Niki Pilic, Davis Cup captain who led three nations, dies

Nikola "Niki" Pilic, the Croatian-born former Grand Slam finalist and celebrated coach who led three nations to Davis Cup triumphs and helped shape modern professional tennis, has died, the Croatian Tennis Association said on Tuesday. Pilic, who built a reputation as a player, coach and mentor over decades, was reported to have died on Monday in Croatia; his age and the exact place of death varied across reports, with most outlets saying he was 86 and some naming Rijeka or Opatija as the location.

Pilic was best known for his unprecedented success as a Davis Cup captain. He led West Germany to its first Davis Cup title in 1988 and guided the team to further victories in 1989 and 1993. He later captained Croatia to victory in 2005 and Serbia in 2010, becoming the first captain to win the trophy with three different nations. He served as Germany's team captain from 1987 to 1996 and worked as an advisor to the German Tennis Federation between 2015 and 2017.

As a player, Pilic reached the final of the 1973 French Open, losing to Ilie Nastase, and won the 1970 US Open doubles title. Born in Split on August 27, 1939, he turned professional at the start of the Open Era and compiled a...