Topspin

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.

About the Author :
Eliot Berry was a ranked junior tennis player who won the New York State sixteen-and-unders for singles and doubles, and played three times at the U.S. National Juniors in Kalamazoo. Berry was also ranked four times in the top ten nationally in men's squash and played number one for the U.S. softball squash team at the 1977 world championships. He has taught tennis at Connecticut's Greenwich Field Club and squash in Munich and Monte Carlo. Berry received a Ph.D. from King's College in London and taught literature as a Fulbright Lecturer in American Literature. He lives in New York City.

Review :
A former ranked junior player, Berry ... again brings his expertise to bear on the pro tennis circuit. What are the components necessary to build a tennis champion? How old should a player be before turning pro? Does college tennis help or hinder when you get onto the professional tour? When is it time to quit? These questions, particularly the first, are the themes of Berry's follow-up to his acclaimed Tough Draw. ...his insight into the mind of young players, combined with his considerable interviewing skills and charm, will draw in the more casual tennis fan as well. Kirkus Reviews"