Djokovic’s Athens win turns emotional as he honors his late mentor Pilic.
Novak Djokovic’s second-round win at the Hellenic Championship in Athens turned into an emotional evening on Tuesday as the 24-time Grand Slam champion broke down in tears during a tribute video honoring his late mentor, Nikola Pilic. Moments after defeating Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(3), 6-1, Djokovic stood courtside visibly shaken as the organizers played a video commemorating Pilic, the legendary coach who passed away in September at age 86. Djokovic, who joined Pilic’s academy in Germany at just 12 years old, struggled to speak as he paid respect to the man he repeatedly credited for shaping his life and career.
When the tribute ended and the microphone was handed to him, Djokovic’s voice cracked instantly. “Sorry. Sorry for this but he was more than just a mentor and a coach to me,” he told the Athens crowd, wiping away tears. “He was a part of my family to me and my brothers. He has helped so much and I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today without him. He passed away a few months ago and I want to ask your support to give him respect and the tribute that he deserves, the legend that he is.”
The emotional weight grew heavier as he continued, calling Pilic “the biggest Davis Cup coach in history,” adding, “He has won the Davis Cup five times with three different countries with Germany, Serbia and Croatia, this is something which will never be repeated. He’s an absolute legend of the game.”
Djokovic was soon joined on court by longtime friends and coaches from Pilic’s academy, turning the moment into a quiet reunion of people bound by the same mentor. Later, speaking to the ATP Tour website, Djokovic reflected further: “It was an emotional moment. Considering what he meant to me and my family, privately, also professionally, he was my tennis father, as I like to call him. Someone that has played a fundamental, integral role in my development as a tennis player and as a human being. It was really sad news when I heard that he passed away a few months ago.”
Pilic’s life was a remarkable blend of playing success, historic controversy, and unprecedented coaching achievements. A professional from 1968 to 1978 after eight years as an amateur, he reached the men’s singles final at Roland Garros in 1973, won Wimbledon doubles in 1970, and reached the Wimbledon doubles final in 1962.
He was also at the center of the famous 1973 Wimbledon boycott, where 81 players withdrew in protest of his suspension, one of the sport’s defining political moments.
As a coach, Pilic’s legacy became even larger. He remains the first and only captain to win the Davis Cup with three different nations: Germany (1988, 1989, 1993), Croatia (2005), and Serbia (2010). He later served as an adviser to Serbia’s Davis Cup team, helping them reach their historic triumph in 2010.
Mandatory Image Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
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