Legendary tennis writer and broadcaster Bud Collins passed away on Friday at the age of 86. His wife, photographer Anita Ruthling Klaussen, announced the news on her Facebook page.
Past and present players, coaches, and members of the media posted their reactions on Twitter:
The tennis world remembers Bud Collins, one of the sport's greatest pioneers. Read: https://t.co/oN6kSmTxsm pic.twitter.com/n5ze67x0I3
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) March 4, 2016
Few people have had the historical significance, lasting impact and the unqualified love for tennis as Bud Collins. pic.twitter.com/CLuJF2ThVm
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 4, 2016
Bud Collins was 1 of the few that cared about #WTA before it became popular, I'll never forget that –@BillieJeanKing pic.twitter.com/cmdvmxH48M
— WTA (@WTA) March 4, 2016
Bud Collins passes away on a Davis Cup weekend. Nothing he liked more
— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) March 4, 2016
Bud Collins was an incredible human being, I honored and thankful to have known him and spent… https://t.co/zs9zxcUFKT
— MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS (@M_PHILIPPOUSSIS) March 4, 2016
Rest in Peace my dear friend #BudCollins you will always be remembered! You brought color into tennis and always brightened my day!
— Sven Groeneveld (@sventennis) March 4, 2016
Very sad news, Patrick! Totally agree with you! Actually, a true worldwide tennis icon! RIP, AMIGO Bud! https://t.co/rFgCYWAG88
— Alex Corretja (@AlexCorretja74) March 4, 2016
The tennis world sheds a collective tear today as the amazing, brilliant and kind #BudCollins passes away today. We will all miss you Bud ?
— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins ???
— Dinara Safina (@Dinarik27) March 4, 2016
An amazing reporter & extraordinary human being, we will miss you ? #Rip Bud Collins @usta @WTA @ATPWorldTour pic.twitter.com/J9yVNtEAzI
— Gabriela Sabatini (@sabatinigabyok) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins. Thanks for all you have done for tennis. pic.twitter.com/6Q4yBkUJlj
— Eric Butorac (@ebutorac) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins ?
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) March 5, 2016
Dear Sir Bud Collins! You sure left a very fun and colorful print on our sport! Thank you for that. RIP pic.twitter.com/9eTIeWMpTv
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) March 5, 2016
RIP Bud Collins
— Melanie Oudin (@melanie_oudin) March 5, 2016
Celebrating the life of Bud Collins today. Few know how much he did for the game of tennis. He… https://t.co/yoL5tr46x7
— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) March 5, 2016
rip Bud Collins! Thank You For making the pressroom so colourful … ???
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) March 5, 2016
Great memories with the one, the only, the legend Bud Collins https://t.co/TqUWxKoMsj
— Bethanie MattekSands (@BMATTEK) March 5, 2016
Genio y https://t.co/sPZYgKQqsI https://t.co/JQN6wf9zfV
— Carlos Moya (@Charlymoya) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins
— Bruno Soares (@BrunoSoares82) March 4, 2016
RIP my friend ! Your were the first man I spoke after my Wimbledon victory #85…will always remember !!!
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) March 4, 2016
Watch our 2014 tribute to Bud Collins when he was given the Alan King Passion Award. Today we bid him farewell #RIPhttps://t.co/U7gihsaL7y
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 4, 2016
We join the tennis family in mourning our great friend Bud Collins. Bud's extraordinary contribution will be recognised @DavisCup #AUSUSA
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) March 4, 2016
The ITF was saddened to learn of the death of Arthur “Bud” Collins https://t.co/yWZzSoGek8 pic.twitter.com/BKjJHiAhYv
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) March 4, 2016
Very sad to hear of the passing of legendary tennis commentator and Ohio-born Bud Collins. Rest in peace. https://t.co/lw8GVkuxre
— W&S Open (@CincyTennis) March 4, 2016
Saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Bud Collins today. Rest in peace. https://t.co/ObSuxQ82Ms
— US Men's Clay Court (@mensclaycourt) March 4, 2016
Sad to hear of the passing of legendary tennis icon Bud Collins today. Rest in peace. https://t.co/j57DnJHSkS
— Memphis Open (@memphisopen) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins-a man who gave genuine time to everyone that came in his path & showed you the passion he had for life and tennis.#character
— roger rasheed (@roger_rasheed) March 4, 2016
Rest in peace, Bud Collins. If the rest of humanity were as warm and colorful as he was, this world would be pretty swell.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins. He made tennis a viable singular beat, covered with a colorful, irreverent passion. His spirit lives on in all of us.
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) March 4, 2016
Fortunate, grateful for many hrs listening to/learning from #BudCollins. Gentleman. True original w/unmatched passion for tennis history.
— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) March 4, 2016
Heartbroken at passing of @budcollins. Tennis lost a legend. His knowledge, wit, humor & humanity will be missed. pic.twitter.com/q30yk6DjtY
— Nick Bollettieri (@NickBollettieri) March 5, 2016
We lost a true hero today… Tennis and journalism were more colorful thanks to Bud Collins. #RIP #USTA pic.twitter.com/f95wIxoIas
— Katrina Adams (@katadams68) March 4, 2016
Bud Collins @ChrissieEvert what a once in a lifetime man!! pic.twitter.com/1xku1OZYOK
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) March 4, 2016
RIP Bud Collins- Dear Bud- you proved you can be a great human, a great humanitarian & a world class reporter at the same time- much love…
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 4, 2016
Integrity, passion, intelligence,wit,compassion…. Friend… I, like many, will miss you terribly…RIP Bud Collins
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 4, 2016
I loved Bud Collins. A legend…and a gift all of us and the sport of tennis. #RestInPeace
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) March 4, 2016
The @USTA and @USOpen are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, legendary tennis journalist Bud Collins. pic.twitter.com/k9Qud2HJ1N
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) March 4, 2016
There hasnt been a more generous, genuine , passionate man in our sport – RIP Bud Collins
— Paul Annacone (@paul_annacone) March 4, 2016
We have lost a true legend in BudCollins.He wrote the first story on me in the boston globe.i will never forget it.i will never forget him.
— Vijay Amritraj (@Vijay_Amritraj) March 5, 2016
Best to the Collins family. @budcollins was one of the best to cover our great game. We will miss his positive energy! RIP Bud!
— Mark Knowles (@knowlzee10s) March 5, 2016
R.I.P. Bud Collins, 1929 – 2016… and that’s one hell of a fat hyphen. Lot of living, he did. Quick tribute: https://t.co/4AUSifXXia
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) March 4, 2016
https://t.co/rwHRbVMnQB via @youtube Bud Collins RIP
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) March 6, 2016
legend
He will be missed. RIP #legend