Game Changers: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis By Paul Fein
Review by Gary Weichmann
Paul Fein, tennis writer extraordinaire, has again crafted a compendium of his best articles titled GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis. As the title implies, the author has selected articles and interviews with famous players, specific tournament events that complement the premise of the book, and two thought-provoking sections titled “The Great Debates” and “Topical Trends, Turning Points, and Intriguing Questions.”
This book will not fix your backhand or improve your footwork. What it will do is make you think about the game in new ways, ask questions, increase your appreciation of the sport of tennis, and inspire you to improve your game.
So what’s to like about this book? First, it’s controversial. Get ready to read some things you won’t find in other tennis books. Paul Fein tells it like it is. My favorite chapter is “Serena Williams: The Enigmatic Superstar.” Hands down!
Why? Because he challenges the deification of Serena by almost every professional sports and media organization, especially the USTA and ESPN. There is little doubt that this female tennis machine is the best ever, the GOAT, in her gender. However, the author does a deep dive into her accomplishments, records, character, and controversies and exposes some important issues that no one ever talks about.
About the 2018 US Open debacle, he states Serena’s actions “disgraced herself and demeaned the sport.” He discusses the fact that she is occasionally an “ungracious loser” and displays “poor sportsmanship.” And being the professional he is, Paul Fein also compliments her on the many positive aspects of her career and her extraordinary tennis skills.
Second, the book is fun and interesting. Mr. Fein takes on all subjects and puts his personal shine on it. The author ends most chapters with “Fascinating Facts.” They’re interesting bullet points applicable to the content of the chapter. An example is “Chapter 8, The Escape Artist” about Rafa Nadal. “A creature of habit, Nadal takes a freezing cold shower 45 minutes before matches to energize his body and activate his mind.” No thank you.
Lastly, this book is just a continuous flow of information. Mr. Fein’s picture is in the dictionary under “ECLECTIC,” meaning he has mastered the ability to draw from various sources of information. It’s 431 pages and 48 chapters of essays, interviews, human interest features, history, humor, and vignettes. It’s a big read that I recommend tackling one chapter at a time, accompanied by two fingers of Woodford Reserve bourbon neat.
This book has a special place in our home. We like to entertain, and all our friends, relatives, and acquaintances are tennis players. We usually enjoy a cocktail or two and end up in our large family room gathered around a big oak coffee/cocktail table. The centerpiece is this book. The colorful cover inevitably draws someone’s attention and we’re off to the races. Favorite topics: “The Greatest What-Ifs in Tennis History” and “Proposals to Improve Tennis.” Majority opinion: for the most part, leave the game alone.
Stan Smith, who authored the foreword, best summarizes this book when he writes, “If you love the game ..., you will enjoy the read, be entertained by it, and end up more informed about our game and its stars.” It’s that and more.
PURCHASE PAUL FEIN’S BOOK ON AMAZON ➞
*NOTE: If Amazon has no books in stock, the fastest and easiest way to buy the book is to send a payment check or money order for $39.50 — payable to Paul Fein — to his home address: 39 Beekman Drive, Agawam, MA 01001. Paul will send members the book within 24 hours after he receives their check.