Description

Fred Perry, three-time Wimbledon champion in the 1930s, was one of Britain's greatest athletes of the 20th century. His success on the hallowed Wimbledon turf went unmatched by a British man for 77 years, until Andy Murray's triumph in 2013. Perry was the first player to hold all four Grand Slam titles, and he played a pivotal role in Great Britain's domination of the Davis Cup in the 1930s. Despite his status as a global sports celebrity, Perry was criticized for his ruthless desire to win and was frequently at odds with amateur tennis authorities. In this biography, historian Kevin Jefferys examines Britain's most successful tennis star. He shows how good fortune and tremendous talent aided Perry's meteoric rise to the top; traces his frosty relationship with the British tennis establishment, which continued after he turned professional in 1936; and considers Perry's place among the true legends of the sport.