Niki Pilic, the former captain of Germany’s Davis Cup team, ceased his life at the age of 86, in his native country, Croatia, the Croatian Tennis Federation announced in a statement released today.
During his career, Niki Pilic played a great Slam final at Roland Garros 1973, lost in front of the Romanian Ilie Năstase, which won in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. In double, Pilic won a trophy, at the US Open in 1970.
Pilic, originally from Split, was the German captain between 1987 and 1996, leading her to win her first title in the Davis Cup in 1988, before won the trophy on two other occasions, in 1989 and 1993.
Pilic also won the silver salad with Croatia in 2005, and Serbia in 2010, becoming the first captain to win the Davis Cup with three different nations.
Between 2015 and 2017, Pilic served as a counselor in the German Tennis Federation (DTB).
Until recently, Niki Pilic was still on the tennis court and worked with young talents in Croatia. Among the protections of his Academy in Munich also counted the holder of the record of great Slam titles, Serb Novak Djokovic.
