Date of publication: Dec 17, 2018
Dante Bottini
- Head coach of Kei Nishikori
- Independent
Date of birth: Aug. 10, 1979
Hometown: Coronel Pringles, Argentina
Number of years in Japan (cumulative): Less than 1 (as of December 2018)
Q1: What was your first encounter with Japan?
My first encounter with Japan was in 2011 when I came with Kei to play the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships. I remember the people; how polite they were and the good organization. Obviously, I also remember the food was great — among the best in the world for me.
Q2: Please state your motto in life and why you have chosen it.
My motto in life is to be happy and thankful for what life has given me. Thinking like that makes it easier to appreciate all the nice things that this world can offer you. Having your family and friends always present is very important for me as well. They’re a positive source of energy in my life.
Q3 : Over your career, what achievement are you the proudest of?
I have a few of them, not only one. Being the coach of Kei Nishikori for over eight years is one of them. It’s not easy to last that long with a tennis player and I am very proud of that. Bringing Kei up to the top-five players in the world was also a very nice achievement, as well as getting to the final of a Grand Slam in 2014 U.S. Open.
Q4 : What are your goals during your time in Japan, your current position or in life?
My goal in life is to be the happiest I can be. To achieve that I think I must have a good balance in my life with work, family, friends and time off. I don’t set specific goals. I let myself be surprised every day and I try to do the best I can in every aspect of life.
Q5 : What wisdom, advice or tips can you give to people living and working in Japan?
My only advice I could give to people in general is to wake up and be happy doing whatever they do. Life is too short to not appreciate it. Leave it like it is. You only have one life.
Last updated: Dec 17, 2018