[Sidney Wood, David Wood]The Wimbledon Final That Never Was . . . And Other Tennis Tales from a By-Gone Era (pdf){Zzzzz}

The only time in the history of Wimbledon that the men’s singles final was not played is told in detail by the crowned champion in this illuminating tennis biography. Sidney Wood won the 1931 Wimbledon title by default over Frank Shields—his school buddy, doubles partner, roommate, and Davis Cup teammate—in one of the most curious episodes in sports history. Wood tells the tale of how Shields was ordered by the U.S. Tennis Association not to compete in the championship match so that he could rest his injured knee in preparation for an upcoming Davis Cup match. Three years later the story continues when he and Shields played a match at the Queen’s Club for the Wimbledon trophy. Also included are a compilation of short stories that deliver fascinating anecdotes of the 1930s and a signature document of the play and styles of 20th-century tennis legends.

Publisher: New Chapter Press (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0942257847
ISBN-13: 978-0942257847

Editorial Reviews
Review
"Even if you have never picked up a tennis racket or watched a tennis match, you will unconditionally enjoy this wonderful book about a bygone era when athletes were gentlemen first and competitors second. . . . Wood's tales of the now (and then) famous is delightful, and at times sobering." —www.hamptons.com


"[Wood] is George Plimpton-esque in his marvelous prose which gives one a Great Gatsby feel to recollections of the champions he competed (very successfully) against and then observed through the modern era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal." —www.WorldTennisMagazine.com (July 14, 2011)


"The book's charm lies in the way it recreates early 20th century tennis history. . . . A rich source of stories about tennis history." —Long Island Tennis Magazine (December 1, 2011)
About the Author
Sidney Wood was an American tennis player who was crowned men’s singles champion at Wimbledon in 1931. He was also a singles finalist at the 1935 U.S. Championships, played for the U.S. Davis Cup team in both 1931 and 1934, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964. David Wood is Sidney's son

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Fabulous Stories!
By Ewing S. Walker on October 5, 2013
Everything from Brooke Shields' grandfather to Bobby Fisher, Errol Flynn and Charlie Chaplin. Endless stories of great amusement. Great entertainment.

The Wimbledon Final That Never Was...And Other Tennis Tales from a Bygone Era
By Cynthia Cantrell on July 4, 2011
As its title suggests, Sidney Wood's "The Wimbledon Final That Never Was...And Other Tennis Tales from a Bygone Era" takes readers on a literary journey far beyond the 1931 tournament in which then-19-year-old Wood won the biggest title in tennis in a walkover when fellow American Frank Shields was forced to withdraw.

Shields may be better known today as grandfather to actress and model Brooke Shields, but as Wood notes in the book, "he was a legend of a man in his time." After meeting at the Roxbury School in Cheshire, Conn., the pair became lifelong friends, doubles partners, Davis Cup teammates, business partners, and co-inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964.

The book, published by David Wood after his father's death in January 2009 at age 97, is a well-written and often humorous collection of Sidney Wood's joyfully recalled memories of his youth, in which he "literally lived in tennis shoes," and highlights from his remarkable tennis career.

Stories include becoming the youngest-ever player to compete at Wimbledon at age 15, when he faced No. 1 seed Rene Lacoste in 1927; the infamous non-match for which Shields was ordered by the USTA to rest his injured knee for Davis Cup duty (which the Americans ended up losing to Great Britain); the "private understanding playoff" duel between he and Shields three years later; cavorting with celebrities such as Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, and Errol Flynn; and business ventures such as partnering with golf legend Arnold Palmer to open a laundry and dry cleaning chain.

Additionally, Wood critiques the best strokes and players from his lifetime. In some areas, David Wood weaves narration to provide context