First published 2016
David Foster Wallace turns his literary attention to the tennis world he knew as a former junior competitor. The collection opens with Wallace analyzing Roger Federer's extraordinary abilities on court. He dissects Tracy Austin's autobiography with sharp wit, examining how athletes translate physical mastery into words. Wallace profiles Michael Joyce, a disciplined player approaching but never quite reaching tennis stardom. He navigates the commercial spectacle surrounding the U.S. Open tournament. Wallace reflects on his own experience as a junior player who showed promise but fell short of greatness. Throughout these five pieces, Wallace applies his competitive understanding and obsessive fan knowledge to illuminate both the physical artistry and psychological complexity of professional tennis. The writing captures Wallace's deep love for a sport that shaped his youth and continued to fascinate him as a writer.
Genres: essays, literary-criticism, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, biography-memoir, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: competitive-sports, personal-journey
138 pages · Hardcover · Library of America