Renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri has died on the age of 91.
The charismatic American pioneered the idea of a live-in academy and labored with among the largest names within the sport, together with Andre Agassi, Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Boris Becker.
Born in New York to Italian immigrant mother and father, Bollettieri switched to tennis teaching after dropping out of regulation faculty and opened his tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida in 1978.
Sports administration large IMG purchased the academy 9 years later however Bollettieri continued to supervise its tennis programme.
Former world No.2 Tommy Haas, one other Bollettieri success story and present event director of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, wrote on Instagram: “So many memories, I am not sure where to begin.
“Nickiiiii, that is how I’ve referred to as you for the longest time. Thank you in your time, data, dedication, experience, the willingness to share your ability, your private curiosity in mentoring me, and giving me the most effective alternative to observe my goals.
“You were a dreamer and a doer, and a pioneer in our sport, truly one of a kind.”
An ebullient, effervescent character Bollettieri was nonetheless travelling to Wimbledon and dealing in media deep into this 80s, in between enjoying golf and body-surfing in Florida.
Married seven instances he had 5 youngsters and, along with his final spouse Cindi, who survives him, adopted two extra.
