Nikola Pilić, Tennis Legend and Djokovic’s Mentor, Passes Away
ZAGREB, Croatia – The tennis world mourns the loss of Nikola Pilić, an iconic figure who left an indelible mark on the sport. Pilić, recognized for being the first captain to lead three countries to glory in the Davis Cup, passed away at the age of 86.
The news was confirmed by the Croatian Tennis Association, marking the end of an era for world tennis.
Pilić, who was a finalist at Roland Garros in 1973, was also a key figure in the Wimbledon boycott of that same year.
The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ITF) backed the Yugoslav decision, but reduced its suspension to one month, which included Wimbledon.
Due to support for Pilić by the new Association of Tennis Professionals, 12 of the 16 seeded players and a total of 81 players boycotted Wimbledon.
Pilić was already a star when tennis turned fully professional in 1968. When American businessman Lamar Hunt backed a new professional tour called World Championship Tennis, figures like Pilić, John Newcombe, and Tony Roche were the first eight male players to be signed, known as the “Handsome Eight”.
Pilić won nine singles titles and reached the number 6 position in the world ranking. He lost the French Open final to Ilie Nastase. His six doubles titles included the 1970 US Open with Pierre Barthes against Newcombe and Rod Laver in a four-set final.
After retiring as a player in 1978, Pilić dedicated himself to coaching, achieving victories in the Davis Cup as a non-playing captain with Germany (1988, 1989, 1993), Croatia (2005), and Serbia (2010).
Future stars like Michael Stich, Goran Ivanisevic and Djokovic himself, who considered him his mentor, passed through his academy near Munich.
