Novak Djokovic has made a surprise appearance at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna to honour the late Nikola Pilic. The world No. 4 ended his season by winning his 101st career title at the Hellenic Championship in Athens before withdrawing from the ATP Finals. Although Serbia did not qualify for this year’s Davis Cup Finals, Djokovic made the journey for a special tribute ceremony in honour of Pilic, a man he branded his ‘tennis father’.

Pilic passed away in September of this year, aged 86. The tennis star reached the final of the French Open in singles and finished runner-up in Wimbledon doubles during his playing days, representing Yugoslavia. And he has long been credited for helping Djokovic become the greatest tennis player of all time.

He also had an incredible Davis Cup record, becoming the first captain to help three different nations clinch the World Cup of men’s tennis. He led the German team – which then included Boris Becker and Michael Stich – to win the trophy three times in 1988, 1989, and 1993.

Pilic then captained Croatia to their maiden Davis Cup title in 2005. Having a close relationship with Djokovic, he then started acting as an advisor for the Serbian team from 2007, and they lifted the trophy in 2010.

Davis Cup organisers honoured Pilic’s incredible life and career with a special ceremony ahead on Wednesday’s tie between Austria and defending champions Italy. And Djokovic flew out for the occasion.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was recently left in tears during another tribute to Pilic at the Hellenic Championship, where Djokovic’s brother is the tournament director. After Djokovic won his opening match against Alejandro Tabilo, a video honouring Pilic was played on screens around the arena.

“Sorry for this but he was more than just a mentor and a coach to me. 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,” the world No. 4 told the crowd.

“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.”

Djokovic was joined on court by friends and coaches from Pilic’s academy, and said he would celebrate his old mentor for “as long as he lived”.

Pilic took the Serb under his wing when he was just 10 years old. Djokovic started training at his academy in Germany in 1999, and Pilic awarded the Olympic champion with his first wildcard to make his professional debut at a Futures event in 2003.



By Yasmin Syed

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