Bollettieri still going strong at the age of 87

The game Nick Bollettieri helped shape for the last 60 years may look very different to his eyes now, but he still has a pretty clear idea of what the next tennis generation needs to succeed. And he’s not shy about sharing it. Then again, when has Bollettieri ever been shy about anything?

The tennis legend was in New Haven during this week's Connecticut Open Tournament, giving out playfully menacing pointers to a group of children and sharing his US Open predictions as well as plenty of playing tips.

Bollettieri made his name developing world No. 1s like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier, Jennifer Capriati, and Maria Sharapova, to name a few. He’s largely responsible for the sport’s heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s.

He was the subject of a recent documentary called Love Means Zero, which highlighted his sometimes controversial methods for developing players. The tennis academy model he innovated changed player development forever.

Recently, Bollettieri celebrated his 87th birthday, an age when he’d be forgiven for just kicking back and turning up occasionally in the spectators’ box.

But that isn’t enough for him. Instead, he’s still busy developing future stars at IMG Academy, like 2017 French Open Girls Champion Whitney Osuigwe.

Or hanging out at small courts in places like New Haven, giving away his considerable knowledge for free.

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