Tennis

'Game Changer' is the story of one young Aussie tennis player's inspirational journey to redefine success and 'making it' in the most unlikely of places.<BR>Ever since age eleven, Chris Bates, has been in search of success. As one of Australia's best young tennis players, he was constantly confronted by the ever present 'wisdom' of Australian tennis coaches who insisted if you didn't 'make it' by the age of twenty, your career, and your life, was a failure.<BR>In this memoir of heartbreaking losses, injury, financial stress, and recurring heart problems, Bates teeters on the edge of quitting and walking away from the sport he loves so much. His last, desperate throw of the dice rests with his arrival in wind-swept Oklahoma, America's heartland, as a student-athlete. What happens in this time at Oklahoma State University as a Cowboy will go on to change his life forever.<BR>Game Changer is an inspirational, un-put-downable memoir recommended for budding athletes, sporting parents, coaches, educators, and anybody embarking on a US College journey as a student-athlete. With trademark enthusiasm and humour, Bates invites you on a journey through this rollercoaster ride of adventure and self-discovery as he struggles to challenge the status quo of 'making it' and redefine what success truly means.

Rod Laver's memoir is the inspiring story of how a diminutive, left-handed, red-headed country boy from Rockhampton, Australia became one of sports' greatest champions. Rod was a dominant force in world tennis for almost two decades. In 1962, Rod became the second man to win the Grand Slam--that is, winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US titles in a single calendar year. In 1969, he won it again, becoming the only player ever to win the Grand Slam twice. Away from on-court triumphs, Rod also movingly writes about the life-changing stroke he suffered in 1998, and of his beloved wife of more than 40 years, Mary, who died in 2012 after a long illness. Filled with anecdotes about the great players and great matches, set against the backdrop of a changing tennis world, Rod's book is a warm and insightful account of one of tennis's all-time greats.

In 2008, 14-year-old Laura Robson shocked the world by giving Britain its first Wimbledon winner in 14 years. From seemingly out of nowhere, the previously unknown teen stormed through the famous tournament to win the girls' singles title, instantly making her the talk of the tennis cognoscenti. With her powerful serve and winning smile she quickly captured the nation's hearts, giving the country a much-needed heroine in a year that had thus far been filled with sporting disappointments. 'We love you, Laura!' read the national newspaper headlines, beginning a fascination with the shy teenager that continues to this day. But with Laura's newfound fame came the weight of responsibility - could she continue her winning streak and place Britain firmly back on top of the game we love so much? For the first time, author Tina Campanella gives you the full story behind Britain's best-loved tennis starlet: her ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and the gritty determination that has seen her become one of the top female tennis players in the world.

As he announces his retirement, relive the story of one of the greatest to ever play the game - Rafael Nadal. This winning memoir, in Rafa's own words, gets to the heart of his major achievements on and off court, and is a fascinating insight into the making of a champion.<BR><BR>'A winner' Independent <BR><BR>'A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes' New Statesman <BR><BR>'As exciting as Rafa himself' Woman's Own<BR><BR>No tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer's record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it.<BR><BR>This book takes us to the heart of Nadal's childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final - a match that John McEnroe called the 'greatest game of tennis ever played' - to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010. <BR><BR>It transports us from Nadal's lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person - who has never before talked about his home life - tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself.

Driven by his love of tennis, Mike Agassi decided to teach his children how to play the game. It was his son Andre’s talent that shone through the brightest, and Andre became dominant in the world of men’s tennis.<BR> <BR>The Agassi Story begins on the streets of Iran, where Mike Agassi was born. Learning to defend himself at an early age, Mike developed a punch that quickly got noticed by the boxing community. After participating in two Olympic Games and getting a taste for a better quality of life, Mike set his eyes on America. It was in Chicago that he decided to focus on tennis, and he moved to Las Vegas so he could play year-round. Knowing that it was too late for him to pursue a tennis career, he made sure to develop his children into great players, and fulfill his dream that way. But his teachings came with a high price, and tensions between Mike and his children threatened to pull the family apart.<BR> <BR>The Agassi Story is a heartwarming look at one family’s turbulent relationship, and their ultimate reconciliation.