Legendary Tennis Coach Nikola Pilic, Mentor to Novak Djokovic, Dies at 86

The global tennis community is mourning the loss of Nikola Pilic, a legendary coach and former player, who passed away at the age of 86. Known as the "tennis father" of Novak Djokovic, the Croatian coach played a pivotal role in shaping the career of one of the greatest tennis players in history.

Before his illustrious coaching career, Pilic was a distinguished player, reaching the 1973 Roland Garros final and winning the 1970 US Open doubles title. However, it was his work as a coach that cemented his legacy. Operating his renowned tennis academy in Munich, Pilic mentored numerous players, including a young Novak Djokovic, who joined the academy at just 12 years old in 1999.

Breaking his own rule of not coaching players under 14, Pilic took Djokovic under his wing at the urging of the Serbian’s former coach, Jelena Gencic. For four formative years, Djokovic trained under Pilic’s guidance, an experience the world No. 1 has often credited for his success. “Nikola is my tennis father. A mentor. A man who selflessly shared his knowledge and experience of tennis and life with me,” Djokovic once said. “His wonderful wife, Mija, and he welcomed me with open arms into their tennis academy in Germany and treated me like their own child.”

Pilic’s coaching achievements extended beyond individual players. He remains the only coach to have won the Davis Cup with three different nations: Germany (1988, 1989, 1993), Croatia (2005), and Serbia (2010). His contributions to tennis also included significant advocacy for players’ rights. As a key figure in ATP reforms, Pilic helped professionalize the sport, improving conditions and opportunities for players and creating a fairer, more sustainable environment for future generations.

The tennis world, from Athens to Belgrade, will remember Pilic not only for his remarkable achievements but also for his profound impact on the sport and the lives of those he mentored.

(Source: In.gr)