From classic matches to player interviews: Indulge in these podcasts and books about tennis 

14 May,2021 01:34 PM IST |  Mumbai  |  mid-day online correspondent

As the US celebrates National Tennis Month, we round up an essential viewing, reading, and listening list for all those who love anything about tennis 

Representative image. Pic/iStock


Tennis has captivated global audiences and seen a surge in participation for decades. With an increasing number of tournaments being held each year in India, it is safe to say that interest in tennis has only continued to grow with time. To promote the sport even further at a grass roots level, the US celebrates May as National Tennis Month. For all those who love the sport beyond measure, here is an essential viewing, reading, and listening list that will help keep you busy this summer.

Podcasts

No Challenges Remaining

An informative and humorous podcast on the global developments in tennis, ‘No Challenges Remaining' is hosted by passionate tennis enthusiasts Courtney Nguyen and Ben Rothenberg. Listeners can expect to be treated to diverse discussions around various aspects of the sport and interviews with sports journalists, authors, and players. Laced with humour, the weekly episodes range between 25 to 65 minutes.

Beyond the Baseline

Hosted by the executive editor of Sports Illustrated, Jon Wertheim, this weekly podcast is all about insightful tennis commentary and exclusive interviews with some of the best players and news makers on Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and ATP tours. Ana Ivanovic and Bethanie Mattek-Sands have featured in stand-out episodes sharing personal anecdotes. Each engaging episode ranges between 30 to 80 minutes.

Books

The Right Set

A collection of short stories chronicling the evolution of the game, ‘The Right Set' by Caryl Phillips is an engrossing read. Featuring writings by notable authors Martin Amis, James Thurber, John McPhee, Martina Navratilova, and David Higdon, the book delves into the stories of champion players, from Venus Williams to Andre Agassi. ‘The Right Set' is the ideal book for those who are curious about the transformation of this beloved sport through the twentieth century.

The Pros: The Forgotten era of Tennis

Set during the professional era of world tennis, this book follows eight tennis champions from 1930 to 1968 prior to the ‘open era'. A narrative weaved through the personal stories of Rod Laver, Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Ellsworth Vines, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Ken Rosewall, and Pancho Gonzales reveals an insightful tale of the contrasting on goings during a vastly misunderstood time in the history of the sport.

Websites

Tennis TV

The official live and on-demand video streaming partner of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tours, ‘Tennis TV' is the go-to website if you don't want to miss out on the latest in tennis. In addition to live streaming matches, the website's large archive of over 7000 matches allows tennis lovers to binge watch classic full length matches right up to 1990. Relive the 2011 Miami Open final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic or the 1997 Indian Wells final between Michael Chang and Bohdan Ulihrach.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon has played host to some of the greatest matches in the history of the game. The official website and mobile application not only come handy during the tournament with live video content and updates but also during rest of the year. A selection of most popular Wimbledon matches, from the 2019 final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to the 1980 final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe can be found on the website alongside match statistics enough for a trivia night.

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