Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m super excited to share some awesome news with you all about an incredible tribute to a legendary figure in tennis, Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Jovan Lilic.
Recently, I stumbled upon an article that caught my eye. It was about Jovan Lilic passing away at the age of 59 after battling a serious illness for quite some time. This news hit hard in the Serbian tennis community, and I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss for the sport we all love.
Jovan Lilic was a very prominent coaching figure within the Serbian tennis circles. He worked with the national Davis Cup team and also mentored younger generations, enjoying big success along the way. 16 years ago, Lilic was part of the Serbian team that traveled to the Beijing Olympics, where Djokovic made his Olympic debut and won the bronze medal after beating James Blake.
The Serbian Tennis Federation confirmed the news through a statement and also paid tribute to the late coach, acknowledging his significant contributions. “Jovan is survived by generations of tennis players whom he led as a personal and club coach. He was the national team coach in the U18 category, as well as the coach of the Davis Cup team of Serbia. His contribution to the development of tennis in Serbia cannot be overestimated. Our sympathies are with the Lilic family. The details regarding the funeral will be announced later,” the TSS said in a statement.
After learning about the news, the record 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic also paid tribute to his former coach. “My spec (special) Naz (heartbroken and crying emojis),” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
16 years after becoming an Olympic bronze medalist, Djokovic accomplished one of his biggest goals this past summer and landed a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, he landed in Shanghai this week, where he is set to play for the first time since 2019. In the past, the Serb won four Shanghai titles between 2012 and 2018.
This year, Djokovic is the No. 4 seed in Shanghai and has a first-round bye before facing either Alex Michelsen or Bu Yunchaokete.
Initiatives like this tribute highlight the growing trend of women taking center stage in various sports, including tennis. The search for “women in tennis” has been on the rise, with many fans and players alike celebrating the achievements of female athletes. Initiatives like the Pacific Women and Girls in Tennis – Emerging Leaders workshop are crucial for fostering a more inclusive and supportive community within the sport.
For those interested in high school tennis, there’s some exciting news from Ohio. The Ohio Tennis Zone has been tracking top players and their performances throughout the state. Check out the latest rankings and news from Ohio high school tennis – it’s like a mini-tennis tournament right here in America!
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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