I have a deep and special affinity for books that feature such personal, behind-the-scenes stories, anecdotes and analysis from players and lovers of the game, such as The Courts of Babylon, L. Jon Wertheim’s Venus Envy and Andre Agassi’s phenomenal Open. They entertain, capture my imagination and, perhaps, even satisfy some deep voyeuristic impulse. As a result, when I saw that Patrick McEnroe’s new book (co-written with Bodo), Hardcourt Confidential: Tales from Twenty Years in the Pro Tennis Trenches, was being advertised as an “honest, no-holds-barred look” at tennis and tennis’ biggest personalities, I had high hopes for a work that would be chock full of stories just like the one Bodo shared about Courier. Well, Hardcourt Confidential does not quite deliver on that expectation and readers who look forward to reading that brand of tennis writing may not be totally satisfied by McEnroe’s book. However, there is still plenty here that may be of interest to tennis fans.
The most interesting and engaging sections of the book are those that deal with Patrick’s life on the professional tour. He provides many fascinating accounts concerning the unique experience of playing on the men’s tour, how rankings and injuries affect one’s attitude and form, and the emotions at play in comeback wins and stunning losses. Perhaps most intriguing, though, are the parts involving his experiences with Davis Cup. He provides many amusing and enlightening stories about his years as the United States Davis Cup captain and the players who have played for him. His sections about Davis Cup also prove the most surprising because he tells, with much candor, about some of the characteristics that truly frustrate him about James Blake, Andy Roddick and other players who very well may play for him again some day. McEnroe’s insights into the grind of the tennis tour and his personal experiences often prove to be very compelling.
McEnroe’s personal story is also a highlight of the book. His discussion of the complexities of living somewhat in the shadow of a superstar older brother, John McEnroe, is captivating. Thankfully, McEnroe has no illusions about the fact that he has, in many ways, been a beneficiary of having the ‘McEnroe’ last name, and he discusses how he and John have dealt with that over the years and what he has tried to do to make a name for himself. McEnroe’s stories about John and his family present a rather endearing cast of characters and are among the book’s high points.
The book, however, does not quite live up to its “no-holds-barred” billing, which implied to me that it would strive to be somewhat controversial or revolutionary. Perhaps it suffers in comparison to Agassi’s recent memoir, which was certainly both of those things. Many of McEnroe’s stories about other players come off as rather tame and innocent. Some even seem downright recycled (we are presented with another story of Pete Sampras’ already-infamous frugality). His analysis of the current state of tennis also seems stale, like it is comprised of observations made already during his on-air commentary or in other tennis books or articles by tennis columnists. Hardcourt Confidential’s occasional lack of originality sometimes creates a sort of “been-there, done-that” reaction. For example, McEnroe delves into the tiresome hypothetical, “Who would win between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer in their prime?” The debate has raged for years and McEnroe offers little new insight into the already unanswerable question.
Fans of exquisitely written tennis oeuvres, like some of Bodo’s past offerings or Gordon Forbes’ A Handful of Summers, may also be left wanting by the prose in McEnroe’s book. Paragraphs and chapters flow somewhat awkwardly and there are occasionally some very strange, even head-scratching turns of phrase, such as when he talks about Serena Williams “opening a can of whup-ass on Dinara Safina,” or that, for male players, a lack of self-confidence is the “eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the tennis room.” Many hardcore tennis fans will also become frustrated with some of the errors and omissions present, like when the author states that Andre Agassi never beat Pete Sampras at a major tournament outside of Australia (Andre beat Pete at the 1992 French Open) or when he talks about Roger Federer’s history with coaches but makes no mention of Peter Lundgren, the man who coached Federer to his first Wimbledon title.
Whether or not you enjoy Hardcourt Confidential depends in large part on what you’re looking for from it. Fans of the recent spate of unique, evocative tennis writing that pushes the envelope will not find exactly what they desire. What the book does well, however, it does very well. Readers who want a better idea of what professional tennis is like for those who aren’t legends and superstars will find much to hold their interest. The book is at its best – compelling, humorous and illuminating – when McEnroe shares personal experiences from his professional and family life.
You can buy Hardcourt Confidential: Tales from Twenty Years in the Pro Tennis Trenches from our Amazon Store or from major booksellers
- Book jacket design by GTC Art & Design/Phil Rose/Hyperion Books.
- Photo by Mariya Konovalova