Topspin

Book excerpt: Author of the acclaimed Tough Draw (which Arthur Ashe called "one of the best books on professional tennis I've ever read"), Eliot Berry returns to the graceful, high-stakes game of world-class tennis to share his insights on what it takes to be a winner. Berry follows today's top players, as well as a select few juniors on the rise, through the major worldwide tournaments on all surfaces--from the clay courts of the Orange Bowl to the grass of Wimbledon to the hardcourts of the U.S. Open and beyond. The author's talent for finding the most exciting battles, often far from the glare of center court, is evident in gripping play-by-play descriptions. Berry also reexamines yesterday's stars--Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, and other greats of the game, including a fascinating portrait of the late Fred Perry that stands as a poignant testament to a vanished era. Eliot Berry, dubbed "a jock with a brain" by Inside Tennis magazine, views the sport within the context of its unique history to show why certain athletes succeed, how to identify tomorrow's winners, and why time at the top is fleeting, even for today's greatest champions. The author's trademark blend of insightful interviews and vivid courtside commentary opens the door to a world most tennis enthusiasts can never enter; his privileged access to the stars and their coaches and families--earned through the critical success of Tough Draw--yields a rare glimpse of world-class professional tennis as it is really lived and played. Topspin is a stunning tribute to the game, its past masters and present stars--a book for all tennis fans and players.