A People's History of Tennis

In June, David Berry published a groundbreaking new study: "A People's History of Tennis".

Through the histories of the sport’s clubs and players, David’s book sets out to show that beneath its “establishment image, tennis is a surprisingly radical game”.

He argues that tennis has been a nexus for various social forces, many of them progressive, in Britain and beyond – from feminist protest and reform, to forming new notions of masculinity, to the sport’s emphasis on volunteering and community spirit.

He also underlines those forces in tennis that have sadly not been so inclusive. We talked about the book and how these histories bear on the tennis world today. Can Jack Kramer's tax in the mid-80s become a reality post-Covid? And why should the British Lawn Tennis Association look no further than Phillipe Chatrier's legacy?

A People's History of Tennis is available to purchase from Pluto Press for £14.99. 

Music by Drive Me Home

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