What to read to understand tennis

Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson by Ashley Brown (2023)

Althea Gibson was a trailblazing athlete who became the first black person to win a grand slam, yet little is known about much of her life. This biography tells her extraordinary story in full, from when she was plucked from the streets of Harlem to her becoming a professional golfer. In between, she secured five grand slam titles, including Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. The book is a compelling portrait of a sportswoman who was not always comfortable with being a spokesperson for her race or gender, but was forced to fight with the realities of both.

The Racket by Conor Niland (2025)

If you have ever thought that the life of a professional tennis player is glamorous, this book will make you think again. Conor Niland’s riveting account of his career as Ireland’s number one tennis player, which began when he beat Roger Federer as a junior, is a no-holds-barred insight into what the vast majority of players go through to pursue their dreams. Niland is a funny and engaging writer whom it is impossible not to root for across the highs and lows of his career.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (1996)

Reading the 1,000-page Infinite Jest may have become shorthand for a certain kind of insufferable literary man, but David Foster Wallace’s magnum opus contains some of the best writing about tennis out there. Partly based on his own experiences as a junior player, the portions of the book set at the Enfield Tennis Academy speak to the kind of atomisation wannabe sporting superstars go through to try to make it. This year marks the 30th anniversary of its publication and, while not a light read, it is a truly rewarding one.

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