Emotional moment
Tennis legend remembers ex-coach – and fights back tears
November 5th, 2025 – 4:30 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Niki Pilić died in September. His former protégé Novak Djoković now honored him and became emotional.
After his victory in the round of 16 of the tournament in Athens, Novak Djoković could hardly contain his emotions. While still on the pitch, the 38-year-old remembered his mentor Niki Pilić, who died in September – with tears in his eyes and moving words.
Djoković had previously defeated Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 7:6 (7:3), 6:1. But the sporting result faded into the background in view of the scenes after the match. A clip was shown on the video wall in honor of Pilić, who died at the age of 86. Djoković turned to the side, moved the microphone away from his mouth – and wiped tears from his face.
“Pilić was more than a mentor and a coach for me. He was part of my family, for me and my brothers. He helped so much,” said Djoković.
Pilić, known as “Mr. Davis Cup” for his successes with the German Davis Cup team in 1988, 1989 and 1993, also played a key role in Djoković’s career. In 2010, as an advisor, he played a key role in helping Serbia win the Davis Cup for the first time. “Without him I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today,” said the 38-year-old top star about Pilić, who comes from Croatia. He is a legend and deserves to be paid tribute to.
“It was an emotional moment,” Djoković later told “ATPTour.com.” “Considering what he meant to me and my family – personally but also professionally – he was my tennis father, as I like to call him, someone who played a fundamental, essential role in my development as a tennis player and as a person. It was really sad news when I learned of his death.”
The legacy that Pilić leaves him and tennis will “never fade, never die,” said Djoković and promised: “As long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I will honor his name.” Pilić was “a very special person”.