Grand Slam Summers

Grand Slam Summers is the definitive narrative chronicle of the U.S. Open-the most electric, unpredictable, and quintessentially American of tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments. From its genteel beginnings at Newport Casino in 1881 to the high-tech, high-energy spectacle of Flushing Meadows today, the book traces how a once-amateur championship transformed into a global sporting juggernaut. Through thirty richly detailed chapters, this fact-driven history captures the tournament's evolution across playing surfaces, cultural shifts, and legendary rivalries. From the rise of icons like Ashe, Evert, Connors, and the Williams sisters to the global dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, the story of the U.S. Open unfolds as both a tennis saga and a reflection of American society. Whether chronicling Billie Jean King's groundbreaking activism, Coco Gauff's 21st-century breakthrough, or the roar of night sessions under Arthur Ashe's retractable roof, Grand Slam Summers delivers a comprehensive and compelling portrait of the tournament that defines late summer in New York-and the world of tennis beyond.