The Cruelest Game cover art

The Cruelest Game

Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Cruelest Game

By: Matthew Futterman
Narrated by: Catherine Whitaker
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £16.69

Buy Now for £16.69

Season's Savings | £0.99/mo for 3 months

£5.99/mo after 3 months - terms apply. Cancel monthly
A riveting exposé of professional tennis by revered journalist Matthew Futterman (of The New York Times and The Athletic), The Cruelest Game offers never-before-reported access to the daily routines, mindsets, and personal trials faced by today’s major stars and tomorrow’s rising newcomers • Best Book of the Summer: Boston Globe, Bloomberg, LitHub, Kirkus

“Matt Futterman is one of the clearest modern-day journalistic voices in tennis.... A great read for all sports fans.”—Billie Jean King

Alcaraz, Sinner, and Shelton . . . Sabalenka, Gauff, and Świątek . . . Djokovic, Williams, and Nadal. The story of modern tennis shines with immense fortune and glamour—as well as unrelenting high stakes—like the game has never seen before. Players excel and implode under excruciating pressure, alone on the court for the world to see. With legends like Rafa, Roger, and Serena retired and Novak trying to figure out when to go, a new generationof electric stars has burst onto the scene and begun their quest for the secret codes that will allow them to thrive at the top of a brutal game.

Matthew Futterman, whose dynamic insider reporting has placed him at the center of the tennis world, now takes us inside this rarified sport as it has never been seen. From private practice courts to the tunnels beneath the major tournament stadiums, from training academies to faraway wartorn hometowns, Futterman sits us down with the stars whose relentless drive leads them to battle against a game of millimeters, and explains the off-court tensions that can both lift and destroy them. With unmatched access to the top players and coaches, and their unique psyches and personalities, The Cruelest Game is a breathtaking account of what it takes to succeed, the price that is paid, and the insatiable competitive spirit that propels the rarest of athletes to greatness. Sports Tennis Game
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
So interesting and thought-provoking throughout. What a strange world professional tennis is! I found this book fascinating.

A must-listen for tennis fans

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautifully written, beautifully read and whether or not you are a tennis fan, the psychology and personal tales of elite sports people is fascinating. It’s a book I shall return to listen to again and again

A tennis highlight of the year

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m a huge fan of Matt and The Tennis Podcast and to listen to the audio version was a delight.

A must read for tennis fans

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.