we trained in the morning, went to class, did fitness and then went back to class. The schedule was always full. But when you have your teammates around you in class and at training, everything becomes easier. Time goes by much faster.”
Although he has not ruled out returning to college in the future, his immediate priorities have changed. For now, he wants to concentrate fully on tennis and see how far he can go 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. We’ll see how it goes.”
Smart tennis with an attacking mindset
On court, Lopatic describes himself as a versatile player who enjoys taking the initiative but is equally comfortable defending and counter-attacking.
“I like to attack, but I can also play well on the counter. I like to construct points and play smart tennis. I think I have quite good shots, both my forehand and backhand, and I can do a lot of different things with them.”
Adapting to the situation is one of his strengths, although he is keen to become even more aggressive as his game develops.
That mentality was on display in his opening-round victory in Valencia. Facing 19-year-old Spaniard Sergi Fita Juan, the match became as much a mental battle as a physical one.
“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 explained. After taking the first set, he found another gear towards the end of the second to close out the match.
Slovenian roots and a Federer inspiration
Despite having spent most of his life in Spain, Talan Lopatic has maintained his connection with Slovenia. He has already had the opportunity to represent his country in the Davis Cup, an experience he describes as a great honour.
“I am very grateful that they gave me the opportunity to be part of the team. Right now, I was in college, so I wasn’t able to play Davis Cup. But maybe in the future, if I continue to progress and work hard, I can get another opportunity.”
When it comes to tennis idols, there is little hesitation. Roger Federer has always been his favourite player. The Swiss tennis legend remains a major inspiration, although Lopatic also enjoys watching the current generation.
“Of course, Alcaraz and Sinner are amazing players. And Djokovic is still doing unbelievable things. But for me, it was always Roger. I am a big Roger fan.”
There is also plenty going on away from the tennis court. One particularly interesting hobby is collecting watches. Lopatic admits that his collection is already getting out of hand, with eight Casio watches, a Tissot and an Orient currently in his possession.
“I have too many Casios,” he laughs. “I’m trying to sell some because I have a lot. Maybe someday they will sponsor me, hopefully!”
Football and basketball also feature in his sporting interests, with Real Madrid his team of choice.
Aiming for the next step
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on tennis. With a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 861 already under his belt, Talan Lopatic has set himself an ambitious target for the end of the year: breaking into the world’s top 600.
“I would like to finish the year around 600, if possible. If not, that’s also OK. The main thing is to keep developing and working hard.”
It is a realistic mix of ambition and patience from a player who is still finding his feet in the professional game. His junior pedigree, international experience and willingness to explore different pathways have given him an interesting starting point.
Valencia is another small but important step.
