Sons of Tennis Legends: Lenny Petit and Leonardo Ljubicic Embrace Legacy, Forge Own Path

In the footsteps of their successful predecessors, Lenny Petit and Leonardo Ljubicic are rising tennis stars from Monaco, driven by their passion for the sport and the guidance of their tennis-legend fathers. While each takes a unique path, they share the same goal of representing Monaco in the Davis Cup and achieving greatness on the world stage.

Embracing their fathers' legacy, Lenny Petit and Leonardo Ljubicic, two rising stars in the world of tennis, are determined to carve their own path while honoring the footsteps of their predecessors.

Hailing from Monaco and Austria respectively, Petit and Ljubicic have been immersed in the sport since their tender years. Petit's father was a promising junior player before pursuing a career in online poker, while Ljubicic's father, Ivan, achieved global recognition as a world number three and coach to none other than Roger Federer.

Despite their familial connections, both players have forged their own unique journeys to tennis stardom. For Ljubicic, the allure of the sport became evident at the age of five when he accompanied his father to tournaments. Under the guidance of his first coach, Michel Borfiga, Ljubicic's passion for tennis blossomed, leading him to dedicate countless hours to training.

Petit's path to tennis was more circuitous. He experimented with various sports, including swimming, boxing, judo, karate, fencing, and baseball, before settling on football and tennis. It was his father's knowledge of the sport that ultimately swayed Petit towards tennis as his primary focus.

United by their age, passion for tennis, and familial ties, Petit and Ljubicic share a common goal: to represent their respective nations in the prestigious Davis Cup.

"It's not a dream because I hope it will happen, but we train for that, it's our goal in a few years," declared Ljubicic, who balances his tennis training between the Lycée Albert-1er and the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

Petit, whose father competed among the top 50 junior players, recognizes the arduous journey ahead but remains steadfast in his pursuit of tennis excellence.

"Towards the age of 10, I started training hard to become a professional and dedicate my life to it," said Ljubicic, who divides his training between Monaco and Vienna, where he receives guidance from Günter Bresnik, the former coach of Dominic Thiem.

Ljubicic's tennis trajectory is yet to be fully determined. While the sport undoubtedly holds a prominent place in his life, he aspires to pursue higher education in business and management in the United States.

Despite their differences in approach, both players draw invaluable counsel from their fathers.

"He tries to help me and since he was a good player, he gives me good advice," said Petit of his father. "He gives everything for me and finances my journey."

Ljubicic, on the other hand, benefits from the expertise of Ivan Ljubicic, who juggles his responsibilities as high-performance manager for the French Tennis Federation with his academy in Croatia.

"Since childhood, we only talk about tennis at home," said Ljubicic. "I've watched a lot of matches in my life. My father has played a huge role in my tennis life and my love for the sport. He gives me very good advice. He was Federer's coach, so it's not so bad [laughs]. When I go to Croatia or when I'm here, we get to see each other and he coaches me when he has time."

Ljubicic also finds inspiration in Roger Federer, whom he has the privilege of knowing personally through his father.

"I love his game like millions of people on this planet," said Ljubicic. "And then, I have the chance to know him personally thanks to my father - they've been friends since I was little. He's a person who inspires me. He's as incredible on the court as he is off it, in the way he behaves with everyone. He's already given me advice and it seems surreal to me. I try to apply it because for me he's the greatest of all time."

While Ljubicic may not be at the level to compete in the prestigious Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters just yet, both players are steadily progressing, participating in numerous tournaments to hone their skills and edge closer to their respective goals.

"I play a few tournaments but not as many as Lenny, who is much further along in his career than me," said Ljubicic. "I still have a lot to play to reach his level."

Petit, on the other hand, competes on the Junior Circuit and Future tournaments, balancing his tennis pursuits with online courses.

"I earned my first three ITF points by reaching the last round of the qualification of Future tournaments three times," said Petit. "My next goal is to get my first ATP points by winning a match in the main draw."

The road to achieving their tennis dreams will undoubtedly be long and arduous.

"For me, it would be to be able to play the Grand Slams with the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner," said Ljubicic, referring to rising tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. "And then also win Monte-Carlo, Wimbledon, or Roland-Garros."

Petit, who idolizes Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem, aspires to "become world number one" and conquer the hallowed courts of Monte-Carlo and Roland-Garros.

As they navigate the challenges that lie ahead, Petit and Ljubicic remain committed to honoring the legacy of their fathers while forging their own unique paths in the world of professional tennis.