Tennis in mourning: Nikola Niki Pilić, Novak Djokovic’s first coach, has died
The tennis world mourns the passing of Nikola Niki Pilić, who died at his home in Rijeka at the age of 87. He was the first coach of Novak Đoković.
“A great gentleman, a man who had tennis in his blood: Nikola Pilić has left us at the age of 87. The world tennis champion and legendary Davis Cup-winning coach passed away in Rijeka. As a coach, he led Germany and Croatia to Davis Cup triumph, and Serbia in 2010 as an adviser” reads the note issued by the Serbian tennis federation.
“Pilić has left a profound mark both on and off the court. He was one of the key figures in the creation of the modern ATP system, contributing to the professionalization of tennis. As a coach, he worked with numerous champions, and is particularly remembered for his role in the early years of Novak Djokovic, who established himself in the world elite thanks to him. He is often referred to as the ‘tennis father’of the best player of all time”.
“Nikola Pilić was born August 27, 1939, in Split and belongs to the generation that marked the dawn of professional tennis. He built his career at a time when the sport did not yet have the popularity it has today, but still managed to leave an indelible mark both as a player and a coach. He began his career at the Split Tennis Club and his first real international success came in the 1960s. He was among the best known Yugoslav tennis players of the time and a pioneer in representing the country at the world level. His best singles result was the 1973 Roland Garros final, where he was defeated on Parisian clay by Ilie Năstase”.
“In his career he won five titles in singles and 11 in doubles. In the latter specialty he achieved great results, also playing with prestigious partners such as Năstase and Stan Smith. Pilić was the first Yugoslav tennis player to reach a Grand Slam final in singles, paving the way for future generations. His career was also marked by controversial moments: in 1973 he was suspended for refusing to play in the Davis Cup with Yugoslavia. That affair had enormous resonance, so much so that 81 players boycotted Wimbledon in solidarity. It was one of the largest sports protests in tennis history, consigning Pilić’s name to the annals of world sports”.
“After retiring as a player, he embarked on a successful coaching career. His work in the Davis Cup has remained memorable: with Germany he won the trophy in 1988, 1989 and 1993, while with Croatia he won a historic title in 2005. Since he could not be officially listed as Serbia’s selector, he played the role of adviser, which was decisive, however, in 2010 when Novak Đoković, Janko Tipsarević, Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjić, led on the bench by Bogdan Obradović, won the Davis Cup” concludes the note.
