BOLLETTIERI, COACH OF MANY NO. 1S, DIES AT 91
Nick Bollettieri, the Hall of Fame tennis coach who worked with some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, and founded an academy that revolutionized the development of young athletes, has died. He was 91.
Bollettieri died Sunday night at home in Florida after a series of health issues, his manager, Steve Shulla, told The Associated Press on Monday.
Known for his gravelly voice, leathery skin and wraparound sunglasses, Bollettieri helped no fewer than 10 players who went on to be No. 1 in the world rankings. That group includes sisters Serena and Venus Williams, Jim Courier, Maria Sharapova, Agassi and Seles.
“Our dear friend, Nick Bollettieri, graduated from us last night. He gave so many a chance to live their dream,” Agassi wrote on Twitter. “He showed us all how life can be lived to the fullest. Thank you, Nick.”
Bollettieri remained active into his 80s, touring the world to drop in on the top tournaments and, in 2014, became only the fourth coach to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Six of his pupils already are in the Hall of Fame, a number sure to grow once others are eligible.
“I forged my own path, which others found to be unorthodox and downright crazy,” Bollettieri said in his induction speech at the hall in Newport, R.I. “Yes, I am crazy. But it takes crazy people to do things that other people say cannot be done.”
The Bollettieri Tennis Academy opened in 1978 in Bradenton, Fla., and was purchased by IMG in 1987. The IMG Academy now spans more than 600 acres and offers programs in more than a half-dozen sports in addition to tennis.
More tennis
Teenager Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest year-end No. 1 in the history of the ATP computerized rankings and
joins fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal as the first players from the same country to claim the top two spots at the close of a season since Americans Pete Sampras and Michael Chang in 1996.
Iga Swiatek finished the year with a substantial lead in the final WTA rankings, which were released last month.
Alcaraz is the first man in 20 years other than Nadal,
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray — since Andy Roddick in 2003 — to finish at No. 1.
San Diego’s Taylor Fritz is at No. 9 and Brandon Nakashima is 47.
Soccer
Maricarmen Reyes scored a go-ahead goal off a rebound in the 107th minute and top-seeded UCLA rallied past North Carolina 3-2 to win its second women’s soccer championship in program history.
UCLA (22-2-1) trailed 2-0 late in the second half before scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to force overtime. In the second 10-minute overtime, Ally Cook had a close-range shot knocked wide by North Carolina goalkeeper Emmie Allen, but Reyes raced to the ball for a sliding finish.
Arnim Whisler, owner of the Chicago Red Stars, is selling his stake in the team after an investigation that found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Sports and courts
The Mississippi Department of Human Services changed its demands against retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a lawsuit that seeks repayment of misspent welfare money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S.
The DHS dropped its demand of $1.1 million against Favre, acknowledging he already repaid that money for an unfulfilled pledge of public speeches. But it made a new demand of up to $5 million against Favre and a university sports foundation, saying money from an antipoverty program was improperly used for a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Locally
Season tickets for the San Diego Legion are on sale for their games at Snapdragon Stadium. The Legion will open their Major League Rugby schedule againt the Utah Warriors at 5 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2023. More information at sdlegion.com.
Also
World-record setters Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Mondo Duplantis were named Athletes of the Year by World Athletics. McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400meter hurdles twice. Duplantis set both the indoor and outdoor world records in pole vault this year.