Customer Reviews

Martina

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This book is an interesting (but dated) autobiography by Martina. She explains about her childhood in then Communist Czechoslovakia, talking about people who influenced her and shaped her tennis career, starting with her grandmother and first coach. We learn about friends like Chris Evert, Sandra Haynie, Nancy Liebermann, Billie Jean King, Renee Richards, and how they shaped her tennis career. We also read about her relationship with Rita Mae Brown, plus the showdown with her parents once they figured out she was gay. It's interesting to observe Martina's mindset at this time--in her book, she was still making a half-hearted attempt to convince the reader that she was bisexual and interested in men...she mentioned Wayne Gretzky and speculates what an amazing kid they'd produce. At the time this book was published, Martina was in the throes of passion with Judy Nelson, former Maid of Cotton with The Perfect Hair and future Martina nemesis. I'd really like to see Martina update this biography--it would interesting to hear her side of the Martina/Judy Galimony Fracas, as well as how she felt when she finally retired from tennis, plus what she sees herself doing in the years ahead. I'd like to learn more about what she thinks of today's tennis players and comment on past tennis players with successful, but brief careers.

Honestly, I purchased this book because key words "Rita Mae Brown" found it. Rita Mae is one of my very favorite authors, and I find that I have accidentally missed a few of her books. So... I was searching... and found this.

I'm not athletic, and I'm not into spectator sports. This book, rather than boring me, made tennis sound interesting!

I found it fascinating to learn that an active woman at the top of her field could have many of the insecurities that my friends and I have -- and some of the bad habits. Martina comes off as being a warm, likeable person. She seems very smart and very accomplished -- and very proud of herself, without coming off as being haughty.

I don't know whether Martina's English-As-A-Second-Language plays a factor in the narration, or whether it's George Vecsey's writing here, but the book, while clear, seems JUST A TRIFLE stilted. I'm also not quite sure who was just a friend and who she dated... not that it mattered, but it confused me. It reads like an A+ book report written by a senior in high school, not like a story.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it a great deal.

THIS BOOK REVEALS HOW MARTINA DEALS WITH ADVERSITY AND STILL COMES OUT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYERS EVER. HER RIVARY WITH CHRIS EVERT IS UNSURPASSED AS BEING THE GREATEST RIVARY IN THE HISTORY OF ANY SPORT. THE 1984 US OPEN, 1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL, 1986 FRENCH OPEN FINALS ALL AGAINST CHRIS EVERT WAS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN TENNIS EVER. WHAT MAKES MARTINA SO GREAT WAS THAT SHE WAS FIGHTING THE FORCES OR NATURE 1. CHRIS EVERT 2. THE FANS ROOTING FOR CHRIS 3. HER PRIVATE LIFE 4. TO BE ACCEPTED AS MARTINA AND THROUGH IT ALL SHE BECAME THE GREAT FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER. EMAIL TIMTENNIS5@EXCITE.COM