If you need inspiration for the upcoming U.S. Open, consider checking out these three docs. Each features a tennis legend.
Nick Bollettieri, who never won a tennis match, at least at the professional level, is profiled in Jason Kohn’s Love Means Zero. Bollettieri coached a who’s who, including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Jim Courier. But Bollettieri was much more than a coach. Bollettieri changed tennis – and sports training in general with his tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Kids left their families and lived, schooled, and trained at Bollettieri’s facility, which one interviewee compared to a minimum-security prison. In relative isolation, the sole goal was winning Grand Slams.
Bollettieri’s secret? The man could motivate – and manipulate.
Pre-Bollettieri’s tennis factory, Jimmy Connors arrived on the professional tennis circuit. Growing up in blue-collar East St. Louis, Connors learned tennis the old-fashioned way: from his fiery mother. Connors became as well- known for his profane personality and competitive spirit as his championships.
In 1991, Connors was 39, recovering from surgery, and on the verge of retirement. But Connors wanted one last dance. Fortunately, the U.S. Open granted him a Wild Card entry, basically a courtesy. Connors ’91 Open run is documented in This Is What They Want by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the creators of Billions.
With his fist pumping and heckling, Connors turned Flushing Meadows into an intimate, very rowdy, late-night dive bar. Frankly, Connors should’ve probably been disqualified for some of his insults. But everyone was pulling for this grumpy, gimpy old champion to turn back time. Indeed, a veteran ball person who worked many, if not all, of Connors ’91 Open matches told me that Connors got the benefit of some line calls. Connors remains unapologetic about his on-court conduct. As they say on reality TV, he was there to win matches, not make friends. (The 30-for-30 documentary is available for viewing on ESPN+.)
Eric Drath’s Renee, which chronicles the life of Renee Richards, is an entirely different animal. In 1977, Richards, then 42, made her U.S. Open comeback. A few years earlier, Richards had undergone a sex change operation. To get into the Open, Richards had to take her case to the Supreme Court. Renee covers much more than this controversy. In addition to members of the tennis establishment, Drath interviews Richards’ friends and family members, most notably her son. It’s all extremely personal and powerful. (Produced by ESPN Films, you can watch Renee here.)
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