Players at Wimbledon have shown that they are keen to not only develop forehands and backhands but their minds also in setting up a book club. Members will meet at every Grand Slam event to compare reading material. The first five books recommended shouldn't prove too taxing.
They are The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (Stephen King), The Greatest Generation (Tom Brokaw), Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain), Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) and Bella Tuscany (Francis Mayes).
This column has come up with the following material for individuals: Pride and Prejudice (for Martina Hingis), Hard Times (Jennifer Capriati), The Importance of Being Earnest (Pete Sampras), The Ideal Husband (Andre Agassi), Great Expectations (Tim Henman) and Teach Yourself Tennis, Intermediate players (Greg Rusedski).
On an equally frivolous note, John McEnroe has come up with a wacky concept to make the men's game more attractive. The former Wimbledon champion advocates using your head and feet soccer style. He dismisses the no let, no advantage suggestions that have been employed at an amateur level as not nearly enough.
"I am suggesting that you could use your head or your feet . . . soccer is a good game for tennis. It would be fun and would create more banter between players . . . say you are up 4-2, 40-0 and hit a big serve: it is returned short so you just head it."
McEnroe (40) is partnering Steffi Graf in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon this year.
