TENNIS: Djokovic in tears after tribute to late coach Pilic in Athens

Novak Djokovic was moved to tears after his second-round win at the Hellenic Championship in Athens on Tuesday, following a tribute video honoring his former coach Nikola Pilic, who passed away in September at the age of 86.

During his playing career, Croatian Pilic was the runner-up at the 1973 French Open. After transitioning to coaching, he captained Germany to three Davis Cup titles between 1988 and 1993.

Djokovic, who joined Pilic's academy in Germany at the age of 12, was visibly emotional as the video played after he defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(3), 6-1. "It was an emotional moment," the 38-year-old told the ATP website. "Considering what he meant to me and my family—both privately and professionally—he was my tennis father, as I like to call him, someone who played a fundamental role in my development as a player and as a human being. It was really sad news when I heard that he passed away."

Having won 100 ATP titles, Djokovic vowed to keep Pilic’s legacy alive. "As long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I'll celebrate his name," he said. "This was one way to pay tribute, and I’m sure in the future people will learn about how Niki impacted the world of tennis and sport. He deserves it. He was a special man." -Shrivathsa Sridhar/Reuters