I just finished Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played by Jon Wertheim. The book is an account of the 2008 Wimbledon Men’s finals match, but it’s about much more than that. Written by a Sports Illustrated reporter, it provides: an in-depth analysis of what most tennis cognoscenti agree was the greatest match ever; a biography of both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal; a discussion of what it takes to be a world-class athlete; a look at the culture and dynamics of the professional tennis circuit; and a paean to why competitive sports, professional or not, matter.
I must confess that I’ve been playing tennis since I was 8 and I’ve been a serious fan of the game as long as I can remember. This cuts both ways: I’m certainly biased in favor of a book devoted to tennis, but I’m also more qualified to criticize any shortcomings. However, you won’t hear any gripes from me. Wertheim, who is a really stylish and intelligent writer, had me from the get-go and I enjoyed every digression (and there are many), even as I longed to get back to the play-by-play. And of course I knew the outcome! (If you don’t know that Nadal upset Federer in five sets, there’s a strong possibility that you wouldn’t be interested in the book.)
What makes the book particularly compelling is that Federer and Nadal, while each very likeable and superb athletes, are so different in playing style and personality. Everyone who follows tennis will have a favorite – it’s sort of like Ted Williams vs. Joe DiMaggio (or for Beatles-lovers, Paul vs. John) – but even if you’re a fan of Roger (like me), you can’t help but come away with a deeper appreciation for Rafa.
Apart from all the “inside the game” stuff, which is, again, pure catnip for someone like me, there’s a universal message about sports and life in general, which is made possible because both players are so clearly decent and sportsmanlike both on and off the court. Whatever one’s talents, and these guys clearly are one-in-a-million, the notion that we can pursue our chosen métier with passion, strive to do our best, and not hang our head or undercut the other guy when (inevitably) defeats occur, is at once both obvious and profound. And if that isn’t a ringing endorsement for the place of sports in our lives – and for this book itself – I don’t know what is.