Game Changers: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis

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Author:
Paul Fein
Published:
2024
Length:
431 pages
author url:
https://coacheschoice.com/authors/paul-fein/

https://www.facebook.com/TennisGameChangers  
https://paulfein-gamechangers.com/

 

In an unparalleled Golden Era, the tennis gods blessed our sport with the four greatest champions in its 150-year history—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams. GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis treats readers to in-depth features about these legends and their legacies.

This wide-ranging compendium also includes poignant portraits of New-Gen stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff.

Multi-award-winning journalist Paul Fein tells these and other riveting stories with the expertise and passion that infused his highly popular Tennis Confidential books, which ranked No. 1 among tennis books on Amazon.

The section titled The Sport We Love will especially appeal to recreational players and tournament competitors. It features essays titled “A Game of Emotion,” “What Motivates Tennis Players,” “46 Great Things About Tennis,” and “Tennis: A Game of Beauty.”

In probing interviews, charismatic champions Andre Agassi and Monica Seles reveal how they evolved as they overcame career-threatening adversity. A comprehensive interview with eminent historian Richard Hillway—titled “The Origin of Tennis: History, Mystery, and Myth”—about our sport’s visionary founders and 19th-century leaders is essential reading for everyone interested in this seminal period.

Both casual and serious tennis fans will enjoy deeply researched essays analyzing the many controversies that embroil and enliven the sport. Fein presents thought-provoking arguments about the GOAT debate, the legalization of coaching, the Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players, flawed ranking systems and seeding methods, the merits of the service let, and the importance of an Olympic gold medal in tennis.

How does tennis stack up in terms of athleticism among the world’s leading sports? A multi-faceted essay titled “Who Are the Greatest Athletes of All Time?” will challenge, confirm, or perhaps change your opinions.

Other engrossing pieces include Gauff’s dream debut, the Isner-Mahut epic and its ramifications, a famous foot fault that caused a tempest, the teen who shocked the sports world, and the greatest “what ifs” in tennis history.  

Whether you are a new tennis fan or a longtime aficionado, you’ll relish the Momentous Matches. Here, you’ll learn about, or relive, the most storied duels in tennis history at the prestigious Grand Slam events—Wimbledon and the U.S., French, and Australian Opens.

All the pieces in GAME CHANGERS are spiced up by amusing anecdotes, juicy quotes, and fascinating facts. Do you know what Queen Elizabeth II suggested, while at a Wimbledon luncheon, that Roger Federer do? Or who said, “I feel 10 times more stress watching her match than when I’m actually playing mine!” about his pro tour girlfriend? You’ll find the answers in the “Fascinating Facts” sidebars sprinkled throughout the book.

What’s so funny about tennis? You’re guaranteed to laugh at the quick quips, double entendre, wisecracks, zingers, bon mots, and other hilarious humor found in The Light Side.

Paul Fein has written for over 100 tennis, sports, and general interest magazines in 30 countries and received more than 40 writing awards. In 1991, Tennis Week honored Fein as “International Writer of the Year.”

Fein’s diverse tennis background includes being a top-10 ranked New England men’s open and top-5 national senior player, a satellite tournament director, cable TV commentator, tennis club and council president, and USPTA (Elite) teaching pro.

His instruction book, The Fein Points of Tennis: Technique and Tactics to Unleash Your Talent—also published by Coaches Choice—was named a Silver Winner in the Adventure, Sports, and Recreation category in the Foreword Reviews 2021 INDIES Book of the Year competition.

 

CONTENTS
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
 
PART 1: THE SPORT WE LOVE
Chapter 1 — 46 Great Things About Tennis (2018)
Chapter 2 — Tennis: A Game of Beauty (2018)
Chapter 3 — What Motivates Tennis Players? (2017)
Chapter 4 — Tennis: A Game of Emotion (2017)
 
PART 2: PORTRAITS OF THE SUPERSTARS
Chapter 5 — Roger Federer: Tennis God and Man of the People (2022)
Chapter 6 — Serena Williams: The Enigmatic Superstar (2022)
Chapter 7 — 12 Things I'll Remember About Maria Sharapova (2020)
Chapter 8 — The Escape Artist (2010)
Chapter 9 — Sampras vs. Agassi: The Rivalry That Never Ends (2010)
Chapter 10 — Let's Give Djokovic Some Love (2015)
 
PART 3: THE GREAT DEBATES
Chapter 11 — How Important Is an Olympic Gold Medal in Tennis? (2012)
Chapter 12 — Should Tennis Abolish the Service Let? (2012)
Chapter 13 — Should Caroline Wozniacki Rank No. 1 in the World? (2011)
Chapter 14 — Should Nadal Be Seeded No. 1 at the French Open? (2013)
Chapter 15 — Save Our Scoring System—and Singles (2016)
Chapter 16 — Why On-Court Coaching Is Bad for Tennis (2017)
Chapter 17 — Will Rule Changes Help or Hurt Tennis? (2017)
Chapter 18 — What Are the Right Criteria to Pick the Tennis GOAT? (2020)
Chapter 19 — Should Wimbledon Have Banned Russian and Belarusian Players? (2022)
Chapter 20 — Who Are the Greatest Athletes of All Time? (2016)
 
PART 4: TOPICAL TRENDS, TURNING POINTS, AND INTRIGUING QUESTIONS
Chapter 21 — The Most Intriguing "What Ifs?" in Tennis History (2018)
Chapter 22 — Records Are Made to Be Broken (2009)
Chapter 23 — The Isner-Mahut Epic: Drama or Overkill? (2010)
Chapter 24 — How Novak Djokovic Took Over Tennis (2011)
Chapter 25 — Ten Terrific Teens on the Tennis Horizon (2019)
Chapter 26 — Coco's Dream Debut at Wimbledon (2019)
Chapter 27 — Life Without Tennis During a Pandemic (2020)
Chapter 28 — Who Will Challenge—or Even Dethrone—Djokovic in 2022? (2021)
 
PART 5: TOURNAMENT RETROSPECTIVES
Chapter 29 — The Foot Fault That Freaked out Serena (2009)
Chapter 30 — Did They Really Say That at Indian Wells? (2016)
Chapter 31 — Naomi Osaka Makes Political and Tennis Statements at the US Open (2020)
Chapter 32 — Djokovic Tames Kyrgios for His Seventh Wimbledon and 21st Major Title (2022)
Chapter 33 — The Legends of Serena and Roger at the 2017 Australian Open (2017)
Chapter 34 — An Indignant Queen and a New Poised Champion at the US Open (2018)
Chapter 35 — The Teen Who Shocked the Sports World (2021)
Chapter 36 — Sabalenka Outslugs and Outlasts Rybakina for Her First Grand Slam Title (2023)
Chapter 37 — Alcaraz Captures Indian Wells and Captivates the Tennis World (2023)
Chapter 38 — Teen Queen Gauff Wins Maiden Grand Slam Title at the US Open (2023)
Chapter 39 — Sinner Winner of Australian Open for First Grand Slam Title (2024)
 
PART 6: MEMORABLE INTERVIEWS
Chapter 40 — Monica Seles: From Triumph to Tragedy to Happiness (2009)
Chapter 41 — The Extraordinary Evolution of Andre Agassi (2010)
Chapter 42 — The Origin of Tennis: History, Mystery, and Myth (2019)
 
PART 7: MOMENTOUS MATCHES
Chapter 43 — The Greatest Wimbledon Matches in the Open Era
Chapter 44 — Memorable Matches at the US Open
Chapter 45 — Riveting Rivalries Feature Greatest French Open Duels
Chapter 46 — Epic Encounters at the Australian Open
 
PART 8: THE LIGHT SIDE
Chapter 47 — Some Modest Proposals to Improve Tennis (2023)
Chapter 48 — What's So Funny About Tennis? (2023)
 
 

“We always enjoy reading Paul’s books, especially Tennis Confidential and The Fein Points of Tennis. His latest book, GAME CHANGERS, features more keen insights about our sport, revealing portraits of the greatest stars, along with a very entertaining and informative style.” – Bob and Mike Bryan, holders of an Open Era team record 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, a Davis Cup title, and an Olympic gold medal

 

“Like very few tennis players, Fein the writer can go both wide and deep! His stories open the reader to the sweeping arc of the modern game while unearthing the hidden nuggets of our favorite players. This educated reader came away enlightened.” – Tim Mayotte, former world No. 7, currently head of the Tim Mayotte Tennis Academy, and chosen by Tennis magazine as one of the “Heroes of the Game” for his dedication to coaching education

 

"Paul's writing is essential to all who love tennis. Devotees will enjoy memories relived by the player profiles, insights from the interviews, and the debates that fuel passion. Simply, this is the "Finest of Fein." – Ted Robinson, prominent American broadcaster for NBC Sports and Tennis Channel

 

“Paul is one of the most professional journalists I have met.” – Patrick Mouratoglou, renowned coach who guided Serena Williams to 10 Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal

 

“Paul combines both an almost encyclopedic knowledge of tennis and a strong, confident writing style.” – Bill Simons, Publisher and Editor, Inside Tennis

 

“As someone who was once the number 11 player on his 12-person high school tennis team, and someone who played doubles with the legendary Bud Collins in the media tournament at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, I found GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis to be a real treat. There is something for everyone in this book—from those for whom tennis means life or death, to those who are the most casual of tennis fans—with a dose of humor mixed in. And all from an award-winning writer—Paul Fein—who knows the sport of tennis inside and out. You’ll learn tennis history and feel as if you were courtside for some of the sport’s greatest matches played by some of its greatest players. Because the book is a collection of Fein’s stories over the years, you can read one at a time, and then put it down. But you won’t want to.” – Dave Goren, Executive Director, National Sports Media Association

 

“A wide-ranging cornucopia of interesting and provocative articles from a longtime player, coach, and keen observer, Paul Fein’s GAME CHANGERS is one of those rare sports anthologies that keeps the reader riveted and looking forward to the next article. Fein’s latest take on tennis—a sport that demands high levels of both athleticism and skill—tackles everything from the game’s true origins in the 1870s and current challenges to informative player profiles and greatest matches. For those devoted tennis fans who hold a ball and racket in high regard, GAME CHANGERS will help complete the set.” – Allen M. Hornblum, author of American Colossus: Big Bill Tilden and the Creation of Modern Tennis

 

“In GAME CHANGERS, Paul Fein shares a lens into fascinating vignettes of the past two decades in tennis history. Players, traditions, symbols, and events are given depth and color. A must-read for not only tennis enthusiasts, but sports and history aficionados as well.”Vania King, 2010 Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion (with Yaroslava Shvedova), currently a consultant for the WTA, a member of the USTA National Board, President of the Asian American Pacific Islander Tennis Association, and founder and Executive Director of Serving Up Hope