It’s not every day you see Novak Djokovic, the man who has practically turned winning Grand Slams into a casual weekend hobby, break down in tears on a tennis court. But after his second-round victory at the Hellenic Championships 2025 in Athens, that’s exactly what happened. And no, it wasn’t because he chipped a nail or got a bad line call. This was real, raw emotion.
Following his solid 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Alejandro Tabilo, the lights in the Telekom Center dimmed. Instead of the usual post-match replays of epic backhands, a heartfelt video tribute to the late Nikola Pilic filled the screens. For those who don’t know, Pilic wasn’t just some random coach in Djokovic’s long career; he was, in many ways, the architect of the legend. Pilic passed away in September at the age of 86, and the

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