Traces the history of tennis, lists the annual results of major tournaments, and discusses the Hall of Fame, official rules, equipment and tennis officials.

Considered the "bible" of the tennis world, "Bud Collins' Tennis Encyclopedia" provides thorough statistics and presents a history of the sport, from its country club beginnings in 1876 to the billion-dollar industry it is today. The latest edition includes biographies of the best players, rules of the game, Hall of Fame facts, world rankings since 1991, and more. 230 photos.

"If you know nothing about tennis, this book is for you. And if you know everything about tennis-Hah!-Bud knows more, so this book is for you too!"---Martina Navratilova --

Compiled by the world's foremost tennis historian and journalist, this book is the ultimate collection of historical tennis information, including year-by-year recaps of every tennis season and biographical sketches of every major tennis personality, as well as stats, records, and championship rolls for all of the major events. This third edition is updated with the latest history-making records and covers the recent achievements of a galaxy of stars--including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Serena Williams--without forgetting the contributions of some of the foundational names in the sport, such as Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Andre Agassi. Collins highlights his own personal relationships with the sport's biggest names, offering insights into the world of professional tennis that can't be found anywhere else.

Traces the history of tennis, lists the annual results of major tournaments, and discusses the Hall of Fame, official rules, equipment and tennis officials.

This is the fourth book in the successful series of Total Encyclopedias.

All the passion, drama, and beauty of tennis is captured in this most up-to-date comprehensive history--from its early beginnings as a sport, the greatest matches ever played, to its global star players and personalities of present day. This volume is a must-read for tennis aficionados. Tennis, the much-loved sport, is a game for the ages dating back to sixteenth-century royal court matches played by King Henry VIII. History of Tennis captures the sport's long history, never short of theatrics, rivalries, power plays, political controversies, and inspiring personal stories. Beautiful historic and contemporary images of gripping matches like the unforgettable Bjorn Borg versus John McEnroe tiebreak match in 1980, to behind-the-scenes moments with tennis legends, and never-before-seen shots, grace each page accompanied by Richard Evans's intriguing stories and unique insight detailing the evolution of this majestic sport by decade. Starting as a European royal pastime and gaining popularity in England and France, the sport made its way to America in the late 1870s as the new game of lawn tennis, creating along the centuries legendary tennis superstars such as Bill Tilden, Suzanne Lenglen and the Four Musketeers, Fred Perry, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, and Steffi Graf. Now one of the most highly watched sports globally with top-billing icons like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Naomi Osaka, there is no stopping the power of this allenthralling game. This is a must-have volume for lifelong fans and those intrigued by the sporting theater and grand culture of tennis.