Tennis star Novak Djokovic became emotional and cried during a tournament in Greece while watching a video tribute to his former coach and mentor, Nikola Pilic, who passed away in September at the age of 86.
Djokovic called Pilic his “tennis father” and said that he played a very important role in his life. Speaking after the match, Djokovic said, “Sorry, but he was more than just a coach to me. He was part of my family. I wouldn’t be who I am today without him.”
He added that Pilic had helped him and his brothers a lot and asked the audience to join him in giving respect to his late mentor.
Later, Djokovic told the ATP Tour website that it was a deeply emotional moment because Pilic had guided him both as a tennis player and as a person. “As long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I will celebrate his name,” he said.
Nikola Pilic was a former tennis player who trained Djokovic in Munich when he was just 10 years old. Pilic had a successful tennis career himself — he reached the French Open final in 1972, played in the Wimbledon doubles final in 1962, and won the US Open doubles title in 1970.
Djokovic said he will continue to honor Pilic’s memory and hopes people will remember how much Pilic contributed to tennis and sports around the world.
