New Delhi, September 24 (HS): Croatian tennis legend and celebrated coach Nikola Pilic, widely regarded as Novak Djokovic’s formative mentor, has passed away at the age of 86, the Croatian Tennis Association confirmed on Tuesday.

Pilic, a central figure in European tennis for decades, guided Germany to three Davis Cup triumphs between 1988 and 1993. He later led Croatia to its historic first Davis Cup crown in 2005 and played a crucial advisory role in helping Serbia clinch the title in 2010.Djokovic, who joined Pilic’s German-based academy as a 12-year-old, often referred to him as his “tennis dad.”

In a 2018 Instagram post, the world champion praised his mentor, writing, “Niki has been one of the most important mentors in my life and tennis journey. The time I spent in his academy left a profound impact on my game and career.”Paying tribute, Djokovic said, “He was a successful player, but even more so, an extraordinary coach.”

The Croatian Tennis Association hailed Pilic in a heartfelt statement, noting, “He was one of the greatest players and coaches our country has ever produced.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar