**The Tennis Court** by Nick Pachelli offers a fresh and visually stunning take on the world of tennis through a photographic journey of 200 of the most breathtaking courts across the globe.
As Billie Jean King, the iconic tennis champion and equality advocate, notes, Pachelli’s book captures what makes tennis so special, from its global reach to the people who love and champion the sport. While every tennis court may share the same basic dimensions—a 78-by-36-foot rectangle divided by a 3-foot-high net—the combination of elements like surface, location, weather, acoustics, and even air density makes each court unique.
In this captivating collection, Pachelli profiles some of the most iconic courts, including the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon’s All England Lawn Tennis Club, where hawks keep birds from disturbing the immaculate grounds, and the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium and Court 17 at the US Open in New York, where fans gather in the tens of thousands each summer. He also highlights the shifting clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland-Garros, whose vibrant color changes under different lighting and weather conditions.
Pachelli takes readers on a tour of remote courts, like New Zealand’s Waiheke Tennis Club, accessible only by plane, ferry, and a long walk. He showcases architectural marvels, like the indoor Tennis Club de Belgique, where natural skylights illuminate the court like a stage, and hidden gems, like Tennis Club San Stin in Venice, with its secluded clay court shrouded behind a vine-covered wall.
The book explores courts in unexpected places, from urban settings like the Knickerbocker Field Club in Brooklyn to Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. Some courts are extreme, such as a remote Scottish court in the wild, a beachside court in Spain that emerges when the tide recedes, and a Kenyan court made from termite mounds.
Beyond the visual splendor of these courts, Pachelli’s writing delves into the passion and obsession tennis ignites. Whether on a grand stage or a modest neighborhood court, tennis is where players confront their strengths and weaknesses, find joy or frustration, and face their true selves. Through Pachelli’s masterful curation and immersive prose, **The Tennis Court** celebrates the beauty, diversity, and profound connection that the game inspires worldwide.
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