There will never be another Nick Bollettieri

Nick Bollettieri died Sunday at 91. He was a tennis legend who never won a tournament but had a profound impact on the sport. Bolletieri was an Army lieutenant who dropped out of law school to teach tennis. In 1978 he opened the first tennis boarding school at the Nick Bollettei Tennis Academy.

Nick Bollettieri died on Sunday at 91. He was a tennis legend who never won a tournament but influenced tennis as profoundly as a dozen Grand Slam champions. Bolletieri was an outspoken, self-promoting man who was married seven times. His tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, was the first tennis boarding school. It nurtured thousands of tennis players who would earn college scholarships. IMG bought Bollettei’s tennis school in 1987. It is now the largest private sports academy. The list of champions he coached is unrivalled.

Captain Mardy Fish didn't nominate Rajeev Ram for the U.S. Davis Cup Team (Finals) squad. Rajeev Ram was the world's top doubles player at the time. The next highest ranked Americans in doubles were Isner at #21 and Krajicek at No 22. Stacey Allaster is the Chief Executive of Professional Tennis at USTA.

The U.S. Davis Cup team lost to Italy on the doubles point. Rajeev Ram was left off the team despite having played in the qualifying events and having a ranking of No.1 in doubles. USTA is supportive of Mardy Fish's Davis and BJK Cup captain. He should explain why he didn't pick Rajeev Ram or Austin Krajicek. They had gone 4-1 against USA in Davis Cups in 2022 and 2021. The team USA was the only one in final eight to not pick five players.

Ram was omitted from the team, but he was the world's No.1 doubles player. Jack Sock was selected ahead of Ram. Felix Auger-Aliassime was named the Canadian player of the year. He won four titles and made the championships this year, and is now a solid top ten player in the tennis world. He was also a member of Team Canada. They won the ATP Cup, Laver Cup and Davis Cup this season. Jon is happy for Team Canadian. he thinks Felix should be named their player for the best season of all time.

The Laver Cup will be held in Vancouver in 2023.

There will never be another Nick Bollettieri. Tennis Channel is on in at least two of the TV's in his home at all times. Davis Cup is played with the same enthusiasm as Czech Republic, Canada, and Spain.

Jon K. makes a point that body language is not always a good indicator of emotions. Jon K., Chicago, agrees.

You mentioned some awards in your columns. Give me your top 10 stories going into 2023.

There will never be another Nick Bollettieri. Serena and Federer were not a big factor in 2022. The current major race is currently 22-21-20.

Iga Swiatek is paving her road and mixing metaphors.

Carlos Alcaraz is injured and has a spike in commercial demands. Coco Gauff is about to win her breakthrough major.

The WTA needs to clean up its balance sheets.

The United Cup will replace the ATP Cup.

Peng Shuai's social media account has been deleted and her name blocked in her home country. WTA's demand for China to conduct a full and fair investigation has not been met.

Nick Bollettieri is a big fan of Rafael Nadal. Bolletieri would like to see Nadel win the year-end championship. He would also like a change in the surface of the tournament.

The last time the ATP Finals were held outdoors was in Houston 2004. Reilly Opelka and John Isner will return to the 2023 ATP Tour event at River Oaks Country Club. Chris is concerned that the majors are the sport's four coins of the realm. He is also concerned about the possibility of holding the event on a surface on which zero majors take place.

Zverev is recovering from his injury. He is not sure if he will be ready for the start of the new season.

Zverev is in action next week in the Saudi Arabia exhibition. The allegation is assault.

Novak Djokovic will end his career with 25 Grand Slam singles titles.

Djokovic turns 36 this spring. DjokNovak Djoko is still going strong. He won his last major at the age of 36. Jimmy Connors was three years younger when he won the last grand slam.

Joe Ceriello has been appointed Executive Director of Kings County Tennis League effective December 12, 2022. Mr. Ceriollo is a tennis industry veteran who has held multiple leadership positions during his 13-year tenure with the United States Tennis Association. He spent the last seven years driving marketing and development initiatives at New York Junior Tennis & Learning, one of the first chapters of USTA Foundation’s NJTL network co-founded by Arthur Ashe.