Tennis legend Novak Djokovic delivered an emotional tribute to his late former coach Nikola Pilic during a special ceremony at this week's Davis Cup event in Bologna.
Heartfelt Tribute to Coaching Legend
The Serbian superstar joined fellow tennis greats Ivan Ljubicic and Boris Becker in honouring Pilic, who passed away in September at age 86. The 1970 doubles US Open champion was remembered for his extraordinary coaching achievements across multiple nations.
Djokovic addressed the gathering with visible emotion, stating: "Thank you to everyone who came, this is a moment of mixed emotions for me. When we received the news, it was one of the saddest moments for me, because Nicky was so important in my life, my career, as well as the careers of all the gentlemen behind me."
Unprecedented Davis Cup Success
Pilic's coaching legacy remains unmatched in Davis Cup history. He guided Germany to victory in 1988 and 1989 with Becker on the team, then led Croatia to triumph in 2005 with Ljubicic. His remarkable hat-trick was completed when he helped Serbia, including Djokovic, claim the title in 2010.
Djokovic emphasised this unique achievement: "There is no better competition than the Davis Cup to celebrate what Niki Pilic has done, who will remain the only coach in this most important team competition to win the trophy with three countries."
With additional victories, Pilic ultimately secured five Davis Cup wins across various roles, cementing his status as one of the competition's most successful figures.
Sinner vs Alcaraz: Why Djokovic Looked Away
During the same Davis Cup proceedings, Djokovic also discussed the recent ATP Finals clash between rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Though qualified for the tournament himself, Djokovic withdrew due to injury.
Speaking in Italian, the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed: "I didn't watch the whole match; however, I watched the first set because now, as usual, it's a tradition when they play them. The first set is 7-6 in one way or another; however, with a lot of attention, a lot of intensity and an astronomical level."
Djokovic explained his reasoning for not watching the complete match: "I don't like to watch because I want to be there." Despite this, he acknowledged the quality of the emerging rivalry, adding: "Matches of the two of them now, with pleasure I watch because of the very high level. And the rivalry of the two of them is a very positive thing for our sport."
Sinner ultimately defeated Alcaraz 7-6, 7-5 in their ATP Finals encounter, demonstrating the high-calibre competition that continues to shape men's tennis.
