The Other Side of the Racquet

About the Book

About the Author

About the Author John Bacon’s credentials to write about tennis are impeccable. Ranked 837, 489 in the world a year ago, his standing shot up by three during the past twelve months. Experts agree he could have won a five-set match from Pete Sampras years ago, and no one doubts his claim never to have lost to a player ranked in the top ten. He was one of the first to use Maxply and T2000 racquets—and one of the last. This is the stuff of legends. Renowned for losing the easy ones and choking at game, set and match points, the inventor of the drop lob has turned easy victory into inexplicable defeat on grass, clay and hard courts in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americans - and not always to better players. His many trophies followed reluctant pairings with various club champions. They are tastefully displayed, but nobody seems to give a damn. The world will no doubt welcome Bacon’s Immutable Laws of Tennis with the same lasting enthusiasm and loyal support it lavished on the white tennis ball. Reality check: Bacon is a retired diplomat who did in fact play at each of his stops during his travels and life overseas. His most memorable match had him teamed in Israel with Lt. Col Steve Hamm to play a match against a team from the Israeli Foreign Office. The story would be better had they been kosher, but that is doubtful.