The Tennis Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Tennis

"The Tennis Book" is the pre-eminent single volume illustrated work of tennis reference, tracing the game from its relaxed beginnings as a pastime of the 1800s through to what has become the high energy, all-action global sport of the 21st century. John Parsons' celebrated book includes comprehensive chapters profiling the legends of the game and over 150 top players, analysis of tennis' greatest matches, world famous tournaments and global development, as a well as extensive features on the politics, controversies and oddities of the game. Packed with more than 200 photographs and complete with a record of all Grand Slam winners, every player, every tournament and every issue of importance in the game of tennis is highlighted in detail in the book. Written by two of the game's leading authorities, "The Tennis Book" is the definitive work on world tennis, with every page an information packed celebration of one of the world's most exhilarating sports.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Tim Henman; Introduction; History of Tennis; Tennis Around the World; Legends of Tennis; Great Tennis Players; Famous Courts; Momentous Matches; Business of Tennis; History of the Rules of Tennis; Tennis Equipment; Culture and Politics of Tennis; Tennis Scandals and Disasters; Odd Occurrences and Trivia; Tennis Records; Tennis Chronology.

Author Biography

The late John Parsons was a highly respected writer and broadcaster who covered tennis for more than 30 years. He wrote The Official Wimbledon Annual for 20 years and was awarded the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award for his writing in 1998. Henry Wancke, a personal friend and former colleague of John's, is the editor of Tennis Today magazine and the Secretary of the Association of British Tennis Writers.