Tennis Biography

In the mid-20th century, the Heldmans were tennis royalty. Julie was a volatile and gutsy tennis star, twice ranked number five in the world. Her mother Gladys was broadly admired for her unique magazine, World Tennis, and for engineering the women’s tennis revolution. No one guessed that Gladys’s hidden emotional abuse was the source of Julie’s powerful drive. Driven is a highly listenable insider’s account of a pivotal time in women’s tennis history; an in-depth look at Gladys’s complex character; and the revealing story of Julie’s interior journey.

Currently ranked world number one in women's doubles, Sania Mirza became an instant sensation when she won the Wimbledon Championships girls' doubles title at the age of 16. From 2003 until her retirement from the singles circuit in 2012, she was ranked by the Women's Tennis Association as India's top player, both in singles and doubles. A six-time Grand Slam champion, she notched up an incredible 41 consecutive wins with her doubles partner, Martina Hingis, between August 2015 and February 2016.

In August 1939, Alice Marble graced the cover of Life magazine, photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt. She was a glamorous worldwide celebrity, having that year won singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles tennis titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open, then an unprecedented feat. Yet today one of America's greatest female athletes and most charismatic characters is largely forgotten. Queen of the Court places her back on center stage.

Pete Sampras is arguably the greatest tennis player ever, a man whose hard-nosed work ethic led to an unprecedented number one world ranking for 286 weeks, and whose prodigious talent made possible a record-setting 14 Grand Slam titles. While his more vocal rivals sometimes grabbed the headlines, Pete always preferred to let his racket do the talking. Until now.

When Billie Jean King trounced Bobby Riggs in tennis's Battle of the Sexes in 1973, she placed sports squarely at the center of a national debate about gender equity. In this winning combination of biography and history, Susan Ware argues that King's challenge to sexism, the supportive climate of second-wave feminism, and the legislative clout of Title IX sparked a women's sports revolution in the 1970s that fundamentally reshaped American society.

In 2021, Emma Raducanu shocked and charmed the tennis world as she raced to the US Open title with a smile on her face. But how did a little-known 18-year-old from Kent become the first ever qualifier to win a Major? Now Mike Dickson, who as tennis correspondent of the Daily Mail was one of the few journalists present in New York to see her lift the trophy, reveals what it took to become Britain's first woman Grand Slam champion since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Nel corso degli anni, Federer ha fatto sembrare il tennis uno sport straordinariamente semplice: cesellando rovesci, volteggiando per colpire di dritto, saltando per uno smash, ha incantato il mondo per l'eleganza dei suoi gesti atletici e ha ridefinito il concetto di bellezza. Ma la strada che lo ha portato a diventare il numero 1 al mondo non è stata affatto semplice: da adolescente lunatico e nervoso, Federer è diventato un campione di autocontrollo, un esempio di sportività e lealtà in un mondo – quello del tennis – dominato dal cinismo.

Unstoppable is the fiercely honest, fearless, darkly funny autobiography of global tennis star Maria Sharapova. In the middle of the night, a father and his daughter step off a Greyhound bus in Florida and head straight to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. They ring the bell, though no-one is expecting them and they don't speak English. They have arrived from Russia with just 700 dollars and the conviction that this six-year-old girl will be the world's next great tennis star. They are right.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest ever sportspeople, Roger Federer is a global phenomenon. From his humble beginnings as a temperamental teenager to becoming symbol of enduring greatness, The Master is the definitive biography of a global icon who is both beloved and yet intensely private. But his path from temperamental bleach-blond teenager with dubious style sense to one of the greatest, most self-possessed and elegant of competitors has been a long-running act of will, not destiny. He not only had a great gift. He had grit.

In Serena Williams: The Inspiring Story of One of Tennis' Greatest Legends, you will learn the inspirational story of one of tennis' premier legends, Serena Williams. Williams is arguably the greatest women's tennis player of all-time. At the time of this writing, she holds the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era with 23. Fans from across the world adore Williams and with good reason: she serves as an exemplary role model for how to behave on and off the tennis court. She is not only elite in skill, but also in her sportsmanship. In this unauthorized biography, we'll explore Williams' journey to becoming one of the greatest, and learn what it has taken her to reach where she is today.

I'm only in my mid-twenties, and some might think that's young to write a memoir. Who does that, right? But for me and my team it's always been important to reflect on every part of the journey, especially the end. In that context, the timing is perfect to share my story, from the first time I picked up a racquet as a 5-year-old girl in Ipswich to the night I packed up my tennis bag at Melbourne Park after winning the 2022 Australian Open.

No one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene aged just 15. Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honours, establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. For the first time, listeners will get Borg's own account of his career, his choices, and the experiences that shaped him as a person, from his childhood right up to today.

Roger Federer ist der Weltstar aus unserer Mitte. Als kleiner Junge verliebte er sich in die gelben Bälle, heute fasziniert er die Massen auf dem ganzen Globus. Nicht nur wegen seiner Virtuosität auf dem Court und seiner Erfolge, sondern auch wegen seiner Persönlichkeit. Dieses Porträt zeigt den Menschen und Sportler in all seinen Facetten. Und obschon er sich in anderen Sphären bewegt, können wir aus seiner Biografie viel mitnehmen. Das Porträt über Roger Federer von Simon Graf aus dem Jahr 2018 war im deutschsprachigen Raum ein Bestseller.

Rosa Parks, the woman known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, triggered a great shift in the fight for civil rights. Raised in Alabama, Rosa Parks knew all about the racism of her society from an early age. Discover how she became the brilliant activist we know today in this book with real-life stories, timelines and facts to bring her extraordinary story to life. Extraordinary Lives is a bold, inclusive biography series shining a light on modern and historical figures.

Sue's personal history of Wimbledon is as tightly packed with stories as the courts are with blades of grass. From the most memorable matches to the fashions and trends, the famous rivalries, the upsets and the 'You Cannot Be Serious' unforgettable moments, this is a Centre Court seat on all the riveting drama that has defined British sporting summers for all of our lifetimes.

"Big Three" es el único audiolibro que narra la mayor rivalidad deportiva de la historia, la que enfrenta a los tres mejores tenistas de todos los tiempos: Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal y Novak Djokovic. Durante dos décadas, los protagonistas de este audiolibro han dominado con gran autoridad el circuito ATP, disputándose los Grand Slams, las grandes competiciones y el número uno del ranking mundial. En una batalla física y psicológica sin precedentes, han deleitado a los aficionados con duelos inolvidables que será difícil que volvamos a vivir.

It is a captivating memoir that chronicles the exhilarating life of an avid tennis enthusiast. Spanning decades, the narrative weaves through the author's passionate encounters with the sport, from local courts to prestigious tournaments. The book delves into the personal experiences, relationships, and pivotal moments that have shaped the author's journey, both on and off the court.

En este último episodio hablamos del fenómeno Lionel Messi, sin duda uno de los mejores de todos los tiempos, de Jackie Robinson, el beisbolista que rompió las barreras raciales en las Grande Ligas y la alemana Steffi Graf, una tenista icónica que simboliza el deporte blanco.

In this mesmerizing memoir, Skidelsky ponders what it is about the Swiss star that transfixes him and countless others. Skidelsky dissects the wonders of Federer's forehand, reflects on his rivalry with Nadal, revels in his victories, and relives his most crushing defeats. But in charting his obsession, Skidelsky also weaves his own past into a captivating story that explores the evolution of modern tennis, the role of beauty in sports, and the psychology of fandom.

I’m only in my mid-20s, and some might think that’s young to write a memoir. Who does that, right? But for me and my team it’s always been important to reflect on every part of the journey, especially the end. In that context, the timing is perfect to share my story, from the first time I picked up a racket as a five-year-old girl in Ipswich, to the night I packed up my tennis bag at Melbourne Park after winning the 2022 Australian Open.