There’s more to tennis than what happens between the lines. The best writing about the sport isn’t just about winning—it’s about mindset, identity, control, confidence, and what it really takes to compete. Some books are sharp and reflective, others bold and emotional. All of them go beyond the surface.
These are five of our top picks at Forty-Love. A curated edit of stories with substance—chosen for players, fans, and anyone drawn to the clarity tennis demands.
1. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Fiction
Vibe: Fierce, layered, cinematic
Carrie Soto is a retired Grand Slam legend with ice in her veins and zero interest in being liked. When a rising star comes for her record, she stages a comeback at 37—and what follows is part love story, part battle cry.
Yes, it’s fiction. But it’s grounded in the real emotional weight of legacy, pressure, and sacrifice. Whether you’ve played tennis or just love a good redemption arc, Carrie delivers.
Bonus: you’ll want to underline half the dialogue.
2. Unstoppable by Maria Sharapova
Genre: Memoir
Vibe: Cool, disciplined, quietly defiant
Sharapova tells her story with the same calm intensity she brought to centre court. From arriving in the U.S. as a seven-year-old with no English, to winning Wimbledon at 17, to surviving injury, criticism, and comebacks—Unstoppable is about ambition without apology.
What makes this book sing is the detail. The grind, the routine, the headspace. She doesn’t ask for sympathy. She just shows you the work.
A stylish read with serious backbone.
3. The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
Genre: Performance / psychology
Vibe: Minimal, timeless, quietly brilliant
This one’s less about how to win matches and more about how to get out of your own way. Gallwey’s classic unpacks the mental tension between trying and trusting—between controlling the game and feeling it.
Written in the 1970s, still completely relevant today. Whether you’re serving under pressure or overthinking your backhand, The Inner Game is a reset.
Short, sharp, and best read more than once.
4. Open by Andre Agassi
Genre: Memoir
Vibe: Raw, magnetic, unforgettable
Open isn’t just a tennis story—it’s a portrait of someone unravelling and rebuilding in full view of the world.
Agassi goes deep: into the loneliness of winning, the mess of identity, and the freedom that comes with burning down your own image. It’s brutally honest, often funny, and written with real soul (credit to ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer).
You don’t need to be an Agassi fan to love this book. But you will be by the end.
5. Pressure is a Privilege by Billie Jean King
Genre: Memoir / motivation
Vibe: Direct, empowering, iconic
Billie Jean King doesn’t waste words. This is a tight collection of life and leadership lessons from one of the most influential figures in sport—on and off the court.
She talks about pressure not as something to avoid, but something to earn. About using your voice. About showing up with intention.
If you need a reset, or a reminder of why you started, this one’s short, sharp, and exactly the right kind of bold.
Honourable Mentions
- String Theory by David Foster Wallace – Highbrow essays on Federer, footwork, and the art of watching.
- Levels of the Game by John McPhee – A beautifully slow study of one match, one era.
- Rafa by Rafael Nadal & John Carlin – For fans of obsession, humility, and wild forehands.
Final Thoughts
Tennis is full of precision. These books aren’t just about hitting the perfect shot—they’re about what it takes to keep showing up. Whether you're playing, recovering, or just recharging, keep one of these nearby.
Forty-Love