The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TWO years since his death, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has kept his memory alive by hosting the second annual Giorgio Baldacci Battle of the Elite Players Tennis Tournament at the National Tennis Centre.

On Sunday as the five-day tournament, which also served as a prelude to the federation’s selection of the national teams for both the Fed Cup for women and the Davis Cup for men, Baldacci’s family was on hand to show their appreciation to the BLTA and the players.

“It’s very emotional, very emotional,” said his wife, Pennie Baldacci. “It’s been a good week hearing his name repeatedly in the newspapers, on the radio and television. It’s good to know that he’s made such a difference in people’s lives and they are honouring him by keeping the tradition of the tournament alive.”

BLTA president Derron Donaldson said even after his tenure in office is over next year, he expects that the tournament will continue in Baldacci’s name.

“I don’t think anybody will have a problem with the tournament being named after him because Giorgio has given a lot to junior tennis and tennis as a whole in the country,” Donaldson said. “I think we need to start honouring more people for what they have done to show them our appreciation. Then when they die, they can take the honour with them because they would have known that people really appreciated what they did. Giorgio knows that everyone here in tennis loved him and still loves him and appreciates what he has done.”

One of the things that he can attest to is the fact that Baldacci conducted a lot of his teaching lessons for free just about every afternoon and even on Saturdays.

“So this is just a small token to show our appreciation for what he did,” Donaldson said. “It’s something good and I’m just glad that I was the man that started it. But I hope that whoever comes behind me will continue to keep his legacy alive by continuing to host the tournament.”

Baldacci, originally from Gubbio, Italy, died in November 2012 at the age of 78. Last year, the BLTA renamed the year-ending tournament in his honour.

His only son, Adriano, added: "It's amazing. It's good to see that

he's going to be a long term fixture in something that he has put a

lot of time and energy into. He devoted his life to tennis and

developing young people, so it's good to see that they have made a

permanent tournament dedicated to his memory.

"As long as tennis is in the Bahamas, he will remain a part of it."

The younger Baldacci said he was pleasantly surprised to sit around

and talk to some of the parents, whose children benefited from his

father's generosity on and off the tennis court.

"One parent told me that my dad recognised that her son was too good for him to continue to coach, so he sent him off to another person.

“He's now the number one junior player in the country," he said. "So

it's cool to hear stories like that. It means that my father really

made a difference."