Former Germany Davis Cup captain Niki Pilic died on Monday at the age of 86 in his homeland Croatia, the Croatian tennis federation said in a statement on Tuesday. Pilic was team captain between 1987 and 1996.
Former Germany Davis Cup captain Niki Pilic died on Monday at the age of 86 in his homeland Croatia, the Croatian tennis federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
Pilic was team captain between 1987 and 1996. He led the Germany to their first Davis Cup title in 1988, winning the trophy two more times in 1989 and 1993.
He also won the title with Croatia in 2005 and with Serbia in 2010, becoming the first captain to win the Davis Cup trophy for three nations.
Between 2015 and 2017, Pilic worked as an advisor at the German Tennis Federation (DTB).
Until recently Pilic was still on the tennis court and working with young talents in Croatia. Among the protégés at his academy in Munich was record Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
During his tennis career, Pilic reached one Grand Slam singles final at the French Open in 1973, but lost to Ilie Nastase. In the doubles, he won the US Open in 1970.
Category: General Sports
