Open Tennis: The First Twenty Years

by RichardEvans (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1988

  $4.86

  Tennis has changed a great deal since 1968 when the world's major championships became open to the professionals. The author of this book, a tennis journalist, examines the the politics, in-fighting, commercial pressures and the benefits as well as many of the great open matches, including classic Wimbledon finals. The book portrays the phenomenon of professional tennis and the increases in prize money and looks at some of the famous players. It is published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the French Open and Wimbledon. The author also wrote the authorized biography of John McEnroe.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1993

  $3.35

  Richard Evans is among the select few who have followed and fully understood the inside story of open tennis since it exploded on an unsuspecting public 25 years ago. As professional tennis has defied every economic downturn, Evans has followed the action of each tournament closely, observing a continual growth in prize money, spectator interest and international television coverage. This book analyses the phenomenal impact that John McEnroe and other superstars have had on sporting conduct, charts their greatest matches, and reveals the very latest insider politics that helped create the new ATP tour. As well as examining the heady early days of open tennis and such greats as Laver, Newcombe and Rosewall, this book comes right up-to-date and tackles such topical issues as the bizarre behaviour of Monica Seles, the increase of bigger rackets wielded by bigger players and the shortcomings of power tennis.