Courting a Tennis Memoir By William Finger
Review by Jimmy Parker
The author describes the role of tennis in his life in vivid terms from the perspective of a now-wiser septuagenarian in a way that draws you in. Despite a thirty-year sabbatical from tennis, Finger’s entire life is affected by tennis experiences. Through all the inevitable vagaries of life’s changes and challenges, tennis remained his constant.
I enjoyed William’s writing; it’s easy to read, it’s honest, and it’s expressive. Most of us can identify with the influences that tennis has had on our paths through life. Courting takes us all the way back to William’s introduction to the game in the Jackson, Mississippi of the 1950’s. Amidst the turmoil of increasing racial tensions of the era, the game of tennis came to occupy most of William’s attention and provided a refuge.
After junior tennis, Finger’s tennis sojourn takes him to varsity competition at Duke University. He describes the highlights and lowlights that every college tennis player has, with amazing recall. Likewise, he is able to recount matches and feelings he had a 35 year-old competitor, now many years in the rearview mirror.
There is about a thirty year period in the middle of William’s life when he is barely playing any tennis - middle-age life gets in the way. The narrative then picks up in William’s late 60’s when he is just beginning to think about getting back into playing tournaments. Now we get the perspective of a survivor of life’s twists and turns as he navigates his way into the rigors of the world of senior tournament tennis. Physical, mental, and even spiritual challenges abound.
Any who have undertaken the challenge of tournament play will identify with the feelings that Finger’s journey back into match competition elicited. A good read.
