Strokes of Genius

In 2008 Wimbledon was a stage set for an epic battle and a rivalry as dramatic as that of Ali-Frazier, Palmer-Nicklaus, and McEnroe-Borg. Five-time champion, Roger Federer, was on track to take his rightful place as the greatest tennis player ever. But in the last few minutes of daylight after a glorious festival of tennis, a coronation was witnessed that was not the heir apparent, but instead the swashbuckling, 22-year-old Nadal.The match had been a four-hour, forty-eight minute informercial for everything that is right about tennis: a festival of skill, accuracy, grace, strength, speed, endurance and determination. In this fascinating recreation of the game, Wertheim follows Nadal from his cold pre-match shower and insistence on carrying his tennis racket (though surrendering his bag to be carried) onto the court, and a very different, calm, Kit-Kat-eating Federer strolling on in his limited edition cardigan. Not just a battle of two of the greatest tennis players ever, it was a battle of two very different characters.
Strokes of Genius deconstructs this defining moment in sport, using the match as the backbone of a provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining look at the science, art, psychology, technology, strategy, and personality that go into a single tennis match. For fans of the art of amazing competition in sport, this is a compelling study of the mechanics and art of a legendary game. L. Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and the author of five books. His work has been featured in The Best American Sports Writing numerous times.