Zagreb, Croatia – Nikola Pilić, the first captain to lead three countries into Davis Cup glory and train Novak Djokovic at its academy. He is 86 years old.
The Croatian Tennis Association said Piric died on Monday.
Pilić was the second-place runner-up in France in 1973, and was the catalyst for Wimbledon’s boycott.
Yugoslav tennis officials accused Piric of refusing to play against New Zealand’s Davis Cup. He denied it, but was still suspended. The International Lawn Tennis Federation (now ITF) supported Yugoslavia’s decision but reduced his suspension to one month, but included Wimbledon.
Because Pilić has been supported by new tennis professionals, 12 of the 16 best seeds and 81 players boycott Wimbledon.
When tennis became completely professional in 1968, Piric was already a star. When American businessman Lamar Hunt supported the new professional tour world champion tennis, the likes of Pilić, John Newcombe and Tony Roche were the first male players to sign – known as the Handsome Eight.
Pilić won nine singles titles and finished the top singles ranking in sixth place. He lost to the French Open final. His six doubles titles include the 1970 U.S. Open, with Pierre Barthes vs. Newcombe and Rod Laver in four finals.
After retirement in 1978, Pilić coached and won the Davis Cup and won the Davis Cup with Boris Becker’s Germany (1988, 1989, 1993), Croatia (2005) and Serbia (2010).
Future stars passing through the academy near Munich include Michael Stich, Goran Ivanisevic and Djokovic, who called Pilić his mentor.
