Niki Pilić: Tennis legend died at the age of 86

Niki Pilić (1939-2025) is dead. This is confirmed by the Croatian tennis association on September 23. It is announced that the former tennis player and coach died in the city of Opatija on Monday.

Pilić, born in Split, was the team boss of the German Davis Cup team and won the Davis Cup victory with her in 1988, 1989 and 1993. Nikola Pilić also achieved this success with Croatia and Serbia in 2005 and 2010. He worked and was linked to big names of the world of tennis, including not only with Germany’s tennis bores Boris Becker (57) and Michael Stich (56), but also with superstar Novak Djokovic (38).

A few years ago, Djokovic wrote: “Niki Pilić, my tennis father, my mentor.” Pilić and his wife Mija (84) accepted him at their academy at the age of twelve, “although he usually did not accept players under 14 years old. He had one of the best tennis academies in Europe at the time. Mija and Niki treated me like her own child and also my two younger brothers. My family will never forget that.”

Pilić was active in sports until old age. He explained in 2018: “I am now almost 79 years old and when I don’t play a tennis, the day will be very long. […] In the morning before showering I do push -ups every day, always 15 pieces. Then I go to the square. Four hours, every day. Except on Sundays – I go to the church. “:” I am not a guy who drinks seven cappuccino in the restaurant. I love my job. And I continue what I enjoy. “