ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatian tennis great Nikola Pilić, the first coach to lead three countries to Davis Cup glory and who trained Novak Djokovic in his academy, has died. He was 86.

The Croatian Tennis Association said Pilić died on Monday.

Pilić was a French Open singles runner-up in 1973 and the catalyst for the Wimbledon boycott that year.

Yugoslavia tennis officials accused Pilić of refusing to play a Davis Cup tie against New Zealand. He denied it but was still suspended. The International Lawn Tennis Federation (now the ITF) supported the Yugoslav decision but reduced his suspension to one month — but that included Wimbledon.

Because Pilić was supported by the new Association of Tennis Professionals, 12 of the 16 top seeds and a total of 81 players boycotted Wimbledon.

Pilić was

See Full Page