The former home of late IMG Academy founder and tennis Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri—which is also the largest condo in Manatee County—is on the market for $2.95 million. The legendary tennis coach custom-designed and built the 6,900-square-foot free-standing Tidy Island condo in 1984—and no, it doesn't have a tennis court. But it does come with globally recognized bragging rights.

Bollettieri put Bradenton and Sarasota on the world tennis map when he founded IMG, the world’s first live-in tennis academy, in 1978. The original IMG Academy was located at the former Colony Beach Resort on Longboat Key.

He later expanded the academy in Bradenton, turning 40 acres of tomato fields into the most successful sports training facility in the world. IMG grew into an empire, attracting athletes from near and far to train in a variety of sports beyond tennis. The academy was eventually purchased last year by Hong Kong-based BPEA Equity in an all-cash deal for $1.25 billion.

Our own Robert Plunket wrote about Bollettieri and his Bradenton home in 2021. "He has the stamina of a teenager," Plunket wrote. "He still gets up at 5:30 each morning and works out in the exercise room on the ground floor.”

The coaching legend, who never actually played professional tennis, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014. He died in 2022 at age 91 in Bradenton.

Bollettieri coached at least 10 players who went on to be No. 1 in the world rankings, including Serena and Venus Williams, Jim Courier, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, who stayed at this home while training. 

The coach went on to sell this condo in 1985 but no matter how much he moved around the area, one thing all of his addresses shared was a waterfront view, like this one.

Now, after 19 years, current owners Paul and Gloria Rodhouse, founders of Palmetto-based Automotive Armor Manufacturing, are selling to downsize. They bought the home in 2005 for $825,000.

Located on the shores of Sarasota Bay, the waterfront condo on ultra-private Tidy Island is home to fewer than 100 residents who share a sprawling 240 acres of preserve and natural shoreline. 

Built to accommodate Bollettieri’s active lifestyle, the property includes a private 50-foot lap pool and a spa on nearly 4,500 square feet of outdoor space, an exercise loft, a home theater, game room, elevator and a four-car garage. Living in the low-density enclave includes security and guard-gated access, which came in handy when rising tennis stars were guests there. 

The two-level primary suite has its own sitting area with a dual-sided fireplace, wet bar, balcony, ensuite bath, walk-in closets, and a second-floor loft. The guest quarters on the third level include three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large loft living area with a wet bar.

Whoever buys it next will get a lot of square footage and privacy—but also a slice of tennis history and sports fame that will shine for decades to come.

Interested? Contact Jordan Chancey of RE/MAX Alliance Group at (941) 545-8816.