The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis by Futterman, Matthew

A riveting exposé of professional tennis by revered journalist Matthew Futterman (of The New York Times and The Athletic), The Cruelest Game offers never-before-reported access to the daily routines, mindsets, and personal trials faced by today's major stars and tomorrow's rising newcomers - A Boston Globe and Bloomberg Best Book of the Summer

"Matt Futterman is one of the clearest modern-day journalistic voices in tennis.... A great read for all sports fans."--Billie Jean King

Alcaraz, Sinner, and Shelton . . . Sabalenka, Gauff, and Świątek . . . Djokovic, Williams, and Nadal. The story of modern tennis shines with immense fortune and glamour--as well as unrelenting high stakes--like the game has never seen before. Players excel and implode under excruciating pressure, alone on the court for the world to see. With legends like Rafa, Roger, and Serena retired and Novak trying to figure out when to go, a new generationof electric stars has burst onto the scene and begun their quest for the secret codes that will allow them to thrive at the top of a brutal game.

Matthew Futterman, whose dynamic insider reporting has placed him at the center of the tennis world, now takes us inside this rarified sport as it has never been seen. From private practice courts to the tunnels beneath the major tournament stadiums, from training academies to faraway wartorn hometowns, Futterman sits us down with the stars whose relentless drive leads them to battle against a game of millimeters, and explains the off-court tensions that can both lift and destroy them. With unmatched access to the top players and coaches, and their unique psyches and personalities, The Cruelest Game is a breathtaking account of what it takes to succeed, the price that is paid, and the insatiable competitive spirit that propels the rarest of athletes to greatness.

Author: Matthew Futterman
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Published: 08/04/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.30w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780385550727

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2026

About the Author
MATTHEW FUTTERMAN is an award-winning veteran sports journalist and the author of two previous books, Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed and Players: How Sports Became a Business. He has worked for The Athletic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger of New Jersey, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.