CanIGetAWhat
Jun 26th, 2006, 08:25 PM
Bollettieri Suggests He May Work With Serena This Summer
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/BollettierishirtA.Seitz.jpg
Photo By Art Seitz By Tennis Week
06/27/2006
Motivational master Nick Bollettieri coaches with such conviction he speaks like a man who believes he could talk a vampire into spending his spare time in a sun tanning salon. The perpetually-tan Pelham, N.Y. native took some time during today's dreary, drizzly opening day of play at Wimbledon to shed some light on his possible working relationship with former Wimbledon champion Serena Williams.
Bollettieri, who has hosted both Williams sisters at his IMG-owned Academy in Bradenton, Florida in the past, told Radio Wimbledon (http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/interactive/radio/index.html) there is "some truth" to published reports he will work with Williams after she makes her scheduled return to tournament tennis at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=15520&bannerregion=)in Cincinnati next month.
Bollettieri, who has called Serena, "the most powerful athlete to ever play the game" in past interviews, suggested the pair could work together later in the summer leading into the U.S. Open.
"Something might happen at the end of the summer," Bollettieri told Radio Wimbledon. "Serena could have been, should have been, the best player in the world by a distance. I would love to sit in the players' box and see her lift this title again."
Today's lengthy rain delay that forced the grounds crew to keep the courts covered for much of the day provided Bollettieri the time to offer his opinions on players and issues in his interview with Radio Wimbledon, including:
Equal pay for women — "God brought the men and ladies on this earth and basically speaking, men are built physically different from the ladies, however just because men play five sets and ladies play three sets doesn't mean they are working any harder. So I really think the ladies should receive equal (prize) money."
Andy Murray — "Andy Murray's is a very complex situation. I believe Andy Murray is going to have to say 'I am the captain of my ship. I will listen, but eventually I will have to do what I want to do.' I believe Andy Murray could get more from Andre Agassi then all of us coaches put together and why? Because Andre Agassi was born and gifted with great hands and eyes and Andre Agassi went through some difficult times and actually played his best tennis when his divorce from Brooke Shields came about and he said 'I'm gonna think about me.' Everyone is talking about him, by gosh let's all back up and let him have some room if he has want it and he will fall and he'll get calllouses on his ass, but the great people in life have the courage to get up one more time when they fall."
Xavier Malisse — "Off court, Xavier Malisse is one of the kindest sweetest people. On court, he's like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Xavier Malisse is a unique young man; he has so much, but somewhere along the way no one has been able to get into his mind. He runs beautifully, has a big forehand, he's good at net ...at times in life we never find answer to what makes a person great. At this time, perhaps the clock is beginning to wind down a bit. Maybe it went by him, but he is an awfully nice young man."
Kim Clijsters — "Lindsay Davenport has been retiring for the last three years; if Kim is going to retire then retire, if she's not going to retire then don't talk about it. Come out with an emphatic statement and say 'This is my last Wimbledon and this is my last U.S. Open and be done with it."
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/BollettierishirtA.Seitz.jpg
Photo By Art Seitz By Tennis Week
06/27/2006
Motivational master Nick Bollettieri coaches with such conviction he speaks like a man who believes he could talk a vampire into spending his spare time in a sun tanning salon. The perpetually-tan Pelham, N.Y. native took some time during today's dreary, drizzly opening day of play at Wimbledon to shed some light on his possible working relationship with former Wimbledon champion Serena Williams.
Bollettieri, who has hosted both Williams sisters at his IMG-owned Academy in Bradenton, Florida in the past, told Radio Wimbledon (http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/interactive/radio/index.html) there is "some truth" to published reports he will work with Williams after she makes her scheduled return to tournament tennis at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=15520&bannerregion=)in Cincinnati next month.
Bollettieri, who has called Serena, "the most powerful athlete to ever play the game" in past interviews, suggested the pair could work together later in the summer leading into the U.S. Open.
"Something might happen at the end of the summer," Bollettieri told Radio Wimbledon. "Serena could have been, should have been, the best player in the world by a distance. I would love to sit in the players' box and see her lift this title again."
Today's lengthy rain delay that forced the grounds crew to keep the courts covered for much of the day provided Bollettieri the time to offer his opinions on players and issues in his interview with Radio Wimbledon, including:
Equal pay for women — "God brought the men and ladies on this earth and basically speaking, men are built physically different from the ladies, however just because men play five sets and ladies play three sets doesn't mean they are working any harder. So I really think the ladies should receive equal (prize) money."
Andy Murray — "Andy Murray's is a very complex situation. I believe Andy Murray is going to have to say 'I am the captain of my ship. I will listen, but eventually I will have to do what I want to do.' I believe Andy Murray could get more from Andre Agassi then all of us coaches put together and why? Because Andre Agassi was born and gifted with great hands and eyes and Andre Agassi went through some difficult times and actually played his best tennis when his divorce from Brooke Shields came about and he said 'I'm gonna think about me.' Everyone is talking about him, by gosh let's all back up and let him have some room if he has want it and he will fall and he'll get calllouses on his ass, but the great people in life have the courage to get up one more time when they fall."
Xavier Malisse — "Off court, Xavier Malisse is one of the kindest sweetest people. On court, he's like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Xavier Malisse is a unique young man; he has so much, but somewhere along the way no one has been able to get into his mind. He runs beautifully, has a big forehand, he's good at net ...at times in life we never find answer to what makes a person great. At this time, perhaps the clock is beginning to wind down a bit. Maybe it went by him, but he is an awfully nice young man."
Kim Clijsters — "Lindsay Davenport has been retiring for the last three years; if Kim is going to retire then retire, if she's not going to retire then don't talk about it. Come out with an emphatic statement and say 'This is my last Wimbledon and this is my last U.S. Open and be done with it."