Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Q&A Forum With Nick Bollettieri

November 20, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Each issue, Long Island Tennis Magazine has the unique opportunity to pose questions from our readers to tennis coaching legend Nick Bollettieri. Nick has coached 10 world number ones, including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic, Marcelo Rios, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, and Venus and Serena Williams, as well as a host of other world-class players, including Tommy Haas, Anna Kournikova, Jimmy Arias and Nicole Vaidisova, to name a few.

This month, we posed the same questions to Nick that we asked Long Island’s top coaches during our Coaches Roundtable Discussion Panel.

If you want to ask Nick questions in a future issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine, e-mail info@usptennis.com with the Subject Line “Ask Nick.”

Is it easier to teach a highly ranked player or a beginner/lower end player? Why?
Nick Bollettieri: I have been teaching tennis for nearly 60 years, and throughout that time, I have taught all levels of play. To be honest, I cannot say that one level is easier or more difficult than another. The true teacher of the game must know how to reach tennis players and make a difference not only in their game, but also teaching them to compete.



 

What parts of the game have evolved and what parts have grown worse or have disappeared over the past decade?
Nick Bollettieri: Yes, the game of tennis has experienced changes the same way that automobiles have. Keep in mind that most people would be able to outrun the first cars. There are a few parts of the game that are far less common in today’s game:

►The serve and volley, like Stefan Edberg, Patrick Rafter, Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova used to use.
►Seldom do we see long rallies from the baseline, including players driving the ball, top spin balls, change of pace, etc.
►Players seldom practice together, especially in the women’s game. Players now have hitting partners, physical trainers and coaches.

The parts of the game that have evolved include:

►A majority of players will try to hit their forehands from any and all positions on the court.
►Two of the biggest weapons today are the swinging volley and the drop shot.
►Players stand much closer to the baseline to return serve.



 

Who are the greatest players of all-time on each surface?
Nick Bollettieri: It is unfair to put down the greatest players of all-time because of different equipment, training schedules and tournament prize money, and numerous other factors. I will go out on a limb and say that Rafael Nadal is the best clay court player and Serena Williams is the best all-court player. I plead the fifth on naming anyone else. No matter who I name, some will agree and others will disagree.



 

What does American tennis need to do to develop top professional players?
Nick Bollettieri: The first factor that I will start out with is this … back in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the majority of players came from six to eight countries. Today, the entire world is playing. The USA is very deep in the women’s game, but we are a bit behind with the men. I am sure that Pat McEnroe will find a way to get our men on top.



 

What role should a parent have in their child's tennis development?
Nick Bollettieri: If I were able to come up with one answer about the role a parent should have in their children’s development, I would be able to pay off the national debt!



 

What traits must a top player possess, mentally and physically, to set them apart?
Nick Bollettieri: Today’s game is divided into three main factors: Technique, mental and physical. It would be difficult to say how much time you should spend on either one, and that will vary by player. I will tell you that 99.9 percent of all players spend hours upon hours in the gym. Keep in mind that you can have techniques and also be physically fit, but if you lack the right mindset on how to react, you will not win very often. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Pointset
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