His everlasting tan, permanent slightly carnivorous smile, and unshakable self-confidence made him almost a caricature of America dominating the world. On its courts at the “Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy” (IMG Academy) and under the Florida sun, the greatest players on the planet have played: Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and many others. He died at the age of 91 Nicholas James Bollettieri, better known as Nick Bollettieri, one of the greatest coaches in the history of tennis.
“Nickiiiiii, that’s what I called you the longest. Thank you for your time, your knowledge, your effort, your experience, your willingness to share your skills, your personal interest in guiding me and giving me the best opportunity to make my dreams come true. You were a dreamer and an actor, and a pioneer in our sport, truly one of a kind ”commented former world number 2, German Tommy Haas, one of his alumni.
Bollettieri’s early life born July 31, 1931 in New York State landed him in the flag and Marine Corps at the end of World War II. Graduated in philosophy at the University of Mobile, Alabama and after starting law studies, which he soon abandoned, he became interested in 1956 in a sport still then reserved for an elite: tennis.
One creed: the fighting spirits
Become a monitor. For 20 years he has been a coach like there are thousands on the planet. He is notably the tennis director of a hotel in Puerto Rico. Nothing particularly distinguishes him from the others except his method. To train future champions, Nick Bollettieri has only one creed: the development of a “fighting spirit”, self-confidence, the will to fight even when all is lost. Anyone who doubts has no place at home. A former soldier, the UV shooting coach imposes infernal cadences on the players who agree to work with him.
In 1978 Bollettieri founded his academy in Bradenton, on the west coast of Florida: “He transformed 40 acres of tomato fields into an epicenter of sport and performance known throughout the world” summarizes ESPN. Here tennis is not just a game: under the smile, the IMG Academy sometimes looks like a military camp. Lights out at 21:00; fixed times for training, meals; limit outings and family gatherings; tobacco, forbidden drinks and in case of violation of the rules the penalties are severe: Mr. Bollettieri does not laugh with discipline. “Young people have to get used to what they see as injustice. A good mind is 80% good physics and vice versa ”he says in his brochures about him.
Some, more and more over time, denounce his methods too harsh for small children. In more than 40 years, hundreds of apprentices go to the Academy and not all of them end up as champions, broken by the infernal rhythms: “I play almost six hours a day and I feel that I’m progressing a lot. Now I put more topspin, so I make fewer mistakes. In the morning, from 5:30 to 7:00, I train with Nick. When we work well, he is happy. But, sometimes, he screams very loud. One day, someone didn’t finish an exercise, threatened to fire him » testified in 2006 on our columns one of his recruits, Pierre Durali (10 years old at the time) who had crossed the Atlantic from Bagnolet to work with the master. It was a great hope. 16 years later, he is no longer ranked in the ATP. “It’ll make your kid a champion, but it won’t be much fun,” headlined Sports Illustrated magazine in 1980.
For others, the Bollettieri method works wonders. Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Monica Seles, Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas went to his house. In 1982, the father of a Las Vegas gambler discovered Nick Bollettieri on a television report. His military methods are not hidden but he catches the attention of his father who sends his offspring to Florida. This 12-year-old boy’s name is Andre Agassi. His father pays $3,000 for the first three months of registration but no longer has the means to continue the adventure. It doesn’t matter: Bollettieri who smells the vein welcomes him for free. Agassi will make his glory and fame of him. In total, 10 world number 1s have been students of the Bollettieri Academy.
