The legacy of former team captain Niki Pilic will be celebrated at a ceremony during the Davis Cup Finals.
The German Davis Cup heroes led by Boris Becker joined Serbian Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic in Bologna to honor their former team captain Niki Pilic at a memorial service. Pilic passed away in September at the age of 86.
Pilic’s wife Mija and his daughter Danijela were also present at the ceremony during the Davis Cup Finals.
“There is no better place than the Davis Cup to celebrate his legacy,” said Djokovic, paying tribute to Pilic as a person and tennis coach: “We will never forget you, Niki. We love you.”
Pilic won the Davis Cup three times with Germany
Pilic won the Davis Cup three times as team captain with Germany. Becker was the team captain during the “Miracle of Gothenburg” in 1988 and in Stuttgart in 1989, both against Sweden, while Michael Stich led the team in Düsseldorf in 1993 against Australia.
Pilic also triumphed as team captain with Croatia in 2005 and was an advisor in the box during Serbia’s Davis Cup victory in 2010.
In addition to Becker, DTB President Dietloff von Arnim, Patrik Kühnen, Carl-Uwe Steeb, and Marc-Kevin Göllner were also present at the ceremony.
