Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
7th out of 128 books
—
59 voters
Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played
In the 2008 Wimbledon men’s final, Centre Court was a stage set worthy of Shakespearean drama. Five-time champion Roger Federer was on track to take his rightful place as the most dominant player in the history of the game. He just needed to cling to his trajectory. So in the last few moments of daylight, Centre Court witnessed a coronation. Only it wasn’t a crowning for t...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
June 4th 2009
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published June 1st 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
833)
A competent, if not entirely inspiring, recounting of The Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played. Wertheim here is let down by his subject matter. At the end of day, neither Nadal nor Federer make for compelling personas off the court. Their stable upbringings - both emotionally and financially - are notable only in so-far as they are the exception to the rule amongst the elite of the athletically gifted. But when fleshed out in long form, their respective tales feel more like requisite biographical...more
I grew up watching tennis with my parents. And in the summer, when we'd go with my Mom to stay at my Grandparents' cottage and the TV only got two channels without static, Wimbledon was a mainstay. It was the Sampras, Agassi, Graf, and Seles era.
I've followed tennis to varying degrees in the years since, with certain players occasionally grabbing my attention and drawing me back (Justine Henin and Roger Federer are two big examples in the 2000's). But no one who's even slightly interested in ten...more
I've followed tennis to varying degrees in the years since, with certain players occasionally grabbing my attention and drawing me back (Justine Henin and Roger Federer are two big examples in the 2000's). But no one who's even slightly interested in ten...more
I thought I would do a lot more skimming than I actually did...and let me tell you: a year ago I would never have imagined myself reading a sports book (I never could make it thru Infinite Jest, and always thought the tennis had a lot to do with it). But this was tremendous fun: I'd seen the match on tv and been totally transfixed by these guys, so I loved this little book so full of background information about the personalities, the sport, Wimbledon, and the match itself.
Wertheim didn't assum...more
Wertheim didn't assum...more
Watching this match was so intense. And I love both of these guys. So when I found this book for like 7 bucks, I thought it should be fun to read on a plane ride to Spain.
I laughed at the introduction, where Nadal and Federer are compared. So hilarious. I don't see the 'bull' comparison with Nadal. But I guess since he is from Spain...
Despite some of the over dramatized fluff, its fun to read. I do think that a lot of what is described about the players, behind the scenes, is hyperbole and spe...more
I laughed at the introduction, where Nadal and Federer are compared. So hilarious. I don't see the 'bull' comparison with Nadal. But I guess since he is from Spain...
Despite some of the over dramatized fluff, its fun to read. I do think that a lot of what is described about the players, behind the scenes, is hyperbole and spe...more
As he did in "Venus Envy", Wertheim digs deep and eloquently explores the far-reaching significance of his central topic, which here is the 2008 Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final. It's compelling reading whether you saw The Greatest Match Ever Played or not. By the way, it is the GMEP, no question. That match made time stop and it was both wonderful and wrenching to witness it. As the author articulates his case:
"Tick off the Classic Sporting Event checklist and this match had it all--skill, courage...more
"Tick off the Classic Sporting Event checklist and this match had it all--skill, courage...more
I feel like there are more than a few sports books in this format: a recount of the game/match/event with information and anecdotes and backstories interspersed throughout. Unfortunately, I haven't read any other ones to compare to this. This book was just a joy to breeze through, though. It was nice to learn a bit more about Federer and Nadal, the descriptions of the match were fantastic, and the overarching significance of the match was delved into as well. There's also a bit about the chair u...more
Nov 07, 2009
Joy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
If you have a tentative interest in tennis, let this book draw you in.
While moving I was cut off from my Tennis Channel. It was just as satisfying to read this account of the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with all the background Wertheim provides. It wasn't just the supremacy over men's tennis that was at stake. Federer was battling his own vulnerabilities in his chase after a record number of Major titles, and Nadal's years of developing his explosive skills were about to bring him equal to Bjorn Borg's feat of winning the clay and...more
Reading Strokes of Genius reminded me of how much I appreciate engaging, wordy sports writing in general, and Jon Wertheim's writing in particular. I don't think sports writing need be either all technical and black and white or a version of narrative non-fiction that embellishes so much it's really fiction. I think sports writing is an art, like poetry. Wertheim so seamlessly interweaves the narrative of this stunning five set match from last year with a variety of side stories, from the story...more
Jul 01, 2009
Laurie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who think tennis is a lightweight sport
Recommended to Laurie by:
Johnny Mac
Shelves:
non-fiction
I never in a million years thought I would read a book about sports, let alone a single sporting event. However, there's no exaggeration when it comes to this tennis match.
The book covers much more than just the components of the match, such as shots, drama, etc. Wertheim really delves into Federer & Nadal's personalities, backgrounds, and families (which I loved), in addition to the isolated chair umpires and the larger context of tennis in the world today. It's truly full of fascinating ti...more
The book covers much more than just the components of the match, such as shots, drama, etc. Wertheim really delves into Federer & Nadal's personalities, backgrounds, and families (which I loved), in addition to the isolated chair umpires and the larger context of tennis in the world today. It's truly full of fascinating ti...more
This was a nice little book, probably more like 3.5 starts instead of 4. Federer & Nadal have been so enjoyable to watch not only because of their exceptional skill, but because they are indeed really nice guys, too. While this book is about that historical match 2 years ago, it also shares a fair amount about the players lives and supports the nice guy image that they have. They're the two best players on the court still today, but they're not you're typical superstar athletes, which makes...more
Although I knew I'd like this book since I'm a big fan of Jon Wertheim - my favorite tennis journalist - and the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry, I was surprised by how much I liked it. Wertheim does an excellent job going over the backgrounds of both players and how that led them to that wonderful Wimbledon final. For those of you who've read "Outliers," you might recognize some of the same elements in that book discussed here in Federer's and Nadal's background. While tennis enthusiasts wou...more
"Strokes of Genius" just might be one of the best sports books I've ever read. Throughout the book, Wertheim goes crazy with his sports analogies - almost to the point of sarcasm - but he knows it clearly does it on purpose. That leads to a very entertaining book, filled with humor and wild description. The 2008 Wimbledon final is definitely the best tennis match I've ever seen, and likely will be the best match I ever see in my life, and Wertheim's book is a perfect account of it. It's quick, b...more
Ah, the greatest match ever played. Some people argue — namely some fellow tennis fans of mine who are not Federer or Nadal fans — "This was not the greatest match ever played!" But then my retort would be, "Then what was?" And they go talking about old tennis legends who are known to be legends, but also the players they have never seen play.
Yes, I admit, I'm a Federer fanfor life because YOLO(Just kidding). But I am. And a Nadal fan. Then whose side was I on during the match? Federer, of cour...more
Yes, I admit, I'm a Federer fan
In tennis, self-sufficiwncy is everything.
This geography is destiny phenomenon holds in tennis too...American players tend to exhibit a wealth of power and a poverty of nuance...French players, meanwhile, are often stylish and artisitic, but, for a country with shaky results in military conflicts, lck a certain battle toughness...The Russians often have a sort of clinical power,buy recalling Cold War-era manufacturing, their internal circuitry isn't always right...One takes Federer's "quintesse...more
This geography is destiny phenomenon holds in tennis too...American players tend to exhibit a wealth of power and a poverty of nuance...French players, meanwhile, are often stylish and artisitic, but, for a country with shaky results in military conflicts, lck a certain battle toughness...The Russians often have a sort of clinical power,buy recalling Cold War-era manufacturing, their internal circuitry isn't always right...One takes Federer's "quintesse...more
Oct 20, 2009
Kiah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any sports fan
Recommended to Kiah by:
Andrew Stem
I've been all about sports writing lately, and this is a well-written, very quick read. Wertheim is a writer for Sports Illustrated and is no slouch, and mixes the details and play-by-play (sometimes point-by-point, sometimes game-by-game) of the Greatest (tennis) Match Ever Played with background information on Federer, Nadal, Wimbledon, and even the umpire for the match, as well as info on broadcasting Wimbledon, etc. Call me a geek for reading a book about a tennis match, but the gentlemen's...more
I am a sports fan because of my parents. Both are athletes and athletic - my mom played catcher at softball, and that is also where I play in fast-pitch (although I'm kinda retired). In my family, it was never quite a question as to whether or not you would like sports, it was just a way of life, something we were born into.
I am a tennis fan because growing up, my dad and I would watch all the majors together (at that time, there was no ESPN, so we only got the Slams on TV). Dad would tell me th...more
I am a tennis fan because growing up, my dad and I would watch all the majors together (at that time, there was no ESPN, so we only got the Slams on TV). Dad would tell me th...more
Wertheim's a solid writer, period, and he makes any pro tennis storyline -- or match, as this fairly brief read is all about that more-than-classic '08 Wimbledon final, Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal -- immensely readable. The Ivy-educated lawyer turned sports scribe has an easy way with words, making his prose breezy and
It doesn't hurt when I'm passionate about the subject matter, either.
This book was ripe to be written, and few could have done it better. A couple of those who maybe could were...more
It doesn't hurt when I'm passionate about the subject matter, either.
This book was ripe to be written, and few could have done it better. A couple of those who maybe could were...more
Strokes of Genius was a fun, light read, although not a particularly deep or heavy one. There was nothing groundbreaking or earth-shattering, and there were no major revelations shared. What we had was a great tennis match--one for the ages. The author does a good job recounting the specific details of the match and expands his coverage to include additional details about each player's career (without this, it would have been difficult to make the story long enough for a book). I enjoyed some of...more
An extraordinarily well written account of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadel--as tennis players and as persons--and their unforgettable match at Wimbledon in 2008. Just the words of wisdom to Nadel from Uncle Toni, his mentor, are worth the price of the book. For example: "If you ever throw a racket, we're finished. . . you don't just disrespect the sport, you disrespect all the people who can't afford equipment."
This book was very enjoyable even for someone like me who has never followed professional tennis. The author did an amazing job detailing the match play by play while interspersing interesting tid bits about the players' personal characteristics and family histories. My only complaint is to the editors who allowed this book to be published with an impressive number of typos and grammatical errors.
I look forward to reading more by jon wertheim.
I look forward to reading more by jon wertheim.
My inner tennis geek was deeply satisfied by this little book. It contains all sorts of diverting trivia and reframes the match through lots of different contexts, which is fun; and the point-by-point (not quite) narration of the match itself is still thrilling, in a second-hand sort of way. Plus, Wertheim clearly loves Roger Federer, which, since we have this in common, I find completely endearing. I would probably never re-read this, but it did make me want to rewatch the match several hundred...more
Admittedly, this is a biased review as any book about tennis is a great read. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is that Nadal won that match, and this book being non-fiction couldn't change that. I loved the background stories around the match and the descriptions of what was happening in and around the match.
The best sports writing I've read since George Plimpton's "Paper Lion." This book not only tells the dramatic story of the greatest tennis match ever played (the book's subtitle isn't hyperbole, in my opinion), but also takes you inside the most compelling rivalry in sports. Forget Yankees-Red Sox. Forget Duke-UNC. Two men, different styles, different paths, one the greatest tennis player ever, the other the one man he can't quite shake. I loved this book.
I enjoyed learning the background info on Wimbledon and the players. I did a lot of skimming during the play by play sections of the book. The author was a silly writer: best part of the book was when he described two of nadal's biggest fans as a couple of "tennis-seein' tennissians." I laughed and rolled my eyes several times. It was a fun quick read, and rekindled my love for tennis.
Amazing book. I loved how Wertheim was able to describe the many juxtapositions in tennis, but also find a way to make everything united. Great profiles of two of tennis's greatest players and also an inside look of the life of a tennis player. Well-written, not overly descriptive, simple and delightful. Well done.
Gossip Sells. Like Venus envy, this effort provides a modest amount of gossip about both Federer and Nadal. It also, bizarrely focus on some personal idiosyncracies that are not only obvious but, really don't need to be memorialized in print.
Wertheim has a flare for the obvious.
Wertheim has a flare for the obvious.
This is easily the best tennis book I've ever read and one of my favorites in the last five years. Expertly told and weaved with fascinating anecdotes, Wertheim somehow brings drama to a book whose outcome is already known. Among the best sports' books out there.
It basically dissects a single tennis match (possibly the greatest in history) as well as the unique rivalry of (IMO) the two best tennis players of all time. To non-tennis fans, this sounds incredibly boring, but I couldn't put it down.
Jul 16, 2009
Jacqui Robbins
marked it as to-read
I haven't read this yet, but if you're a tennis fan, you should read it. Even if you're just a sports fan, go get it. L. Jon Wertheim knows tennis, he knows sports, he is hilarious, and the man can write. Looking forward to it.
Following up on the tennis theme I found this book about the epic Wimbledon battle between Federer and Nadal which I actually saw live on TV and this was so much fun to get the inside scoop and relive the match again
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Oct 23, 2009 02:27pm