Sjor Niko. Moj teniski otac. Mentor. Čovek koji je nesebično delio svo znanje i iskustvo o tenisu i životu sa mnom. Preljubazna Nikijeva žena Mija i Niki su me primili oberučke u svoju tenisku akademiju u Nemačkoj i odnosili se prema meni kao prema svom detetu. Moji roditelji i nas tri brata ćemo uvek to pamtiti. Nikijeva strast prema tenisu je izvanredna i inspiriše.
On uskoro puni 80 godina a provodi skoro svaki dan po 4h na terenu. Teren je njegov dom. Imao sma veliku sreću da mi Niki bude mentor. Naučio sam od njega kako jednostavan ali vrlo predan pristup tenisu daje rezultate. Usadjena mi je ogromna disciplina od mojih roditelja, preko Jelena Genčić pa sve do Nikija kao osnova za sve moje poduhvate. Niki je jedini trener u istoriji tenisa koji je osvojio 5 Dejvis Kupova za 3 različite nacije (Nemačka, Hrvatska, Srbija).
Imao je jednu od najboljih teniskih akademija u Evropi u kojoj su stasavali velikani poput Bekera, Štiha, Ivaniševića.. Pa dobro , i ja sam tu bio 😝 Večno sam zahvalan Miji i Nikiju na svemu što su uradili za mene i moju familiju 🙏🙌❤🎾
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Niki Pilic, my tennis father. My mentor. His wife Mija and him accepted Jelena Genčić’s request for me to come to his academy in Germany when I was 12 years old even though he usually did not accept players under 14. He had one of the best European tennis academies at the time. Mija and Niki treated me as their own child and did the same for my 2 younger brothers. My family will always remember that.
Niki is 80 this year and he still plays tennis 4h a day. His mindset is remarkable. He is healthy and super passionate about tennis – court is his home. He was a very successful player and even more successful coach. He is the only tennis coach to win 5 different Davis Cup titles with 3 different nations (Germany, Croatia, Serbia).
Niki is one of the most important tennis and life mentors I’ve ever had. My time spent in his academy has greatly impacted my game and career. I am eternally grateful Mija and Niki for everything you have done for me and my family 🙏🙌❤
