Ashe vs Connors
Wimbledon 1975 - Tennis that went beyond centre court
Published on 28. May 2015
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-78131-395-4 (ISBN)
Description
Early in July of 2015, tennis will celebrate the 40th anniversary of what might be the greatest upset in the annals of tennis.
There have been other key matches in which the disparity between the favourite and the victorious underdog may have been more pronounced by standards of the sport. But none has been more resonant, or flush with meaning and contrasts. For this was not just a contest between a mercurial, seemingly unstoppable prodigy and an undemonstrative veteran, it also embodied a clash of values in a rapidly changing world, and in the sport itself.
This is the story of two tennis greats lives, from the local park courts of their boyhood to the summer of 1975 an this most resonant of Wimbledon finals, which Ashe won to become the first black male Champion. However, like the best sports books written, this is much more than a just a story about one match, but a metaphor for a changing world, the end of an era and a last triumph for the passing guard.
There have been other key matches in which the disparity between the favourite and the victorious underdog may have been more pronounced by standards of the sport. But none has been more resonant, or flush with meaning and contrasts. For this was not just a contest between a mercurial, seemingly unstoppable prodigy and an undemonstrative veteran, it also embodied a clash of values in a rapidly changing world, and in the sport itself.
This is the story of two tennis greats lives, from the local park courts of their boyhood to the summer of 1975 an this most resonant of Wimbledon finals, which Ashe won to become the first black male Champion. However, like the best sports books written, this is much more than a just a story about one match, but a metaphor for a changing world, the end of an era and a last triumph for the passing guard.
Reviews / Votes
'There has surely never been a more extraordinary and bewitching encounter than the 1975 showdown between Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors. Forty years on, their final remains a lesson in how sporting encounters can be won in the head just as much as on the field of play.' 'A smashing book retelling the tale of the 1975 Wimbledon final when Arthur Ashe beat Connors in a remarkable contest'. 'Ashe vs Connors is a journey from a bygone era of 'rock star' behaviour and simpler times and is brought to life with precision by Bodo. Anything as informative and enthralling as this can only add to the sporting knowledge of an aficionado and Ashe vs Connors certainly does just that.' 'There has surely never been a more extraordinary and bewitching encounter than the 1975 showdown between Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors. Forty years on, their final remains a lesson in how sporting encounters can be won in the head just as much as on the field of play.''Ashe vs Connors is a journey from a bygone era of 'rock star' behaviour and simpler times and is brought to life with precision by Bodo. Anything as informative and enthralling as this can only add to the sporting knowledge of an aficionado and Ashe vs Connors certainly does just that.'
'A smashing book retelling the tale of the 1975 Wimbledon final when Arthur Ashe beat Connors in a remarkable contest'.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78131-395-4 (9781781313954)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2015
Aurum
€22.49
Available for download
Person
PETE BODO is one of the pre-eminent journalists writing on tennis today and knew Ashe and Connors. He is also the acclaimed author, with Pete Sampras, of A Champion's Mind (Aurum). He lives in New York.