Tennis Hits the Books
At first glance, the selection of Venus Envy by Jon Wertheim might seem strange. My ambivalence toward biographies of players who are still competing is well documented on this site, and the story of Venus Williams and her professional tennis career has yet to conclude. Additionally, based solely on the title, it might be easy to assume that this book might be more appropriate in February during Black History Month. Ultimately, Venus Envy is the perfect selection to kick off Women’s History Month in March.
One very important thing to understand about Venus Envy is that this book is not a biography of Venus Williams and she is a relatively minor figure in the narrative. Instead, Wertheim’s book is a “year in the life” composite of the WTA tour. In 2000, women’s professional tennis was full of big personalities. It was also the waning moment in time when direct access to players without the intervention of agents and publicists was possible. What emerges is a candid and blunt reality of friendship, conflict, and drama.
Venus Envy was Jon Wertheim’s first book. In a discussion on the “No Challenges Remaining” podcast in 2020, he was very candid that it is generally not the book that he is proud to discuss. His primary reservations about his effort is that there is too much gossip. While Venus Envy is certainly not reflective of the serious sports journalist that Wertheim has grown to be, I think he is a little too hard on himself. The book is well written and conveys a lot unique and interesting tennis information. Somebody had to write this book, and we are fortunate that it was Wertheim.
It is tempting to look at the very young looking picture of Wertheim on the book jacket and assume that the title Venus Envy was the product of adolescent humor. Wertheim is quick to point out that one of his many learning experiences in writing this first book was that even as the author he didn’t have the authority to either select or veto the title. The exact word he used 20 years later to describe his feeling about the title selected by the publisher is “cringe.”
Wertheim dishes out unvarnished truths in Venus Envy. One important example of that is the relationship between Mary Pierce and her father. Jim Pierce was banned from the tour over violent abusive behavior toward Mary, her competitors, and other people in and around the tour. In what is perhaps one of the saddest and most profound statements made by a player, Mary Pierce professed that the abuse she endured under her father may have ultimately made her a stronger player. It might be true, but the ends certainly don’t justify the means.
On a lighter side, in 2000 the most downloaded image off a new-fangled communication medium known as the internet, was of Anna Kournikova. Her critics then and now will observe that she enjoyed massive popularity with the fans… and corporate sponsors, despite the fact that she never won a single WTA tour event at any level. The fact that she was one of the highest paid players solely on the strength of endorsement deals and appearance fees rather than her performance on the court was resented by the other players. She was not well-liked in the locker room.
Wertheim delivered fascinating behind the scenes detail on running a tour event focusing on a tournament that year in Oklahoma City. His direct access to Sara Fornaciari, the tournament chairwoman, personifies the behind the scenes machinations and hustle required to conduct a successful event. Finesse is required to comply with WTA tour rules while enticing players to the event that in turn attracts sponsors and spectators to the tournament. As an example, appearance fees are banned by the WTA. However, “Promotional Fees” are permitted. Wertheim does a great job explaining the differences and intricacies.
One of the most sympathetic figures in Venus Envy is Monica Seles. Though her horrific stabbing by a deranged Steffi Graf fan happened seven years earlier, she was still suffering psychological effects. The modern phrase to what she was going through is Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In a detail I probably never would have noticed on my own, Wertheim observed that Seles would frequently reposition her chair for better visibility of the fans behind her. While interacting with the public was a challenge to her for obvious reasons, she emerges as gracious and accommodating to tennis fans. The strength is to her credit.
Lindsay Davenport was in the prime of her playing career and in fact was the Champion of the Australian Open in 2000. Wertheim accompanied her on her trophy photo shoot was one of the more humorous scenes in the book as she muttered complaints about the absurdity of it all. Davenport was clearly one of the most well liked and respected player on the tour. Since everybody liked her, everybody talked to her. Consequently, she pretty much knew everything that was going on within the player community. Reflecting on her current career as a tennis analyst and commentator, nothing seems to have changed in that regard.
It is compulsory to discuss Venus Williams in conjunction with Venus Envy. To set a moment in time, at the turn of the year in 2000, the Williams Sisters had exactly one grand slam Championship between them. Serena Williams won the US Open in 1999. Venus Williams had yet to win a major and was regarded as a candidate for early retirement. In fact, Venus missed the first tournaments of the year due to ongoing injuries. She rallied to win both Wimbledon and the US Open, which were her first two major Championships. The Williams Sisters also teamed up to win the doubles gold medal in doubles at the Olympics.
Without that late season surge by Venus, there is no telling what the book would have been titled. It would most certainly not be Venus Envy. I can completely relate to Wertheim’s chagrin over the title. In fact, that directly contributed to this book languishing in the mid-tiers of my reading list for way too long. When I finally picked it up, I was rewarded with an entertaining and informative experience. It is a great read and I recommend it to other tennis fans highly and without reservation.
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- NCR Book Club – “Venus Envy” by Jon Wertheim, No Challenges Remaining Podcast, Episode 251a, April 1, 2020.
- NCR Book Club Author Chat – Jon Wertheim, No Challenges Remaining Podcast, Episode 251b, April 3, 2020.
