Racquet Magazine: The Book

I read Racquet Magazine: The Book while watching the 2020 U.S. Open. It was the perfect decision.

The book, which contains essays from the first four years of Racquet Magazine, spans all types of tennis culture. Here’s from the description: “ How should tennis smell? What’s the deal with Andre Agassi’s private jet? What can a professional tennis player learn from Philip Roth? Why is tennis important in Lolita? How was Arthur Ashe like Muhammad Ali? And, crucially, what lessons have we learned from the implosion of that first tennis boom?”

To put it simply, I’m obsessed with every essay.

If you love thinking about the intersections of sports and culture, and you grew up watching tennis (be it Althea Gibson or John McEnroe or the Williams sisters or whoever the superstar was of your generation) — this is for you. Each essay is smart and interesting, and takes a wholly unique approach to the sport. Do you want to learn about the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club, a Wimbledon-like tennis court in Iowa run by an elderly midwesterner? There’s an essay for you. Want to read about Maria Sharapova and her sponsorships? Obviously, an in-depth analysis awaits. Want to read Taffy Brodesser-Akner on the elitism of tennis? Yes. The decline and reemergence of Forest Hills Stadium? Duh. I could keep going, but if anything peaked your interest there — go get yourself a copy.

“I’m targeting the people who are into the Wes Anderson–Bjorn Borg aesthetic,” publisher Caitlin Thompson said in 2017. Caitlin, I’m here.

Rating: ★★★★★