Overview

• The Croatian Tennis Association said Pilić died on Monday in Croatia at age 86, a death reported by major outlets including the Associated Press.
• He is the only captain to lead three nations to Davis Cup titles: Germany (1988, 1989, 1993), Croatia (2005) and Serbia (2010).
• His 1973 suspension led 81 players to boycott Wimbledon, a pivotal moment that strengthened the newly formed ATP’s authority.
• As a player he was the 1973 Roland Garros runner-up, won the 1970 US Open doubles with Pierre Barthes, and was among Lamar Hunt’s original World Championship Tennis “Handsome Eight.”
• Tributes were issued by Novak Djokovic, who called him his “tennis father,” and by ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, with others noting his influential academy near Munich that molded future stars.