Reviews for Tennis Confidential II

What They Are Saying About Tennis Confidential II:

Subtitled ‘More of Today’s Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies’, this is a wonderful follow-up to Fein’s Tennis Confidential (2002). The book is in three sections, the first of which comprises a set of essays looking at controversial issues facing those who administer the world game of tennis in the 21st century. Topics covered include on-court coaching, Hawk-Eye, the ATP doubles reforms, and whether the interests of TV run counter to the long-term interests of the sport.

Part two looks at people and trends that have changed the face of tennis, opening up with a powerful argument for the importance and influence of top women players on society as a whole, and going on to cover such topics as the emergence of Russian women players. Other subjects addressed with wit and insight include famous tennis feuds and the parallels between tennis and rock music, and there are also articles about Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and Pete Sampras.

Add interviews with leading players past and present including Yannick Noah, Amelie Mauresmo, Stefan Edberg and Martina Hingis, and the late Gene Scott (founder and publisher of Tennis Week), and you have a stimulating and enjoyable read for the tennis enthusiast.

-- Richard Jones, who owns the Tennis Gallery in Wimbledon.

View the PDF file as the review appeared in the April 2008 issue of ACE Tennis Magazine

Any exciting and fulfilling tennis match includes a broad mix of awe-inspiring shots thrown at the opponent, as well as a variety of pacing from the start to the final point. Tennis Confidential II offers all of these things. Readers will enjoy several biographical chapters about many recent, celebrated tennis greats and revealing Q&A interviews with innovators of the game who have influenced and moved the sport forward.

A substantial amount of space is devoted to "the great debates," which address thought-provoking questions, such as whether tennis or golf is the tougher sport, if on-court coaching should be allowed, and the reasons for the disappearance of fast-paced serve-and-volley games.

The author draws from a wealth of research and personal experience on many levels. He is an award-winning author of numerous magazine articles on tennis, as well as two books on the subject: Tennis Confidential: Today's Greatest Players, Matches and Controversies and You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights and Zingers. He has also been a tennis instructor, college referee, tournament consultant, and a committee chairperson for establishing player rankings. The author isn't above stirring up the pot with his opinions. Russian women, he says for example, have come on strong in the pro ranks in recent years. Their dominance, with hard-hitting beauties like Anna Kournikova, can be traced to the winning-is-everything mentality fostered at Russian training centers, the lure of big money, and an opening of borders, says the author. "Many of the current crop are also blessed with superb athletic genes," he adds, noting that many of today's women prodigies are the offspring of Olympians of several sports.

Some American tennis greats, particularly the men, have, embarrassingly enough, achieved the reputation of being super brats. Jimmy Connors, with his obscene gestures to the spectators, was usually evenly matched in crudeness with John McEnroe and his infamous childish rantings.

Like a game of tennis, the book has something for everyone. Recreational players will likely read it cover-to-cover. Personality watchers can be more than content to limit themselves to the chapters on the colorful characters, skipping the section on rule changes and scoring systems. And the book might be just the impetus couch potatoes need for digging their rackets out of the closet and donning their whites for a few sets. (April)

-- Review by: Karl Kunkel for Foreword magazine