By Chris Oddo | Monday, March 3, 2014
After being rejected by the International Tennis Hall of Fame on two occasions, 82-year-old Nick Bollettieri will enter with the class of 2014 in Newport.
Photo Source: Getty
It was a long time coming, but Nick Bollettieri has finally gained admittance into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Bollettieri, a former coach to ten World No. 1's and the founder of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, will join Lindsay Davenport, five-time Paralympic medalist Chantal Vandierendonck, tennis executive Jane Brown Grimes and BBC Broadcaster and author John Barrett as members of the Hall of Fame's class of 2014.
>>> Video: Dimitrov Plays a Freakishly Superb Point against Murray in Acapulco
It was news of Bollettieri's admittance that sparked the loudest cheers, as the 82-year-old had failed to gain admittance in 2010 and 2012 after being nominated for a spot.
While many hooted and hollered about the injustice of it all, Bollettieri took the high road, going about his business and continuing with his life's passion—making young tennis players into champions.
The legendary coach will finally get the recognition he deserves from an institution that many felt was wrong to overlook Bollettieri—and coaches in general—for too long.
Bollettieri, an obsessive who is known for being up in the morning long before the sun rises, has been hopelessly devoted to his academy ever since he borrowed a million dollars from a friend to build it in 1980. Even those who've had their difference with Bollettieri's hardcore promotional leanings and his cutthroat business decisions, have trouble denying the man's importance to tennis and the inspirational quality of his character.
“You look at Carl Icahn or Warren Buffett, who live for their work, and it gets them up in the morning and keeps them young,” Jim Courier said, in a recent New York Times feature written by Christopher Clarey.
“And that is why Nick is one of the youngest, most passionate guys on the planet. No baloney. He’s not doing it for money. He loves making a difference and getting meaning from it. As corny as that sounds, it’s true. He has family and more wives than anyone should ever have, but Nick is someone who wakes up in the morning and craves going to the office. It’s what keeps him going.”
Bollettieri's co-inductees have also paid their dues to the game they love. Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam champion, held the WTA's No. 1 ranking for 98 weeks and is one of only four women to have held the WTA's year-end ranking for at least four times.
Chantal Vandierendonck, 49, of the Netherlands, won five Paralympic medals and paved the way for the many Dutch players who have followed, while overcoming a significant disability to rise to the top of the sport.
A selfless patron of the art of tennis, Jane Brown Grimes has played a major roles in the growth of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the WTA and the USTA.
John Barrett, of London, is a former member of the British Davis Cup team. The 82-year-old is more prominently known for his contributions as a writer and a broadcaster. He was the unmistakeable voice of Wimbledon from 1971 to 2006.
The class of 2014 will be enshrined on Saturday, July 12th in Newport, Rhode Island.