IMG Academy Hosts Successful International Tennis Championship, Honors Coach Nick Bollettieri’s Legacy
Dec 20, 2024
IMG Academy recently hosted the IMG Academy International Tennis Championship, welcoming over 1,300 of the world’s top junior players from more than 35 countries. The prestigious event featured exciting matches and celebrated the legacy of the late Coach Nick Bollettieri, with significant tributes in honor of his contributions to the sport.
Source: IMG Academy
In honor of his legacy, matches were played on the newly renamed “Bollettieri Stadium” and each champion across every age division was presented with a Nick Bollettieri Trophy by some of his most accomplished student-athletes including:
- Monica Seles (Former World #1)
- Tommy Haas (Former World #2 and current Indian Wells Tournament Director)
- Mary Pierce (Former World #2, French Open Champion)
- Max Mirnyi (Former World #1 in doubles, Olympic gold medalist)
-
James Arias (Former World #5, the academy’s first student-athlete and IMG Academy’s Director of Player Development)
The performance of IMG Academy’s student-athletes was exceptional throughout the tournament. Junseo Jang made it to the finals of the Boys 14s Singles, while Christina Li shined brightly, advancing to the finals of the Girls 14s Doubles. Most notably, Teodora Kostovic brought home the Championship title in the Girls 18s singles. Not only did she achieve a career-high junior ranking of No. 5 in the world, but she earned a wild card entry into the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi professional tournament in February as the tournament winner. Kostovic’s win marks the first-ever back-to-back Girls 18s Singles Champion for IMG Academy in tournament history, following Wakana Sonobe’s win in 2023.
Source: IMG Academy
“It was two weeks full of the best junior tennis in the world. The team here at IMG Academy is full of pride after seeing our very own compete into the final days of the event, especially after watching Teodora come home with the big Bollettieri trophy,” said Juan Herrera, Director of Tennis. “We were proud to honor Nick Bollettieri, who changed the game of tennis and I couldn’t be prouder of how our student-athletes, coaches, and trainers have continued his legacy.”
IMG Academy is proud to host one of the world’s most prestigious and long-running junior tennis tournaments. This event brings together elite junior players to compete alongside IMG Academy's own student-athletes, who consistently advance to the finals. This remarkable achievement highlights IMG Academy's comprehensive approach to developing well-rounded, high-performing student-athletes.
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
Behind the Scenes Video
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Source: IMG Academy