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Open: An Autobiography

*Est. $17.62 Compare

From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.

Agassi's incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresses like a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return.

And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world's best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.

Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match and every relationship. Never before has the inner game of tennis and the outer game of fame been so precisely limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations-Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer-Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals a shattering loss of confidence. And he recounts his spectacular resurrection, a comeback climaxing with his epic run at the 1999 French Open and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.

In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the twenty-first and final year of his career. Entering his last tournament in 2006, he's hailed for completing a stunning metamorphosis, from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education advocate. And still he's not done. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.

With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi's game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed, and power.

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The Inner Game of Tennis

*Est. $9.13 Compare

The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Now available in a revised paperback edition, this classic bestseller can change the way the game of tennis is played.A phenomenon when first published in 1972, the Inner Game was a real revelation. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The former is played against opponents, and is filled with lots of contradictory advice; the latter is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety. Gallwey's revolutionary thinking, built on a foundation of Zen thinking and humanistic psychology, was really a primer on how to get out of your own way to let your best game emerge. It was sports psychology before the two words were pressed against each other and codified into an accepted discipline. The new edition of this remarkable work--Billie Jean King called the original her tennis bible--refines Gallwey's theories on concentration, gamesmanship, breaking bad habits, learning to trust yourself on the court, and awareness. "No matter what a person's complaint when he has a lesson with me, I have found the most beneficial first step," he stressed, "is to encourage him to see and feel what he is doing--that is, to increase his awareness of what actually is." There are aspects of psychobabble and mysticism to be found here, sure, but Gallwey instructs as much by anecdote as anything else, and time has ultimately proved him a guru. What seemed radical in the early '70s is now accepted ammunition for the canon; the right mental approach is every bit as important as a good backhand. The Inner Game of Tennis still does much to keep that idea in play. --Jeff Silverman

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Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master

*Est. $9.50 Compare

He's been called the best in the world at the mental game of tennis. Brad Gilbert's strokes may not be pretty, but looks aren't everything. He has beaten the Tour's biggest names -- all by playing his "ugly" game.

Now, in Winning Ugly Gilbert teaches recreational players how to win more often without necessarily even changing their strokes. The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinking player -- to recognize, analyze, and capitalize. That means outthinking opponents before, during, and after a match; forcing him or her to play your game. Gilbert's unconventional advice includes:

* How to identify the seven "Hidden Ad Points," and what to do when they come up
* Six reasons why you should never serve first
* How to beat a Lefty, a Retriever, a Serve-Volley player, and other troublesome opponents
* How to keep a lead, or stop a match from slipping away
* How to handle psyching and gamesmanship

Winning Ugly is an invaluable combat manual for the court, and its tips include "some real gems," according to Tennis magazine. Ultimately, Winning Ugly will help you beat players who have been beating you.

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Levels of the Game

*Est. $9.67 Compare

This account of a tennis match played by Arthur Ashe against Clark Graebner at Forest Hills in 1968 begins with the ball rising into the air for the initial serve and ends with the final point. McPhee provides a brilliant, stroke-by-stroke description while examining the backgrounds and attitudes which have molded the players' games.

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Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection

*Est. $12.19 Compare

Regarded by many as the greatest tennis player in the history of the sport, this authoritative biography charts the success of Roger Federer, drawing from exclusive interviews with Federer and his family as well as the author's extensive experience covering the international tennis circuit. Comprehensive and compelling, this account provides an informed overview of the Swiss tennis star, from his start as a temperamental player on the junior circuit to his triumphs at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. With entertaining anecdotes, updates on Federer's record-breaking career, and an insider's view of the professional tennis world, this inspiring biography is a definitive portrait of one champion's rise to the top of his game.

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Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide

*Est. $10.92 Compare

Like having a personal tennis pro on call for expert coaching.

Tennis Skills is an in-depth guide to improving a player's game. It features a battery of lessons designed by tennis pros that lays down a solid foundation of stroke skills and game strategy. Clear instructions and annotated diagrams provide valuable coaching and corrective techniques -- most valuable for any player.

Tom Sadzeck provides an abundance of visual features to help players of all levels improve their game. Six chapters cover the game's key skill sets, from basic techniques to singles and doubles strategies. There are more than 40 drills that focus on target areas of form, strategy, coordination and footwork. Other specific instructions include:

  • Stroke-production exercises
  • Forehand, backhand, serve, volley, slice and other shots
  • A breakdown of each stroke to promote consistent form
  • Warm-up, grips, body position, footwork, targeting, follow-through
  • Court diagrams to help players visualize a stroke's outcome
  • How to handle game pressure.

The book also features easy-to-follow sequential photographs, Master Stroke sidebars that give easy-to remember tips, Fault Finder boxes that point out common mistakes and Coach's comments that share the wisdom of seasoned pros.

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Tennis for Dummies

*Est. $13.64 Compare

Ace your tennis game with all the tips, tricks, tactics, and techniques of professional tennis players awaiting discovery in Tennis For Dummies, written by veteran tour player and ESPN sports commentator Patrick McEnroe (with a foreword by brother John). This is your grand slam guide to tennis, whether you're a player or a spectator. You'll find courtside coverage of everything from equipment and etiquette to scoring and strategies packed inside this friendly and fun primer. Whatever your level of play, you'll find what you need -- and what you want to know -- in this insider's guide to great tennis. Conquer the courtside vernacular, improve your basic strokes, learn a little strategy, bounce back from common injuries like shin splints and tennis elbow, and even make the move up to the big leagues and competitive tennis matches. With Tennis For Dummies, take a sneak peek behind the scenes at pro matches or peruse Mac's lists of the top ten male tennis players, female tennis players, and matches of the Open era.

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Play Better Tennis in Two Hours

*Est. $12.00 Compare

Known as the "father of modern tennis," Oscar Wegner singlehandedly revolutionized coaching with the proven methods he now offers in this comprehensive guide, Play Better Tennis in Two Hours. This surefire system, practiced and endorsed by tennis legends such as Bjorn Borg and Bud Collins, will have beginners playing competent tennis in no time, while helping advanced players to break bad habits and learn the new methods used by professional players.

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Complete Conditioning for Tennis (Book & DVD)

*Est. $14.85 Compare

Increase strength, power, agility, and quickness and take your game to a much higher level. Complete Conditioning for Tennis details how to make the most of your training time with exercises, drills, and programs designed to

  • assess your fitness level,
  • improve footwork,
  • increase speed and flexibility,
  • enhance stamina,
  • boost mental focus, and
  • prevent common injuries.
Additionally, the 90-minute DVD takes you on court and into the gym to demonstrate the drills and exercises used by the pros.

Endorsed by the United States Tennis Association, Complete Conditioning for Tennis is simply the best guide to developing the highest level of athleticism for success in the sport.

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The Education of a Tennis Player

*Est. $13.01 Compare

Depicting the monumental achievements of a world-class athlete, this firsthand account documents Rod Laver's historic 1969 Grand Slam sweep of all four major tennis titles. Coauthored with renowned tennis expert Bud Collins, this frank memoir details Laver's childhood, early career, and his most important matches. Each chapter also contains a companion tennis lesson, providing tips on how players of all levels can improve their own game and sharing strategies that garnered unparalleled success on the courts. Fully updated on the 40th anniversary of the author's most prominent triumph, this revised edition contains brand new content, including the story of Laver's courageous recovery from a near-fatal stroke in 1998.

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