Book list for tennis history/former pro players...

Nathaniel_Near · 07-22-2012, 06:10 PM

Please contribute by offering titles of books that are recommended or essential reading for tennis history, whether it be the history as a whole or a look at individual players of the past.

Thank you.

treblings · 07-24-2012, 12:02 PM

A handful of summers - gordon forbes
Too soon to panic - gordon forbes

Forbes was a south african who played the amateur circuit in the 50´s,
.....for a handful of summers.
both books are mainly but not exclusively about that period of time.
he writes beautiful and tells a lot of stories and anecdotes about life on the tour and his former comrades, like Laver, Hoad, and many others.

heftylefty · 07-27-2012, 07:19 PM

Arthur Ashe's Portrait in Motion is a great read.

pc1 · 07-28-2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heftylefty

Arthur Ashe's Portrait in Motion is a great read.

Yes a fantastic book. It discusses players like Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, Okker, Borg and Connors and what his opinions of their games are among other things.

RF-17-GOAT · 07-28-2012, 05:41 AM

Roger Federer-The Greatest
Pete's Autobiography
Andre's Autobiography
Murray: Coming of age

looking forward to read rafa's book in a few weeks.

Paul Murphy · 07-28-2012, 05:42 AM

Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert has some interesting insights into his opponents.

treblings · 07-28-2012, 05:50 AM

the tennis set by rex bellamy.
covers the first four seasons of open tennis from 1968 to 71. lots of stories about the players and the major championships. highly recommended reading

@ OP: if the idea of a book list catches on, why not list all the books at the beginning of the thread?

MAXXply · 07-28-2012, 05:53 AM

A few on my bookshelf:

Mr Nastase
Game Set and Match: The Tennis Boom of the 60s and 70s by Herbert Warren Wind
Home (Evonne Goolagong)
Pat Cash Uncovered
Bad News For Mcenroe (Bill Scanlon)
The Player (Becker)
Winner Loses All (Borg tell-all written by a disgruntled former business partner of Borg)
Tilden, by Frank Deford
The Game, by Jack Kramer
Newk, by John Newcombe
Aces and Places, by Harry Hopman
My Life with Lew, by Lew Hoad's widow Jenny
Rocket to the Top (Pat Rafter bio)

...and many others...

07-22-2012, 06:10 PM	#1
Nathaniel_Near Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,152	Book list for tennis history/former pro players... Please contribute by offering titles of books that are recommended or essential reading for tennis history, whether it be the history as a whole or a look at individual players of the past. Thank you. __________________ Hoodjem - ''AHA!!! That's what TMF stands for Triumphant Muscles Forever.'' * TMF, the ultimate Ken Rosewall **.

07-24-2012, 12:02 PM	#2
treblings Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,891	A handful of summers - gordon forbes Too soon to panic - gordon forbes Forbes was a south african who played the amateur circuit in the 50´s, .....for a handful of summers. both books are mainly but not exclusively about that period of time. he writes beautiful and tells a lot of stories and anecdotes about life on the tour and his former comrades, like Laver, Hoad, and many others. __________________ Head Prestige Pro (2nd gen)

07-27-2012, 07:19 PM	#3
heftylefty Professional Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,310	Arthur Ashe's Portrait in Motion is a great read. __________________ "...he never played prime Federer. Which is a pity you know." -Towser83

07-28-2012, 05:50 AM	#7
treblings Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,891	the tennis set by rex bellamy. covers the first four seasons of open tennis from 1968 to 71. lots of stories about the players and the major championships. highly recommended reading @ OP: if the idea of a book list catches on, why not list all the books at the beginning of the thread? __________________ Head Prestige Pro (2nd gen)

07-28-2012, 05:53 AM	#8
MAXXply Professional Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,183	A few on my bookshelf: Mr Nastase Game Set and Match: The Tennis Boom of the 60s and 70s by Herbert Warren Wind Home (Evonne Goolagong) Pat Cash Uncovered Bad News For Mcenroe (Bill Scanlon) The Player (Becker) Winner Loses All (Borg tell-all written by a disgruntled former business partner of Borg) Tilden, by Frank Deford The Game, by Jack Kramer Newk, by John Newcombe Aces and Places, by Harry Hopman My Life with Lew, by Lew Hoad's widow Jenny Rocket to the Top (Pat Rafter bio) ...and many others... __________________ Before TW: POG Mid user for over 20 years After TW: confirmed racketholic