Djokovic shed tears remembering his late mentor, delivering a heartfelt moment that contradicted the Italian Tennis Federation president

Under the dazzling lights of Athens, Djokovic secured another hard-fought victory—this time against Tabillo. Yet, that night, victory was not the focus; emotions and legacy took center stage. Standing before the crowd, sweat still gleaming on his forehead after the win, his voice trembled and eyes lowered. He did not speak of tactics or fighting spirit but paid tribute to his late “father of tennis” — Nikola Pilić.

Pilić was a Croatian tennis player who represented Yugoslavia in the 1970s. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 6 and made it to the French Open final in 1973, his best Grand Slam result. In doubles, he won the US Open title in 1970. After retiring, he coached and served as an advisor for Serbia’s Davis Cup team. Near Munich, Germany, he ran a tennis academy and made significant contributions to the sport, mentoring players like Djokovic, Sevastova, Gulbis, and Stich. He passed away on September 22 in Rijeka, Croatia, at age 86, with the tennis world expressing condolences to his family.

Several tennis legends such as Becker, Čilić, and Dodig attended his funeral. Pilić’s passing was a huge blow to Djokovic. Upon hearing the news, the Serbian star wrote a heartfelt tribute: “Mr. Niko, as I write this, my hands tremble because I hold endless love and respect for you. Thank you for every moment we shared, every word spoken, every look, every embrace. Rest in peace, dear… Novak.” He vowed to honor Pilić’s name and his contributions to tennis for the rest of his life.

That evening in Athens, moved by the sincere homage to Pilić, Djokovic could no longer hold back tears. Emotionally, he said: “It was an incredibly touching moment. Considering what he meant to me and my family — both personally and professionally — he was my ‘father of tennis,’ playing a fundamental role in my growth as a player and as a person. Learning of his passing a month ago was truly heartbreaking.”

In September, Djokovic posted on Instagram about Pilić’s profound impact on him and how his guidance helped him develop. He expressed gratitude to Pilić and his wife Mia for welcoming him like a son when he was 12. After the match with Tabillo, Djokovic again mentioned this “father of tennis”: “It was a very difficult moment. But from a brighter perspective, the legacy he left me and the tennis community will never fade. As long as I keep playing and living, I will honor his name. Tonight was one such tribute, and I believe people will recognize Niki’s influence on tennis and sports for a long time to come. He deserves all this. He was a truly special person.”

Pilić’s influence on Djokovic was like sunlight shining through stained glass, illuminating history. Before Djokovic claimed Grand Slam titles as a “required course” and relentlessly reclaimed the world No. 1 spot, he was just a frail boy in Munich — shy, talented, determined, yet lacking direction.

In a 2018 interview with the Serbian site Politika, Pilić recalled: “One day, I remember him telling me he wanted to be world No. 1. Many laughed, but I did not find it amusing. Honestly, when he arrived in Munich at 13, his technique was still lacking, but he worked hard to improve.” Four years later, when he returned to Belgrade, Djokovic began earning his first ATP ranking points — and that was where his story truly began.

Three years later, Pilić praised Djokovic’s intelligence in an interview, saying: “I’m not biased, Novak is the greatest ever... He is excellent, honest, and hardworking.” This speaks volumes about the deep emotional bond between them.

In Athens, Djokovic won a match. But more importantly, he reminded the world that greatness is not only etched on trophies but also engraved in the lives of those who guided, cared for, and transformed him. So, what else did Djokovic say in his post-match interview?

Since September, Djokovic has been living in Athens with his family. What was initially a temporary move turned into what he described as a “fulfilling and grounding” experience. Thus, after winning his first match at the Greek Championships, he shared his feelings about playing in Athens.

“Playing in Athens really feels like coming home. When my family and I arrived here a few months ago, we were very excited because I have always loved Greece. Serbians have a great affection for Greece, no doubt. From history and culture to religion, we share many connections. Athens holds a special place in my heart,” Djokovic said.

There are not many players who can boast a 100% winning record against Djokovic, but Tabillo had beaten him twice before. So, after finally securing his first victory over the Chilean, Djokovic said: “I’m thrilled to win tonight. I had never beaten Tabillo before, so the nerves were higher than usual before the match.”

Just days ago, Italian Tennis Federation president Binaghi confirmed Djokovic’s participation in the ATP Finals. Surprisingly, Djokovic denied this in his post-match interview: “I don’t know where he got that information, but it definitely wasn’t from me or my team. I will decide after this tournament ends.”

Therefore, whether we will see him face off against Sinner and Alcaraz at the year-end finals remains to be seen. But do you think Djokovic will be the favorite to win in Athens?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)