International team competitions in tennis offer a thrilling showcase of national pride and competitive spirit. Theoretically, these tournaments unite the world’s top tennis players to represent their countries. When that happens, these events create an electric atmosphere for players and fans.
The Davis Cup: Celebrating 100 Years of International Tennis chronicles the first century of the international team competition. Tennis journalist and historian Richard Evans illuminates the historical storylines and the personalities of those whose names are now engraved on the Davis Cup Trophy. Evans is also the author of “McEnroe: A Rage for Perfection” which was previously reviewed on this site.
The challenge of writing an anthology on this topic is not getting mired in the minutia. Evans crafted The Davis Cup into eras by grouping each chapter along the major themes and personalities that shaped the competition’s history. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
I particularly enjoyed the material on the Australian dynasty created by Harry Hopman. That chapter serves as a “Cliff’s Notes” level biography of the legendary coach. He produced a series of tennis greats, including Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and John Newcombe. Each of those athletes is also profiled in the book.
Evans artfully describes the turbulent eras as Illie Nastase and John McEnroe carried tennis out of the stolid past into the brash modern era. John McEnroe wrote the forward to the book, which is a testimonial to the reverence that he holds for competing in the Davis Cup. Evans reinforces that theme by titling the chapter “McEnroe to the Rescue.”
The final chapter on the 1990s centers around the idea that the tradition of the Davis Cup clashes with the modern era of tennis. Those insights are particularly prescient in light of the recent competition format changes to attract top players and retain the public interest.
The Davis Cup: Celebrating 100 Years of International Tennis by Richard Evans is a must-read for any tennis enthusiast who wants to understand the sweeping narratives of Davis Cup competition. It is a fascinating journey through the rich past of international competition in tennis.
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