Novak Djokovic Pays Tribute to Late Coach Jovan Lilic

Former world number one Novak Djokovic expressed his sadness after the passing of Serbian coach Jovan Lilic, who died following a long illness. Lilic significantly impacted Djokovic’s early career, including his success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. The Serbian star shared his grief and respect for Lilic with a heartfelt message in Serbian on Instagram: “Spec Naz Moj,” which translates to “My Special Naz.”

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Lilic Made History with Young Djokovic

Jovan Lilic (1965-2024) breathed his last in Belgrade, Serbia, as announced by the Serbian Tennis Federation:

“It is with great pain and sadness that we inform the sports and tennis public that Jovan Lilic, a prominent tennis worker, coach and man who brought smiles to our faces with his cheerful spirit, left us too soon. After a long and serious illness, he died in Belgrade.”

Lilic contributed to Serbian tennis, winning multiple accolades at the European Championships for junior categories and coaching the Davis Cup and Beijing Olympics contingents. He played a crucial role in Serbia’s triumph at the Davis Cup 2010, during which Novak Djokovic was also a key team member.

Memorable Novak Djokovic Run at the Beijing Olympics

Another of Lilic’s crucial roles was in the Beijing Olympics 2008. Novak Djokovic had only been a professional player for five years when he clinched the bronze medal in Beijing. Seeded third, Djokovic stunned Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals. He started his run with a win against American Robert Ginepri and later downed German Rainer Schuttlet and Mikhail Youzny, the seed No. 13 from Russia.

He then lost in an intense fight against Rafael Nadal, the eventual Olympic gold medalist. In the bronze-medal match, Djokovic overcame American James Blake to earn his first glory at the Olympics, being under the aegis of Lilic all the while. He has just fulfilled his long-awaited dream of chasing the Olympic Games gold medal with a triumph against young star Carlos Alcaraz in Paris this year.

Djokovic is Now in a Chase for Triumph in the Shanghai Masters

Despite his loss, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is on his campaign at the Shanghai Masters. He is making his first appearance on tour after his third-round exit at the US Open last August. Novak Djokovic will compete for the first time in the Shanghai event since 2019.

He will begin his campaign against Alex Michelsen in the second round. Novak Djokovic, who has endured a title-less season, will look to win his Shanghai Masters this year. Djokovic has expressed his excitement, saying, “I’ve had so much success in Beijing and Shanghai.” The Serbian tennis legend continues to reflect on his career while honoring the legacy of his late coach, who played a pivotal role in shaping his early achievements.

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This article was written by Tania Rompas