Overview
- The Croatian Tennis Federation said Pilic died Monday in Opatija at age 86, announcing his passing on Tuesday.
- As Germany’s Davis Cup captain, he led the team to titles in 1988, 1989 and 1993 during the country’s tennis boom.
- He also won the Davis Cup with Croatia in 2005 and advised Serbia’s 2010 triumph, a unique three-nation record.
- Djokovic trained for several years at Pilic’s Munich academy as a teenager and later called him his tennis father and mentor.
- Boris Becker and Michael Stich praised Pilic’s influence and leadership, while Germany’s federation lauded his lasting impact on the sport.