{"id":264634,"date":"2025-11-06T02:29:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/264634\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T02:29:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:29:10","slug":"how-one-tragic-image-left-tennis-superstar-novak-djokovic-in-floods-of-tears-at-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/264634\/","title":{"rendered":"How one tragic image left tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in floods of tears at tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grand Slam legend captured in heartbreaking scenes<\/p>\n

By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORT REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 20:50 EST, 5 November 2025 | Updated: 21:09 EST, 5 November 2025 <\/p>\n

Novak Djokovic<\/a>‘s straight sets win over Alejandro Tabilo in the second round at the\u00a0Hellenic Championship in Athens seemed like another routine day – until a tribute flashed up on the screen post-match.<\/p>\n

It was in honour of Djokovic’s former coach Nikola Pilic, who passed away earlier this year aged 86 – and it didn’t take long for the 24-time Grand Slam winner to break down in tears.<\/p>\n

‘For me, it was an emotional moment, considering what he meant to me and my family \u2014 privately, also professionally,’ he told ATPTour.com.<\/p>\n

‘He was my tennis father, as I like to call him, someone that has played a fundamental, integral role in my development as a tennis player and as a human being.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘It was really sad news when I heard that he passed away a few months ago.’<\/p>\n

Djokovic attended Pilic’s funeral and labelled the occasion ‘very difficult.’<\/p>\n

\"Novak <\/p>\n

Novak Djokovic’s win over Alejandro Tabilo in the second round at the Hellenic Championship in Athens seemed like another routine day – until a tribute flashed up on the screen post-match<\/p>\n

\"It <\/p>\n

It was in honour of Djokovic’s former coach Nikola Pilic, who passed away earlier this year – sending the Grand Slam legend into tears (pictured)<\/p>\n

\"Djokovic <\/p>\n

Djokovic affectionately called Pilic (pictured together) his ‘tennis father’<\/p>\n

‘But on a brighter side, the legacy he left behind is never going to fade away,’ he said.<\/p>\n

‘I am sure in the near future – in the far future as well – people will learn about how Niki has impacted the world of tennis and the world of sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘He deserves it. He was a very special man…\u00a0 \u00a0as long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I will celebrate his name.’<\/p>\n

Pilic, was born in Split, Croatia, and went on to represent Yugoslavia as a player.<\/p>\n

Later he became one of the sport’s most successful coaches, including Djokovic when he was a 12-year-old prodigy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The moving tribute in Greece also saw several figures from Pilic’s academy in the crowd.<\/p>\n

Djokovic will next play Portuguese sixth-seed Nuno Borges for a spot in the semi-finals at the Hellenic Championship.<\/p>\n

In January, the Serbian will chase a remarkable 11th men’s singles title at the Australian Open, with his first triumph in 2008.<\/p>\n

He has also won Wimbledon seven times, the US Open on four occasions and the French Open in 2016, 2021 and 2023.<\/p>\n

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