Nick Bollettieri is one of the most well-known and respected figures in tennis. Born on July 31,1931 in Pelham, New York, the 91-year-old is about to pass away, according to his daughter Angelique. As per Angelique’s message, it seems that all is quite peaceful around Nick.
“Dad is close to transitioning to the next place. Please keep him in your thoughts for a peaceful departure and wonderful journey. We love you.”
Who is Nick Bollettieri famous?
Nick started the concept of a tennis boarding school and aided in the development of many top tennis players over the years, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Mary Pierce. He has also worked with the likes of Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova, Jelena Jankovic, Nicole Vaidiová, Sabine Lisicki, Tommy Haas, Max Mirnyi, Xavier Malisse, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova, Marcelo Ros, and Kei Nishikori. Bollettieri has also worked as a tour traveling coach, most recently with Boris Becker for two years.
Despite having played only a little tennis in high school, Bollettieri was the tennis director at the Rockefeller-owned Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico in the late 1960s. Julio Moros was his main assistant coach there, and he had followed Bollettieri when he established his academy in Florida.
Bollettieri established the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) near Bradenton, Florida in 1978 on 40 acres (162,000 m2) in unincorporated Manatee County on Florida’s west coast, about fifty miles south of Tampa. The NBTA was the first major tennis boarding school, and it revolutionized tennis instruction at the elite junior level.