Reader Report: Tennis legend helps raise money for Make-A-Wish

Legendary tennis coach and Hall of Fame inductee Nick Bollettieri and his mentee, Sean Abdali, owner of The Tennis Club and director of Grand Slam Tennis Academy, hosted a free tennis clinic for charity on Feb. 8.

More than 250 adults and juniors participated. The event took place at The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s local chapter. The event raised over $2,000 for the charity.

The clinic included tennis players and enthusiasts ages 5 to 80. Attendees were divided into 11 courts across the club’s 24 courts. Bollettieri met and instructed each player.

“Nick has been giving the support his whole career and the opportunity that youngsters have to learn from the world’s most successful coach is just incredible,” said Abdali, a former student of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

One hundred percent of the proceeds went to Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

LAUREN KHUN-NGO is general manager of Grand Slam Tennis, The Tennis Club, in Newport Beach.