Court’s name honours late tennis star
Bruno Agostinelli Jr. honoured in courtside ceremony held at Riverview Park
The newly refurbished tennis court at Chippawa’s Riverview Park will from now on be tied to local tennis star Bruno Agostinelli Jr., who is remembered for both his skill on the court and his leadership of rising talent in the game.
On Saturday, the city held a courtside dedication ceremony with Agostinelli Jr.’s family, including parents Bruno Sr. and Cindy, brother Gianluco, wife Andrea and son Alessio, who was born just two weeks before the tragic motorcycle accident on March 9, 2016, which claimed his life.
Several representatives of Canada’s tennis community joined them for the occasion, including Tennis Canada senior vice-president of tennis development Hatem McDadi, who said it was an ideal way to remember Agostinelli Jr.
“It’s so nice to come together and share in this fitting tribute,” he said.
Agostinelli Jr. began his successful career in Niagara Falls, where he played while studying at St. Paul High School.
In 2009, Agostinelli Jr. won the deciding match for Canada against Peru in the Davis Cup. After reaching his dream of competing in the 2009 Rogers Cup Masters in Montreal, he retired from professional tennis and joined Tennis Canada as the
national junior tennis coach. In January 2016, he was inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame.
McDadi said he was humble about his accomplishments and as a coach was generous and down to earth. He said Canada’s tennis community is a family, and the Agostinelli family will always be cherished members.
“You’re part of our tennis family,” he said. “You always will be.
“Remembering his spirit and his life is something we continue to do, and this is part of it.”
Gianluco Agostinelli, who teaches at Brock and Niagara College, said the family is very close and that when Bruno died he lost more than a brother, he lost a friend.
He said the family appreciates all that has been done to remember Bruno, including at Queenston Heights, where a tree as planted, and at Niagara’s Catholic schools, where posters of his brother grace the walls.
Holding back tears, Gianluco Agostinelli said the family will always feel a connection with the tennis community, especially as the next generation of players take to the court.
“As I look around I see the Agostinelli family continues to grow,” he said.
That next generation may include young Alessio, who, joining Davis Cup team captain Frank Dancevic and Daniel Nestor, Canada’s foremost player, helped break in the court, taking a few swings at a ball while holding a racquet nearly as big as him.
Andrea Agostinelli said that as her son takes up the sport, his father will be by his side.
“He’s there every time we visit a tennis court,” she said.