Andre Agassi gives former coach Nick Bollettieri a call, moves him to tears

Nick Bollottieri coached Andre Agassi during the former
Nick Bollettieri coached Andre Agassi during the latter's early years

Former World No. 1 Andre Agassi ran down memory lane as he dialed the number of his former coach Nick Bollettieri, who is currently fighting for his life.

Bollettieri, 91, has coached Grand Slam winners Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi, and Serena Williams, among others. He is credited with revolutionizing tennis coaching by coming up with the idea of a tennis boarding school, which fosters the growth of a young player's multiple skills.

Many aspiring tennis stars from around the world attend Bollettieri's IMG Tennis Academy, which offers a comprehensive education and training program. Even seasoned Grand Slam champions frequently use the academy's resources when getting ready for big matches or in the off-season.

Sports commentator Dick Vitale recently took to Twitter to talk about Agassi calling his former coach and asking for his well-being, which reportedly moved the 91-year-old to tears.

"My Thanksgiving was made as I learned that my buddy @NickBollettieri, tennis guru who needs all our (prayers) was moved to tears as he had a warm caring phone call from one of his all time fav talents Andre Agassi today," Dick Vitale wrote on Twitter.

Looking back at Nick Bollettieri's comments on former student Andre Agassi's Wimbledon win

Andre Agassi at The 2019 Australian Open
Andre Agassi at The 2019 Australian Open

Agassi's longstanding coach, Bollettieri, helped him win his first Grand Slam singles title. In the final of the 1992 Wimbledon Championship, Agassi defeated Goran Ivanisevic 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to lift his maiden Major trophy.

In a 2016 interview with Tennis365, Bollettieri was asked if there was one particular coaching triumph that stood out for him. He replied that while he did not give much thought to the accomplishments of his players, Agassi winning Wimbledon in '92 was "special."

"I don’t know if I ever stood still for long enough in my life to look back and think about what I achieved with my players. It was always a case of win one tournament, go to the next. There was no time to reflect. That is not how I work, but Andre Agassi winning Wimbledon was pretty special. I will always remember that last volley from Goran Ivanisevic into the net. What a moment," Bollettieri said.

The coach went on to shed some light on Agassi's unpredictable way of playing tennis. He also credited the American's dad and his team for his success on the court.

"With Andre, you never knew what was going to happen next and that’s what made him so exciting to be with," he continued. "His Dad did a hell of a job, even though he was tough on him. He also had a great team working with him in his career."

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