Nikola Pilic
Encyclopedia
Nikola "Niki" Pilić (born 27 August 1939) is a retired Croatian
professional tennis player who competed for SFR Yugoslavia. He was one of the Handsome Eight
.
to Krsto Pilić and Danica Tomić-Ferić just before the outbreak of World War II
, in what was then Littoral Banovina
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
. Young Nikola took up tennis during the summer of 1952. Thirteen years of age at this point, he began practicing on the clay courts of Firule tennis club in parallel to studying shipbuilding
at the streamlined high school in Split. Upon graduating he attempted to enroll at a community college (viša škola) in Zagreb
, but due to not meeting the entrance criteria ended up in Novi Sad
where he studied administration
(viša upravna škola).
Pilić was central to the 1973 Wimbledon Boycott
. That year the Yugoslav tennis federation alleged that Pilić had refused to represent them in a Davis Cup
tie. Pilić denied the charge, but was suspended by the federation, and the suspension was upheld by the ILTF
, meaning that he could not enter major tournaments. In protest at the suspension, 81 of Pilić's fellow professionals, including 12 of the 16 seeds, withdrew from the Wimbledon championship.
After retiring, Pilić began coaching and became the first captain to win the Davis Cup
trophy for three different nations: Germany
in 1988, 1989 and 1993, Croatia
in 2005 and Serbia
in 2010. He's been working with Serbia Davis Cup team
in the advisor role since 2007, and have one Davis Cup title 2010.
He runs a tennis academy in Oberschleißheim
near Munich
where he resides, working with young professional players like Ernests Gulbis
. In the past players such as Michael Stich
and Novak Đoković came through the Pilic academy.
In 1970, Pilić married Serbian actress Mija Adamović. The couple have children together.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
professional tennis player who competed for SFR Yugoslavia. He was one of the Handsome Eight
Handsome Eight
The Handsome Eight were eight professional tennis players that Lamar Hunt signed in 1968 for his newly formed tour, World Championship Tennis...
.
Biography
Pilić was born in SplitSplit (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
to Krsto Pilić and Danica Tomić-Ferić just before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in what was then Littoral Banovina
Littoral Banovina
The Littoral Banovina or Littoral Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1939. This province consisted of much of the historical region of Dalmatia, now in Croatia, and parts of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina and was named for its coastal location...
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
. Young Nikola took up tennis during the summer of 1952. Thirteen years of age at this point, he began practicing on the clay courts of Firule tennis club in parallel to studying shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
at the streamlined high school in Split. Upon graduating he attempted to enroll at a community college (viša škola) in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, but due to not meeting the entrance criteria ended up in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
where he studied administration
Administration (government)
The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.-United States:In United States usage, the term refers to the executive branch under a specific president , for example: the "Barack Obama administration." It can also mean an executive branch agency...
(viša upravna škola).
Pilić was central to the 1973 Wimbledon Boycott
1973 Wimbledon Championships - Men's Singles
Jan Kodeš defeated Alex Metreveli 6-1 9-8 6-3 in the final to win the Gentlemen's Singles title at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships. The final match included a tie-breaker played at 8-8 in the second set; the first ever Wimbledon singles final to include a tie-break. Eighty-one of the top players...
. That year the Yugoslav tennis federation alleged that Pilić had refused to represent them in a Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
tie. Pilić denied the charge, but was suspended by the federation, and the suspension was upheld by the ILTF
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
, meaning that he could not enter major tournaments. In protest at the suspension, 81 of Pilić's fellow professionals, including 12 of the 16 seeds, withdrew from the Wimbledon championship.
After retiring, Pilić began coaching and became the first captain to win the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
trophy for three different nations: Germany
Germany Fed Cup team
The Germany Fed Cup team represents Germany in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by Deutscher Tennis Bund. They currently compete in the World Group.-Current Team:* Tatjana Malek* Julia Görges* Andrea Petkovic* Anna-Lena Grönefeld...
in 1988, 1989 and 1993, Croatia
Croatia Fed Cup team
The Croatia Fed Cup team represents Croatia in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Croatian Tennis Association. They currently compete in the World Group II.-History:Croatia competed in its first Fed Cup in 1992...
in 2005 and Serbia
Serbia Davis Cup team
The Serbian Davis Cup team represents Serbia in the Davis Cup tennis competition. The team started playing in 2007, following the split of Serbia and Montenegro.Serbia is the current winner of the Davis Cup....
in 2010. He's been working with Serbia Davis Cup team
Serbia Davis Cup team
The Serbian Davis Cup team represents Serbia in the Davis Cup tennis competition. The team started playing in 2007, following the split of Serbia and Montenegro.Serbia is the current winner of the Davis Cup....
in the advisor role since 2007, and have one Davis Cup title 2010.
He runs a tennis academy in Oberschleißheim
Oberschleißheim
Oberschleißheim is a municipality in the district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 13 km north of Munich . As of 2005 it had a population of 11,467....
near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
where he resides, working with young professional players like Ernests Gulbis
Ernests Gulbis
Ernests Gulbis is a Latvian professional tennis player. In 2008, Gulbis won his first ATP Tour doubles title at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, teaming with Rainer Schüttler, and in 2010 won his first ATP Tour singles title in the Delray Beach, defeating Ivo Karlović in the final...
. In the past players such as Michael Stich
Michael Stich
Michael Detlef Stich is a former professional tennis player from Germany. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1991...
and Novak Đoković came through the Pilic academy.
In 1970, Pilić married Serbian actress Mija Adamović. The couple have children together.
Singles Runner-up (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1973 | French Open |  Ilie NăstaseIlie Nastase Ilie Nastase is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 and 1974 . He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles . He was inducted into the... |
6–3, 6–3, 6–0 |
Doubles Titles (1)
| Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1970 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
 Pierre BarthèsPierre Barthes Pierre Barthès is a French retired professional tour tennis player.-Career:Born in Béziers, Barthès was one of the Handsome Eight and reached a career high singles ATP ranking in 1974 of World No. 54. Before the creation of the ATP ranking, he was one of the best twenty players in 1971. He was... |
 Roy EmersonRoy Emerson Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male... & Rod LaverRod Laver Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970... |
6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 |
External links
- Tennis Academy Niki Pilic - Official site
- An interview in Jet Set magazine