Nikola Pilić, Tennis Legend and Djokovic’s Mentor, Passes Away
Zagreb, Croatia – The tennis world mourns the loss of Nikola Pilić, an emblematic figure who left an indelible mark on the history of this 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 Croatian Tennis Association confirmed the death this Monday, marking the end of an era for world tennis.
Pilić was a prominent player, reaching the French Open singles final in 1973. His influence transcended the courts, being a key figure in the Wimbledon boycott of that same year.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) supported the Yugoslav decision, although it reduced its suspension to one month, which included Wimbledon.
The support of the new Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) led to 12 of the 16 top seeds and a total of 81 players boycotting Wimbledon.
Pilić was already a star when tennis turned professional in 1968. He was one of the first eight male players to be signed for the new professional circuit backed by the American businessman Lamar Hunt, called World Championship Tennis.
Throughout his career, Pilić won nine individual titles and reached sixth place in the world ranking. In doubles, he added six titles, highlighting the 1970 US Open, alongside Pierre Barthes.
After retiring as a player in 1978, Pilić dedicated himself to technical direction, achieving notable successes in the Davis Cup. As a non-playing captain, he led Germany, led by Boris Becker, to victory in 1988, 1989, and 1993. He also guided Croatia in 2005 and Serbia in 2010.
In his academy near Munich, he trained future stars such as Michael Stich, Goran Ivanisevic, and Novak Djokovic, who considered him his mentor.
