According to Serbian "Blic", Nikola Pilic, advisor to the Serbia Davis Cup tennis team, has stepped down as one of the directors of the Serbia Open 2009 ATP event.

Nikola who is the owner of the Munich-based tennis academy where a 12-year old Novak Djokovic trained, refuses to take any further part in the organization of the $450,000 event in Serbia due to conflicts with Srdjan Djokovic, Novak's father.

“A couple of weeks ago he held a press conference in Belgrade without previously consulting with me and spoke of things he has no place or capacity to talk about. After that I got into touch with the ATP and asked them to relieve me of my duty as tournament director,” Nikola Pilic said for Vecernji List.

Nikola said that this conflict between him and Srdjan Djokovic should not affect the former’s role in the Serbia Davis Cup team.

“Of course, this will not influence my cooperation with Novak Djokovic, with whom I still have a great relationship. He actually called me afterward and apologized to me, saying he hadn’t known anything about it,” said Pilic.


(via blic.rs)

Nikola Pilic resigns as Tourney Director for Serbia Open 2009