Novak Đoković appeared in Bologna at the Davis Cup final (Final 8) to pay tribute to his mentor, the legendary Nikola Pilić, who recently passed away.

Đoković delivered an emotional speech on the court, surrounded by former national team members and tennis players who

The Serb did not hide how much the news of the death of the man who crucially influenced the development of his career – both as a tennis player and as a person – affected him.

“Thank you for coming. This is a moment of mixed emotions for me, honestly. When I received the news, or when we all heard, for me it was one of the saddest moments, because Niki had a huge influence on my life, my career, and the careers of all the gentlemen who are here on the court. And I have to say that there is no better place than the Davis Cup to celebrate the legacy of Niki Pilić, who will probably forever remain the only Davis Cup captain in the history of this most important team competition in tennis. Winning the Davis Cup with three different nations — Germany, Croatia, and Serbia — is an incredible feat that will probably never be repeated. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Niki. Thank you also to the family for being here. We will always remember you. Niki, we love you.”

Nikola Pilić was one of the most influential figures in European tennis. As a coach and selector, he created generations of champions and laid the foundations for modern tennis development in the Balkans.

His most incredible record remains winning the Davis Cup with three different national teams – a feat that no one before him, and probably no one after him, will repeat.

Novak repeatedly emphasized that it was Pilić who opened the door to professional tennis for him. He spent key formative years at his academy in Obersdorf, acquiring the work habits, character, and work philosophy that he later perfected.

Đoković’s arrival in Bologna, despite the strenuous season and physical problems, was a sign of how difficult this loss was for him personally, and the greatest of all time had previously spoken about Pilić on social media, at the funeral, at the tournament in Athens, and wherever else he managed to speak.

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Source: B92, Photo: Printscreen X

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