A true jewel!

Wimbledon is the home of tennis. There's no question about it. For the last week of June and the first week of July, the nation is gripped by tennis. Even people who are not all that into sport enjoy watching it. The nation's tennis courts (or at least what's left of them after the 1980s took their toll) suddenly fill up with eager young tennis players.
 
I'm a big tennis fan. It's probably the only sport that I was ever truly any good at playing, which is why I have a soft spot for it. I've been watching Wimbledon (and other tournaments) for as long as I can remember. The French Open is currently playing on the screen next to this one as I'm typing). I can recall where I was and what I was doing during the 1987 final between Ivan Lendl & Pat Cash (tagline: who will win? Cash or Czech?) I was at a scout camp, listening on the radio!

I watched the unknown Boris Becker beat Kevin Curren in 1985. I watched the three Edberg-Becker finals from 1988-1990. I watched McEnroe thrash Connors in 1984. I rejoiced in 1996 when Sampras didn't win (the Krajicek/Washington final). And I'll never forget last year's epic when Nadal finally came of age on grass and beat Federer.
 
Sadly I'm too young to remember Virginia Wade's 1977 win. I do remember watching countless Navratilova wins, Steffi Graf's skill in the 1990s and Martina Hingis' stunning win in 1997, just a year after winning the doubles with Helena Sukova. I've not been so much of a fan of the women's game during the reign of the Williams sisters, but there time may soon be passing.
 
Doubles tennis is great too. How can you forget the neverending 1992 men's doubles final when McEnroe & Stich eventually triumphed? The great pairings of Woodbridge and Woodforde and subsequently Woodbridge and Bjorkman?
 
Mixed doubles? Also great. Navratilova still winning a Grand Slam title in 2003. 1987. Bates & Durie win for Britain. And 20 years later Jamie Murray teams up with Jelena Jankovic to bring another mixed doubles title home. How long will it be before his brother does the same in the singles?

 
 
If you like tennis as much as that, this book is completely and utterly for you.
 
It tells the story of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, how it moved to the place we know as Wimbledon in 1922, and all the changes that have happened since then, from amateur tennis to the dawn of the open era in 1968. The arrival of televised tennis in 1937 is covered. And it moves right up to the present day with the new number 1 court, new broadcast centre, the Millenium Building and the very latest addition, the retractable roof above Centre Court. Perhaps we've seen the last Cliff Richard sing-along (and yes, I can remember watching that).
 
The book is edited by one of the current "voices of tennis" John Barrett, who has been commentating on Wimbledon since 1971, and Ian Hewitt. It's been put together with care, attention and love. The pictures are stunning, there's some great archive material, and there are so many great stories from so many great tennis players.
 
It is a must have for the tennis fan and ought to find its way onto your bookshelves right now.