New Delhi: Nikola Pilic, the revered Croatian tennis player and coach often referred to as the ‘tennis father’ of Novak Djokovic, has passed away at the age of 87. His death was announced by the Croatian Tennis Association, which confirmed he died on September 22.
Pilic was among the first coaches of Djokovic, who has amassed a staggering 24 Grand Slam titles in his career. Notably, Pilic led the German national team to three Davis Cup titles between 1988 and 1993 and guided Croatia to its inaugural Davis Cup victory in 2005. Additionally, he served as a consultant for Serbia’s Davis Cup triumph in 2010.
Djokovic, who joined Pilic’s academy in Germany at just 12 years old, has often expressed his deep gratitude towards Pilic, referring to him as his ‘tennis father.’ Djokovic remarked, “Nikola is my tennis father. A mentor. A man who selflessly shared his knowledge and experience about tennis and life with me. Niki’s lovely wife Mija and he welcomed me with open arms to their tennis academy in Germany and treated me like their own child.”
Nikola Pilic’s Competitive Legacy
While Pilic is celebrated for his coaching achievements, he was also a distinguished player in his own right. He won the US Open in men’s doubles in 1970, accumulating a total of 15 titles throughout his playing career. This includes nine singles titles and six in doubles. His peak performance in singles at a Grand Slam came in 1973 when he reached the French Open final, ultimately falling to Ilie Năstase.
The tennis community mourns the loss of a giant who significantly influenced the sport both as a player and a coach.
