Some of the world’s top tennis players are well known not just amongst tennis enthusiasts but even to non-players of the sport. Some become household names by dominating their sport entirely while others for their glamorous lifestyle and appearance.
Megan Reid and Coretta Scott King Honor-winning illustrator Laura Freeman present an engaging picture book biography of the first black Wimbledon champion, written by debut author Megan Reid and illustrated with vibrant artwork by Coretta Scott King Honor-winner Laura Freeman.
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova was one of the most revered and charismatic tennis players ever, boasting six WTA Tour Championships and winning an Olympic Gold Medal. Additionally, she held onto her No.1 singles ranking for an unprecedented 332 weeks and 237 weeks in doubles play – she amassed an astonishing total of 167 top-level singles titles and 31 Grand Slam doubles titles during this span.
As a child, Navratilova took to tennis intuitively; her grandmother had been an international player, and she began competitively playing at four. Soon afterwards she was mentored by both Mirek and George Parma – two Czech champions at that time – under whom she took lessons and received coaching.
From her start in 1974 until 1992 when she made her final Wimbledon singles final appearance and claimed nine consecutive championship titles Navratilova made herself unbeatable on the tennis court. Throughout her career she produced many memorable matches against great rivals such as Chris Evert and Margaret Court that remain iconic today.
Navratilova was best known for her incredible tennis abilities and beauty on the court, her long hair and slim body making her a stunning figure for tennis. Additionally, she was an outspoken advocate for both women’s rights and gay equality issues.
Navratilova was one of the first prominent professional athletes to come out as lesbian, and she became active in the gay rights movement. Additionally, she wrote three mystery novels featuring former tennis star Jordan Myles: The Total Zone (1985), Breaking Point (1996) and Killer Instinct (1997).
Since retiring as a player, Martina Navratilova has continued her involvement with tennis through coaching and commentating. She was honored to become a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame as well as receiving multiple awards and honors for her efforts as an activist, coach, public speaker and CEO of Women’s Sports Foundation; currently living in New York City with partner Carol and their two children Mia and Michael.
Boris Becker
Boris Becker made history when he became the youngest ever Wimbledon singles champion at just 17 years of age in 1985. That victory would lead to three more Wimbledon victories, two Australian Open victories, 13 Masters tournament wins and five year-end championship victories – not to mention earning him a gold medal in men’s doubles tennis at the Olympics!
But his fame was brought crashing down when he was arrested and jailed in 2022 for failing to declare his assets. While his career was temporarily put on pause during his sentence, former world No 1 Djokovic has made a comeback through coaching roles.
Becker provides us with an intimate portrait of his personal and professional life through this candid autobiography, detailing drug addiction, erratic behavior and his tennis career highs and lows with candor and honesty.
He shares his struggles with depression and the fallout from his tax fraud conviction, as well as details regarding his high-profile divorce and an unborn daughter that may or may not be biological.
While this book does not escape its fair share of problems, it offers an engaging insight into one of tennis’ biggest stars – Boris Becker. Fans and those looking for more intimate accounts will both appreciate this fascinating read about a man who is often misunderstood will enjoy reading this account of him.
ITV will air a documentary-style series chronicling the career of former world No 1 tennis player Boris Becker from Germany. Viewers will see him rise to sporting icon status when he won Wimbledon aged 17; thereafter going on to capture another six Grand Slam singles titles and four in doubles competitions.
Becker became known for his emotional outbursts on court and tendency to smash rackets during his career, which ultimately required his removal from one match in 1987 after throwing shoes at an umpire and hitting him with a ball before spraying water at him and spewing water out in his direction.
This book recounts the epic rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as illustrated by their epic 1980 Wimbledon final match. The authors give a fresh perspective to this historical match by emphasizing its importance and the lasting legacy it left on tennis.
James Blake
Blake, famed for his powerful forehand, is one of the few players on the ATP tour who has won 10 titles. Additionally, he won two Hopman Cups and made it all the way to Beijing Olympics’ semifinals, where he beat world No.1 Roger Federer! Additionally, he helped lead United States team that won 2007 Davis Cup!
Blake boasts a formidable serving game and can serve and volley well, along with quick footwork and transition game skills. However, his unforced errors on flat groundstrokes are an area of weakness in his game that must be managed.
Blake began playing tennis while at Harvard and became one of the top-ranked players during college. He won both ITA Rolex National Indoor Championships and the ITA Indoor Grand Prix tournament in New Haven. Unfortunately, Blake experienced health issues that would threaten his career: breaking his neck while practicing and later being diagnosed with shingles. Still in 2007, he won Sydney International and reached Delray Beach final before losing to Xavier Malisse.
James Blake is an award-winning singer-songwriter and musician, known for releasing multiple albums such as his 2010 self-titled effort and 2013’s Overgrown (nominated for Mercury Music Prize but lost out to PJ Harvey). Most recently, Assume Form (released October 2015) mixes dance music and indie rock genres.
Blake has also established himself as an accomplished television producer and journalist, appearing regularly on sports programs such as ESPN’s First Take and producing a documentary about the 2008 US Open that includes interviews of multiple players discussing their rivalries against one another. He has made guest appearances on various television and radio shows while simultaneously being an advocate for mental health, speaking out against stigma associated with mental illnesses like schizophrenia as well as helping raise funds for various AIDS charities.
Jennifer Capriati
Jennifer Capriati won six Grand Slam singles titles and amassed millions in endorsements during her professional tennis career, starting out on the women’s professional tour at 13. She became one of its youngest players when she reached three professional finals at Boca Raton, Hilton Head, and Puerto Rico tournaments before making her grand slam semifinal debut against Monica Seles at Wimbledon (April 1990). Capriati became known for her fast court speed, powerful groundstrokes and flat forehand.
Soon enough, this bubbly child star transformed into an angry teenager, often fighting with her parents and lamenting the constant travel on tour. Tired of competition and life as a professional tennis player, in November 1992 she announced she would stop competing on Women’s Tennis Association tour to focus on her studies at Princeton University instead.
She only played a handful of matches in 1994 and none at all during 1995; by 1996 however she had returned to the circuit and achieved an astounding world ranking of No. 24 before her much-publicized marijuana arrest and subsequent career decline due to injuries affecting her hamstring, shoulder and back.
Capriati made waves during the early and mid-1990s women’s tour by combining talent with charisma to capture both fans and media alike. She quickly established herself among many young players including Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport; but Capriati stood out thanks to a dynamic combination of both traits that enabled her to stand out.
This biography of renowned tennis player Steffi Graf is packed with intriguing information about her childhood in New York and Spain, her rise to stardom as a professional tennis player, off-court achievements, personal struggles and personal triumphs. A must read for both children and adults who love reading about famous people! Perfect for class research projects or anyone curious to know more about tennis history – lots of interesting facts and photos included within.