The Future of Tennis

At the heart of the men’s tennis game for some years have been the Big Four: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal. Since 2006, only three other players have won a Grand Slam Tournament, and no one else has been ranked world No. 1. But since 2013, the dominance of the Big Four has come under sustained and increasing pressure. New players are challenging Djokovic, Federer, Murray, and Nadal. The rivalry between the old guard and (mostly) young contenders makes this the golden age of tennis. Nick Kyrgios beat Nadal in the fourth round of 2014 Wimbledon. In 2017, David Goffin beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo; Dominic Thiem beat Murray in Barcelona; Sascha Zverev beat Federer in Montreal; and Denis Shapovalov beat Nadal, also in Montreal.
In The Future of Tennis Philip Slayton and Peter Figura examine a selection of the players outside of the Big Four and introduce the reader to the great depth of field in the men’s game and the personalities that enliven the sport. Complete with stunning photography by Figura, this book will answer questions about who some of the other players on the tour are, what drives them, their foibles and eccentricities, and more. The perfect gift for tennis aficionados!

Philip Slayton is the author of Lawyers Gone Bad, Mighty Judgment, Mayors Gone Bad, and Bay Street: A Novel. After graduating from Oxford University, he pursued a career in law but retired in 2000. Philip and his wife, writer Cynthia Wine, were founders of the Port Medway Readers Festival, a highly successful summer literary festival. Peter Figura is a tennis writer and photographer with more than forty years involvement in the game. He has been a player, coach, and umpire. He is a regular contributor to two tennis magazines, and his freelance work for Canadian Press has been published across Canada. Peter also works as a photojournalist for Newspix, a major European photo agency.

“This book is perhaps the best tonic for any tennis fan who fears for the future of the game in the inevitable, post-Roger Federer era. A delightful marriage of photography and graceful prose.” --Peter Bodo, ESPN.com tennis columnist and author of The Courts of Babylon: Tales of Greed and Glory in the New Age of Professional Tennis
“A compelling combination of original photography and insightful commentary.” --Andrei Medvedev, 1999 French Open finalist, Team Ukraine Davis Cup captain
"A great book. It charts the future of men's tennis in perceptive and engaging prose, illustrated profusely by some of the best tennis photography I have ever seen." -- Karl Hale, Tournament Director ATP World Tour 1000 Masters Toronto
"This book advances a fascination for a new era in tennis. After Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray other myths will rise and flourish, but not immediately: after all it takes at least a decade to create a legend, but the book casts intriguing and intimate portrayals of the champions who will have to emerge from the shadow of the Four. Portraits and excellent images, which offer a glimpse into the future." --Gianni Merlo, President of International Sports Press Association, reporter at La Gazzetta dello Sport