Novak Djokovic broke down in tears after an emotional tribute video to his former coach and mentor, Nikola Pilic, was played on the big screen following his second-round win at the Hellenic Championship in Athens. Pilic died earlier this year at the age of 86.
The 38-year-old Serbian, currently ranked number five in the world, described Pilic as more than a mentor and coach, calling him a part of his family. “Sorry for this (the tears) but he was more than just a mentor and a coach, he was a part of my family to me and my brothers, I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today without him,” Djokovic said to the applause of the crowd.
Djokovic later referred to Pilic as his “tennis father” in an interview with ATPTour.com. “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,” Djokovic said. “The legacy that he left behind on me, but also for this sport, is never going to fade away.”
Pilic, born in Split, Croatia, represented Yugoslavia as a player and became one of tennis’s most successful coaches, guiding several players to top-10 rankings and leading multiple nations to Davis Cup titles. The tribute ceremony took place immediately after Djokovic’s straight-sets win over Alejandro Tabilo, with figures from Pilic’s academy in attendance.
Djokovic, the top seed, won 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 against the 89th-ranked Chilean to reach his 225th tour-level quarter-final. He will next face Portuguese sixth-seed Nuno Borges.
