Tennis has been around for centuries, evolving over time into what we see today. Books with tennis themes abound.
No matter your sport or genre preference, there’s sure to be something suitable. From tennis strategy books to entertainment novels and more – everyone will find something in these collections that meets their needs!
String Theory by David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace’s nonfiction is often more well known among tennis enthusiasts, yet String Theory remains an intellectually stimulating read for any tennis enthusiast.
Wallace excels at dissecting Roger Federer’s brilliance or exploring how sport can be seen as art, and one of his most renowned pieces, “Federer Both Flesh and Not”, delves deep into his psyche while exploring where his incredible prowess stemmed from. Not your average puff piece, this essay offers one of the most captivating reads in all of Wallace’s book.
The other four essays in the collection range from excellent to disappointing. “Derivative Sport in Tornado Alley,” for example, examines the game from an individual’s point-of-view: Wallace became a moderately successful junior player by mastering Central Illinois winds. By understanding their environment more intimately than before, Wallace is able to demonstrate how gifted players can become even more aggressive on court by understanding how it operates.
Wallace’s interest in tennis lies more theoretically. He explores how a good player can overcome opponents who possess greater physical talent and skill with the ball; specifically how they use “another kind of vision,” one that sees around corners and opens up potential angles as their opponent moves across court.
While his essays are somewhat random in tone, their overall effect is that of someone who truly appreciates and wishes to elevate sports to an art form. Wallace shares many sports critics’ concerns that sport is becoming commodity; his writing shows he wants to preserve its beauty as much as possible. Although critical of how professional tennis is marketed, Wallace ultimately concludes it remains a worthwhile pursuit and continues to enjoy tennis himself.
Unstoppable: My Life So Far by Maria Sharapova
Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova provides an exciting, insightful autobiography about her early life after Chernobyl in Russia, in a small Siberian town where her parents fled with their five daughters. Through this riveting yet fearless book, Maria shares candid insights into the life and career choices made by both herself and her father in dedicating themselves to Maria’s tennis success; their rivalry with Serena Williams; injuries sustained on court; her suspension; as well as recent efforts at returning back onto it all; as well as her successful return back onto it all – giving readers insight into all these areas and many more.
At age six, Sharapova’s father Yuri immigrated her from Russia to Florida with $700 in hopes that she could become the next great tennis player. Soon thereafter she was discovered by Nick Bollettieri who recognized something special about her and encouraged her to keep pursuing tennis; soon thereafter she quickly emerged as a rising star.
Sharapova experienced difficulty early on as a professional tennis player due to her weight. Her body wasn’t as slim, making her often the tallest girl in tournaments. By working with an Australian coach named Peter McGraw, however, she learned how to use her size to her advantage; developing an impressive serve by extending her arm back when hitting the ball – an action which produced plenty of power and helped her win more games than before.
Robert Lansdorp was another pivotal figure in Maria Sharapova’s career and former top-ranked American player. He understood her innate focus, teaching her how to remain more consistent on court with consistent training – often doing drills over and over until she perfected them.
Horatio Alger-worthy tale of rags-to-riches success coupled with a thrilling yet somewhat disillusioned Russian adventure is this riveting read by Maria Sharapova’s autobiographers, which should appeal to any serious tennis fan and especially when she was at her peak of her game – one of its greatest female athletes yet a source of debate due to her money-hungry behavior and detractors alike.
The Champion’s Mind by Jim Afremow
Tennis, like all sports, is an intricate game requiring strength, endurance, and agility, while its mental components involve focus, concentration, and strategy. Jim Afremow explores both aspects of the game through captivating essays written by real life experiences such as a tornado destroying an afternoon practice session to interviews with professional players; sure to provide thrills and delight. This book is sure to engage and enthrall any tennis enthusiast!
Serena Williams has become one of the greatest female tennis players ever seen on court, and this book chronicles her rise to stardom from her first racquet being nearly as big as herself to winning 2009 Australian Open and cementing her place as an unrivaled champion. Additionally, it details Serena’s dedication and sacrifices made both individually and as part of her family in reaching these heights of success.
This book provides the essential guide to improving your tennis game. With tips and techniques from a former top-10 player who has spent decades on the court, this book contains tips that will help improve shot-making, increase speed on court and outlast opponents. Furthermore, detailed workout routines are provided that will hone skills while honing games to perfection.
Discover how John McEnroe caused shockwaves when he made it all the way to Wimbledon semifinals at age 18. In this book he provides a candid account of his journey in pro tennis during a time when players were treated like rock stars.
Brad Gilbert is well-recognized in tennis circles as an Andre Agassi coach, so this book serves as his take on some of the great players and their lessons for us all. Gilbert specializes in both physical and mental aspects of the game so his insight makes this an essential read for any serious tennis fan; these lessons can apply across many areas of your life not just tennis play.
The Art of Tennis by Brad Gilbert
The Art of Tennis is a timeless classic among tennis instruction books that helps players learn to use their minds to defeat opponents. While this book won’t teach readers exactly how to swing or footwork perfectly, it will teach them how to control a match and make necessary adjustments as necessary in real time. With an easy read and simple structure, The Art of Tennis should become essential reading for all tennis players regardless of skill level.
Brad Gilbert became one of the greatest coaches for Agassi, Roddick and Murray despite lacking natural talent like their peers; becoming famously known for his unconventional yet effective practice sessions which some onlookers mistake for comedy shows! Gilbert became widely respected due to his 1993 book entitled “Winning Ugly”.
Winning Ugly is a comprehensive guide that shows readers how to develop mental skills that will allow them to prevail against higher-ranked opponents and win games more consistently. Gilbert emphasizes recognizing an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and taking advantage of them – an approach he utilized himself when becoming successful as a limited player and now includes in this book. Although some may find Winning Ugly too self-confident for their tastes, it can serve as an invaluable resource for any tennis player looking to develop their game.
One of the key lessons from Gilbert’s book is that losses are an integral part of becoming a better player. Instead of being disheartened by each loss, Gilbert urges readers to embrace each experience as an opportunity for personal development and use each loss as motivation to keep improving your game and stay motivated when losing. His approach allows readers to avoid falling into the common pitfall of seeking perfection when losing, which can slow down progress; his book encourages readers to view losses as steps toward progress rather than obstacles that prevent them from reaching their ultimate goal of becoming the best tennis players possible!