Notes to Nick Bollettieri from tennis stars and friends

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    Nick Bollettieri

    Former students, friends and colleagues offer their congratulations to Nick Bollettieri on his induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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  • Daniela Hantuchova plays in a tournament in England in June. (Associated Press archive / 2014)
    Daniela Hantuchova

    "Nick has been one of the most important people in my tennis career and life, teaching me so many great things. There is no doubt that without him I would not be where I am today. I came to the academy as a shy little girl and he has made me believe to be what I always wanted to be. He has become a part of our family and I will be thankful forever for the opportunity I had to work with him and will never forget all the wonderful things and moments we have shared on the tennis court! With honor and respect, Dani."
    — Daniela Hantuchova, who attended the academy as a teenager 

  • Mary Pierce training with Nick Bollettierim early 1990s. Photo provided by James Bollettieri.
    Mary Pierce

    "Nick was like a second father at a time in my life when I needed that. I knew he really loved me and cared about me and could tell he was concerned about me as a person and not just a tennis player. He was always concerned about me and my well-being. He wanted me to be a great tennis player but also a happy person and a good person.
    He has so many qualities as a person and a coach and that's what comes out - his passion for life, passion for tennis.
    His ability to motivate and bring out the best in you is second to none. He would work you hard then after say I love you, give you a kiss on the cheek, and say I will see you tomorrow.
    I just love Nick. He means a lot to me and he has helped me so much in my career. I have a lot of respect for him and am so happy he is going into the hall of fame. It means a lot to him and he deserves it."  -- Mary Pierce, who reached a career-high No. 3 in the world, won her first Grand Slam singles title while training at IMG Academy. Pierce won the Australian Open in 1995 and the French Open in 2000 and reached the U.S. Open final in 2005

  • Lisa Pamintuan is president of the New York College of Health Professions. (Associated Press archive"
    Lisa Pamintuan

    "I was one of Nick’s students and I lived at his home before there was the academy in Bradenton. While Nick was my tennis coach and prepared me as a junior to win the Irish Open, and play at Wimbledon and the US Open, he coached me in going for the brass ring. I realized Nick’s real greatness, ironically, when I was no longer in the game - the experiences of his coaching led me to paths that I would never have traveled without his inspirational teaching/coaching that went well beyond the world of tennis. Perhaps why the Tennis Hall of Fame  ... (until this year)   has overlooked one of the most important forces in the sport is because he doesn't fit into their lifetime achievement category in tennis — because he has always been well beyond that, a lifetime of greatness, a life well lived."
    — Lisa Pamintuan, President, New York College of Health Professions

  • Dick Vitale and Nick Bollettieri (Herald-Tribune archive / 2002)
    Dick Vitale

    "Nick should have been in the Hall of Fame 20 years ago. It is about time and I am happy it happened while he is still here to enjoy it. He has had an incredible impact on this whole area. To me, one of the keys in a lifetime is the impact you make on others and Nick certainly has done that." -- Dick Vitale, ESPN sports announcer, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and Lakewood Ranch resident.

  • Nick Bollettieri coach Tommy Haas at the academy. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2002)
    Tommy Haas

    "What I really remember is my first meeting with him on the court. I had heard a lot of stories about him having the academy where he drills kids basically into exhaustion to become professional tennis players and, obviously, I was in awe of the whole academy and just so pleased to be there. The first time I met him on the court, you can sort of feel the extreme energy. Just the way he would walk around the court … it was almost like he was looking at his prey. I always referred to it as him being like a shark on the court, going from the left to the right and up and back from the net.
    He would see the tennis ball and just narrow down your game. He did that with so much passion and knowledge and had such a good way of explaining to you as well with a motivational and positive type of way.
    That first time he basically analyzed my game, he gives you maybe five or 10 minutes but it seems much longer than that. He knows what he wants to change quickly and that memory has stuck with me.
    You could feel his passion. You knew that was his life. He just loves it, no matter what level of tennis player you are."
    -- Tommy Haas, who came to  Bollettieri's at the age of 11 and attended the academy full-time at the age of 13. Now 36 and still competing, Haas reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in 2002 and is one of the few players to get to at least the quarterfinals in singles of all four grand slam events.

  • Bunner and Amy Smith. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2007)
    Bunner Smith

    "I met Nick through Mike DePalmer. I followed him back here to the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort after I spent a season at Dorado Beach. In 1980 he made a deal to start an Academy and summer camp in Baltimore with the name The Nick Bollettieri Mid-Atlantic Tennis Academy. We had two great years and then he turned it over to me and I stayed till 1988. Nick was the best I ever saw on the court with any level of player. His motivational skills are second to none. He founded the style of on court drilling that could effectively train 4-6 players on each court. Best years of my life."
    —Bunner Smith, former teaching pro, including the Sarasota City Courts, which were located near the Bayfront in Sarasota

     

  • Monica Seles and Nick Bollettieri celebrate the 30th anniversary of his tennis academy in Sarasota. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2008)
    Monica Seles

    "I love Nick and it’s amazing how much he has done for me and the sport. He loves the game with all his heart and has given his life to it. When he gave me the scholarship to his academy it changed my life. I learned so much at the academy and it helped to make the jump from a junior to a professional player very smooth.
    Nick has changed so many kids lives for sure in terms of professional tennis but also on so many other levels. Taught them discipline, time management, hard work, which are so important in life. His contribution as a coach - pioneer in the tennis industry speak for themselves and there is no one like him. He fully deserves to be part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and I will be there cheering him on." -- Monica Seles, former No. 1-ranked woman’s tennis player in the world.

  • Jimmy Arias plays in an exhibition at Plantation Country Club in Venice in March. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2014)
    Jimmy Arias

    "Nick probably had a bigger impact on me than most because I went (to the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort on Longboat Key) as a 13-year old and lived in his house. One of the biggest things Nick did for me was convince me to turn pro instead of going to college. Back then (early l980s) nobody turned pro without going to college. I had my best years at age 17, 18 and 19. He also let me be me on the court. I heard all the experts say I couldn’t hit the forehand the way I was doing it. Nick was the first guy who said, "Yeah. I like that. He actually began teaching others that stroke and it became the Bollettieri forehand." -- Jimmy Arias, one of the original students after Bollettieri arrived at The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. Arias, who still lives in Sarasota, reached No. 5 in the world.

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    Julio Moros

    "Nick and I have been together since 1972. I know Nick better than all his eight wives put together. What Nick taught me for life was: 1. Work long hours. 2. You will have a great time. 3. You will make some money along the way. 4. You will find out who you really are for life." -- Julio Moros, who arrived with Bollettieri in Sarasota in 1976.