Ex-Becker coach Mike DePalmer died at the age of only 59
The tennis world mourns the loss of tennis coach Mike DePalmer Jr. , who also worked for Boris Becker for six years.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 09, 2021, 08:57 am
DePalmer succumbed to cancer on Saturday, he was only 59 years old.
The American, formerly number 35 in the world (February 1983), worked for many years at the IMG Academy, known as the Nick Bollettieri Academy. Bollettieri once founded the DePalmer-Bollettieri Tennis Academy with DePalmer's father.
After his active career - DePalmer was twice in the semi-finals of the US Open. He worked for Mark Philippoussis, Mary Pierce, Anna Kournikova and Tommy Haas, among others. He gained fame especially in Germany because of his collaboration with Boris Becker, whom he supervised between 1994 and 1999, including at Becker's final Grand Slam tournament victory at the Australian Open in 1996.
DePalmer was considered a "tough dog", Becker explained that the two had found a balance between friendship and boss / employee.
Nick Bollettieri: "Love the DePalmer family from the bottom of my heart"
"The death of Mike DePalmer Jr. is heartbreaking," wrote Nick Bollettieri on Twitter. "The DePalmer family is so special to me. Mike Sr. helped start the Academy. Mike Jr. and Michelle [DePalmer's sister, a former Top 100 player, editor's note] were among mine first charges at Colony Beach. I love them all dearly. "
DePalmer's father, Mike DePalmer Sr., died last year at the age of 86.