In observance of the passing of Nick Bollatteiri last week, I have a family story to share.
In 1987, my brother, Steve, drew David Wheaton in the first round of the National Boys 18’s Championships in Kalamazoo. It was a tough draw. Wheaton was one of the “Young Bucks” that appeared alongside Martin Blackman, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier, in this iconic photo of Bollatteiri. Wheaton was seeded #3 in the tournament that year.
My brother battled hard to reach a respectable 6-4 6-4 score in defeat. Steve will be the first to tell you that he never felt in danger of winning the match even though the score was ostensibly close. Wheaton was on a completely different performance level than my brother.
Later that afternoon, Bollattieri stepped onto an elevator at the tournament headquarters hotel with my brother and our Dad. He told Steve that he had watched the match with Wheaton and thought that he had a nice game. He went on to tell my brother that he had played really well.
Nick Bollettieri didn’t have to recognize my brother or say a word to him at all. He could just have easily offered a curt “nice match today” rather than complimenting the performance. Closing out his last year in 18s and heading off to collegiate tennis later that month, my brother wasn’t a candidate for Bollettieri’s academy. Yet, the venerable tennis coach found something positive and encouraging to say.
That is the Nick Bollettieri that I choose to remember.
After they exited the elevator, my Dad turned to my brother and said “You know, that guy looked a lot like Nick Bollettieri.” Steve replied, “Yeah…. maybe just a little bit.”
Nick Bollettieri, Tennis Academy Pioneer, Dies at 91
Nick Bollettieri died last Sunday at his home. Bollettieri co-founded the Port Washington Tennis Academy on Long Island that produced John McEnroe and Vitas Gerulaitis. In the early 1980s, he opened the Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Florida which pioneered the concept of live-in facilities for promising junior tennis players. He was 91. Full Story: The New York Times
Hopman Cup tennis event to return in 2023 in Nice, France
The Hopman Cup tennis competition that pairs one woman and one man from each participating country will return next year and be played in Nice, France. The International Tennis Federation announced Tuesday that the matches will be held on July 19-23. Full Story: AP
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Strings
“We estimate 50% of the performance comes from your frame and 50% from your string,” says Olivier Carlier, Babolat expert tennis products department manager. Full Story: Forbes
The Split Step in Three Steps
The split step is an essential tennis movement that is often misunderstood, poorly-performed, and misapplied. With a little knowledge of WHY, WHEN, and HOW to perform the split step, you will move quicker and faster, and have better balance on the tennis court. Full Story: Long Island Tennis Magazine
2 French tennis players get life bans for fixing
Two low-ranked French tennis players have received lifetime bans from tennis after being found guilty of match-fixing. Jules Okala, a 25-year-old with a career-best ATP ranking of No. 338, and Mick Lescure, a 29-year-old with a top ranking of No. 487, “admitted multiple charges,” brought by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Full Story: The Washington Post
Top 100 tennis player Majchrzak gets provisional doping ban
Top 100 tennis player Kamil Majchrzak was provisionally suspended for doping after testing positive for banned substances at three tournaments in September and October. Full Story: USA Today
Roger Federer denied entry to Wimbledon Grounds
Roger Federer – a 20-time grand slam champion and arguably one of the most recognizable names and faces in tennis – was denied entry into the All England Club by an overeager security guard. Federer relayed the details to Trevor Noah on The Daily Show this week. Full Story: CNN
British Tennis Chiefs Slam ATP Over Fine For Russia Player Ban
British tennis chiefs said Wednesday they were “disappointed” at being fined $1 million by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for banning Russian and Belarusian players from its events. Full Story: Barrons
US Davis Cup to Get New Captain?
The word on the street is that Mardy Fish is out as Davis Cup captain. If you don’t follow, Job Wertheim already on Twitter, you should for the latest in speculation on who his successor will be.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 12/11-17 | Open BLS de Limoges | WTA 125 | Limoges, France |
Your story about your brother having an accidental crossing of paths with Nick Bollettieri reminds me of the time I was a USTA official at IMG in Bradenton. It was raining and some matches had moved indoors where Nick was giving one of his famously expensive individual coaching lessons. Nick was already in his 80’s but energetically calling out, ‘hit the ball harder’ to his pupil who was being fed from the other end of the court. After his lesson, Nick came over to thank me and other officials for doing our job. Totally unexpected and made us feel appreciated – which is not always so.
At the annual Eddies Herr tournament at IMG, Nick was always available to give a welcome speech at the pizza party which was held for players. There would be an exhibition match between two pros and Nick would give an opening speech. When I first started going to the tournament, Nick would espouse his belief the only way to succeed was to devote every energy and commitment to playing and improving. Over the years, this changed to ‘get an education – a tennis career doesn’t last forever’.
A more realistic approach to tennis life – although he was trying to attract College teams to use the facility…
Nick was an icon and a ‘life coach’ without any personal tennis ability. Tennis is not just about hitting balls, and he realised this. Ironically his nine marriages showed he wasn’t a good life coach to himself.
In the first sentence of the “new Davis Cup coach” section, I think spell check got you. “Mary Fish” should of course be “Mardy Fish”.