Hard Courts: Real Life on the Professional Tennis Tours [Paperback]

John Feinstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 1992

The new edition of this bestseller in hardcover features never-before-published, all-new inside info on the money, personalities and politics of pro-tennis: Jimmy, Monica, Boris, Martina, et al. Now in paper.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Though John Feinstein made his mark writing about basketball-- A Season on the Brink is one of the top sports books ever--he's always had a love of tennis. For Hard Courts, he spent nearly 15 months interviewing the players, coaches, managers, tournament officials, agents and fans -- more than 200 people in all -- that make-up the international tennis circuit. What he found wasn't always as pretty as a Pete Sampras backhand. While Feinstein touches on the scandal and corruption that is as much a part of tennis as any other professional sport, he offers revealing profiles of the greatest players and a celebratory tribute to the sport's elegant tradition.

From Publishers Weekly

In cloth, Feinstein's panoramic portrait of big-money tennis spent six weeks on PW 's bestseller list; the paperback will contain new material on the controversial 1991-1992 tours.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Villard; Subsequent edition (May 19, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679741062
• ISBN-13: 978-0679741060
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #394,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real Life On The Tour, September 11, 2005

By 

Notnadia (Currently upstairs.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Courts: Real Life on the Professional Tennis Tours (Paperback)

Though it now reads like a history of early '90's tennis, when this book first came out I pored over it with excitement to find out what the lives of my favorite players were like. All the big names of fifteen years ago are here: Sampras, Navratalova, Selles, Graf, Courier, Agassi, Fernandez, Vicario, McEnroe, Edberg and Lendl. Great champions all. This is set over the course of one full year on the circuit, from the Australian Open in January, to the end of season tournaments that follow the conclusion of the Grand Slam series at the US Open. Anyone who wants to learn about what it takes to compete at this level of tennis can get an education here. Also someone interested in the inner workings of the tour and the agencies that govern it can find out what they want to know. And although it seems odd to say this about one of the most influential books I read when I was so into this sport, it also serves today as the record of a long-ago year in the game of tennis.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tennis Debauchery, February 6, 2002

By 

Alex Lukic "cool_book_man" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Courts (Hardcover)

John Feinstein is such a fascinating writer and sports critic that someone should recognize his work in some way, shape or form. "Hard Courts" is a microscopic scrutiny of the men's and women's tennis tour throughout the entire 1990 calendar year. Though a bit outdated, it is a book for all ages and all sports fans. Feinstein's writing message is as effective as his many inteview appearances on National Public Radio. He is blunt, obsessed and even subjective, but also well-informed, uncontradictory and fair, and most definitely, never arrogant. Enjoyable reading!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book...exceptional journalism., August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hard Courts (Hardcover)

I have copies of two books by John Feinstein...Hard Courts and A Season Inside. Both are fantastic. A fascinating look at a year (1990) on the professional tennis circuit. A must read for any follower of the game.