Hard Courts

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Season Inside presents a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional tennis, with in-depth analyses of players, tournaments, and the inner machinations of the sport.

“Hard Courts is the best book on professional tennis that I’ve ever read. . . . You won’t feel the same about the game—guaranteed.”—LARRY KING

When I first decided to write a book on tennis, many of my friends in journalism questioned my sanity. After all, they said, tennis is the least accessible major sport in the world. It is the only sport covered regularly by the American media in which there is virtually no locker-room access. . . . I did my best, though, to capture the flavor of a very big, very wide, very chaotic world.

In Hard Courts, renowned sports writer John Feinstein brings his expertise to the world of tennis. He introduces us to the key players in the 1990 tennis season, such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Martina Navratilova, and explores their intense rivalries, personal struggles, and moments of glory. We travel around the world, from the Australian Open in Melbourne to Wimbledon, from the French Open in Paris to the U.S. Open in New York City, getting a fly-on-the-wall account of intense physical—and mental—training sessions, conflicts between players and coaches, and hard-won victories.

With Feinstein’s meticulous research and extensive interviews, Hard Courts presents a comprehensive and multifaceted view of professional tennis.