Tennis Hits the Books
Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played is a book by Jon Wertheim about the 2008 Wimbledon Final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It would be weird if it were about a match between two other players. While Strokes of Genius is ostensibly about the match, in reality it is a portrait of the rivalry between the Federer and Nadal as it stood at that time.
A lot has transpired in the intervening 12+ years. The match itself was the 18th head to head meeting between the two players. Federer and Nadal have played 22 additional times since the match portrayed in the book. In other words, this particular match came before the midpoint of their rivalry. It is conceivable that they may play a few more times before Federer retires. It is also possible that they may never meet again.
I have been examining this book in the context of two other books, Rafa by John Carlin and Levels of the Game by John McPhee. The comparison to Rafa are unavoidable because both books are about the exact same match. Levels of the Game is openly cited by Wertheim as being inspirational for him as he wrote Strokes of Genius. The Rafa book is a much more direct mimic of McPhee’s work, though the influence goes unacknowledged.
Levels of the Game is the most significant book of the trio from a historical standpoint. It is not so much about the game of tennis but rather about the racial landscape at the time that Arthur Ashe made his breakthrough. Rafa is best positioned as an early biography of Nadal. Strokes of Genius is a compelling portrait on the nature rivalry. In that way it transcends tennis.
Strokes of Genius was successful enough as a book that it spawned a documentary of the match. In fact, a post back in December focused on that film during a week when I had fell behind the reading required to support this series. Strokes of Genius as a book is way better than the movie. That is universally almost always the case.
Wertheim pulls the curtain back to reveal many “behind the scenes” aspects of the match. Pascal Maria was the chair umpire. How he earned that privilege and prepared for the match is fully described. Maria’s own recollections and thoughts as the match transpired are interspersed throughout the match. As the third man on the court he was simultaneously a part of the match and a spectator.
Unique quirks and characteristics of Wimbledon are similarly detailed. Wimbledon is very much a character in the book. As I reviewed my highlighted and bookmarked passages of Strokes of Genius, almost all are themes that will very likely inspire future content on this site. Wertheim provides a treasure trove of fascinating detail.
As an example, the match was very close to being suspended due to darkness. In fact, the Wimbledon officials had made the decision that only two more games would be played when the score reached 7-7 in the fifth set. Who knows what would have transpired if the match had been continued across another day.
At the same time that Wertheim’s book came out with the “Greatest Match Ever Played” subtitle, another book was released by Marshall Jon Fisher which made the same claim about an alternate match. That book has suddenly moved much higher in my book queue.
Strokes of Genius is for true fans of competition in tennis at the highest levels. The vivid and unique details interspersed throughout the book are pertinent to many aspects of competition, general fandom, and history. I am placing it on the mandatory reading list for contemporary tennis fans.
 | Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played |
 | Strokes of Genius (movie) is available for purchase via iTunes. |
 | Levels of the Game |
 | Rafa |
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