Croatian tennis great Nikola Pilic, who trained Novak Djokovic in his academy and led the Serbian star to Davis Cup glory, has died.

He was 86.

The Croatian Tennis Association said Pilic died on Monday.

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

Yugoslavia tennis officials accused Pilic 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 Pilic was supported by the new Association of Tennis Professionals, 12 of the 16 top seeds and a total of 81 players boycotted Wimbledon.

Pilic was already a star when tennis turned

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