Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who helped develop superstars comparable to Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova, has died aged 91, the IMG Academy introduced in an announcement on Monday.
“Nick Bollettieri, the legendary tennis coach and founding father of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which served as the muse for at the moment’s IMG Academy, has handed away,” learn the assertion.
The AP studies Bollettieri died at house in Florida after a sequence of well being points, in accordance his supervisor, Steve Shulla.
It comes after Shulla was final month compelled to problem an announcement denying untimely studies of Bollettieri’s dying.
Whereas his strategies had been typically controversial, his academy in Florida churned out high gamers and he was to educate 10 gamers who would go on to develop into primary on the planet.
Monica Seles, Jim Courier, Anna Kournikova and Mary Pierce had been different stars who handed by way of his Bradenton advanced.
Bollettieri additionally suggested Venus and Serena Williams and Boris Becker. “Tennis wouldn’t be the place it’s at the moment with out Nick’s affect,” mentioned Jimmy Arias, IMG Academy director of tennis and certainly one of Bollettieri’s authentic college students.
“His tennis academy, which I had the privilege of rising up inside, not solely served as a launching pad for a lot of tennis greats however advanced into an establishment that has had a profound affect on the event of athletes throughout many sports activities in any respect ranges.” Bollettieri based the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — now IMG Academy — in 1978 with a concentrate on intense bodily coaching, complete immersion, and ongoing competitors among the many most gifted gamers on the planet.
His enthusiasm for teaching continued nearly proper as much as the tip. “Even in his final days, you would usually discover him on campus, teaching and mentoring younger student-athletes and workers with the identical ardour and enthusiasm as he did in his 20s,” mentioned Tim Pernetti, President of IMG Academy Bradenton, a division of IMG Academy.
“Our coronary heart goes out to his spouse, Cindi, and his kids. He has made a everlasting and lasting affect on all of us.”
Tommy Haas — a four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist and world quantity two — posted a shifting tribute to the Korean Conflict veteran.
“So many recollections, I’m not positive the place to start,” posted the 44-year-old on Instagram.
“Nickiiii, that’s how i’ve referred to as you for the longest time.
“Thanks to your time, information, dedication, experience, the willingness to share your talent, your private curiosity in mentoring me, and giving me the perfect alternative to comply with my desires.
“You had been a dreamer and a doer, and a pioneer in our sport, actually certainly one of a form.”
American tennis nice Brad Gilbert additionally wrote on Twitter: “RIP Nick. You had been an absolute big who helped generations of gamers”.
Initially revealed as Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri useless
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