Throughout the site we mention a couple of books worth buying if you can find them.

Jeanne Cherry’s “Book of Antiques & Collectibles” by Amaryllis Press 1995 ISBN 0-9646571-0-4
A fabulous introduction to all things tennis- racquets, clothing, balls, art etc. 185+ pages

Seigfried Kuebler’s “Book of Tennis Rackets” by Kuebler GmbH ISBN 3-9802903-9-5 English edition
Racket history, manufacture, brands from early days to late 1990’s. Comprehensive effort with plenty of photos and updates are planned as collectors submit photos and information. 600+ pages. Also, a 2010 update has now been launched in very limited numbers.

ONLY 50 LEFT & AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM www.tennisboutique.com

Gianni Clerici “The Ultimate Tennis Book” by Follett Publishing ISBN 0-695-80559-2 1975 English edition.
Also published in Great Britain under the title “Tennis”
A very good book about the history of tennis from the 1500 hundreds, to the modern game. Excellent. 300+ pages

Recently, Wimbledon Society Museum Press has reproduced the 1874 ” The Game of Sphairistike or Lawn Tennis” by patent recipient and original game promoter Major Walter Wingfield. Only 38 pages but a true piece of tennis history. Available currently from Angus and Robertson in Australia on request. ISBN 9781904332817

In relation to Australian Tennis, there have been many books written, perhaps more consistently around the 1950’s era and into the 1960’s. Most of these related to books by players, however some excellent books have been produced by Alan Trengove and Jack Pollard.

There have also been some excellent Club books and State Association books some old and some newish. One of the better websites to look for books like these on is www.booksandcollectibles.com.au and of course checking out your local opportunity shops is another good way to patiently find copies.

Here are some good ones for you to look for:

General Australian Tennis or State History

Lawn Tennis in Australasia by “Austral” (of the Referee) R.M.Kidston 1912

(See pictures below)

An Illustrated History of Australian Tennis R.S.Whitington 1975

Australia’s Wimbledon Champions by Allan Kendall 1995 (nephew of Jack Crawford now in his late 80’s)

Tennis The Greats 1920’s -1960’s by Adrian Quist & Jack Egan (an ABC TV book c1984)

Lawn Tennis the Australian Way by Jack Pollard 1963 reprinted updated 1971

Game, Set and Glory by Bruce Matthews 1985

Australia and the Davis Cup by Alan Trengove 2000

The Story of the Davis Cup by Alan Trengove 1985 Excellent statistics

A Century Of Queensland Tennis 1988 by Sunshine Publishing for the QLTA

Tennis West (History of Tennis in West Australia) by Harry Phillips

Country Cracks, The story of NSW Country Tennis Ron McLean

Some excellent Club Histories

Kooyong LTAV “A Serve to Authority” Richard Yallop (includes the Australian Open until it moved to Melbourne Park in 1988) 1992

Royal South Yarra Tennis Club also by Richard Yallop 1984

The Sweet Spot (Geelong Tennis Club) BY Graeme Kinross Smith 1982

Amazing Grace (History of Grace Park Tennis Club) by Joseph Johnson and researched by Clive Oliver 1989

Australian Open

Our Open 2004 (an excellent compilation of ex player stories about the Tournament with results from over the years). The 100 years of official results is also good for researching but you can find results for all grand slams under our links page.

Player Books

Crowded Galleries by Dame Mabel Brookes (wife of Norman & with tennis chapters by him) so an exellent insight into the period when he won Wimbledon and the Davis Cup with Anthony Wilding. Also includes Norman’s top ten list as viewed by him from the mid 1950’s. 1956

My Game by Lew Hoad 1958

Winning Tennis by Frank Sedgman 1955

Rosewall 20 years at the top by Peter Rowley 1976

Aces and Places by Harry Hopman 1957

The Margaret Smith Story 1967 by Margaret Smith as told to Don Lawrence

Home The Evonne Goolagong Story by Evonne and Phil Jarrat 1993

Overseas Books

I am not trying to list everything here but books which contain a good commentary on Australian players.

The Game My 40 Years in Tennis by Jack Kramer with Frank Deford 1981

The Bud Collins History of Tennis Encyclopaedia and Record Book

The Fireside Book of Tennis by Allison Danzig and Peter Schwed 1972

This book produced in 1912 was the first one we know of that covers the History of Tennis in Australia, written by an Australian, from the beginnings to 1912. It includes all manner of information about players, techniques, The Davis Cup and in particular Norman Brookes’ efforts during Cup play and at Wimbledon.

Plus, many early results for the interstate and state championships. What is even better is that this copy is signed by the Author who was also a very competent player and journalist.

In Wallis Myers book Tennis At Home and Abroad 1903, Australian Les Poidevin does give readers an insight into the development and latest news from tennis in Australia.