Tennis Players as Works of Art

<p><strong>Named one of eight Outstanding Books of the Year for its originality (Original Concept) at the 29th annual IPPY Awards in 2025. </strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Inside Tennis Magazine: Inside Tennis Magazine</em> named Tennis Players as Works of Art its Book of the Year: Tennis Players as Works of Art takes us on an inventive journey that touches religion culture psychology and history. Full of lovely art and lyrical vignettes the new volume is a must-read treat that tennis lovers will relish.</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(83 90 98 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Imagine Roger Federer's tennis as a classic Greek sculpture and Rafael Nadal's as prehistoric cave paintings. Picture Lady Pink the first lady of graffiti painting Serena Williams. How many ways can a tennis player be a work of art?</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(83 90 98 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Drawing on expertise as a Professor of Humanities and a nationally ranked tennis player David Linebarger delves into this intriguing question. In his exploration through art literature music religion and mythology Linebarger examines the boundaries between athleticism and artistic expression. Over forty contemporary artists contribute their unique perspectives adding depth and diversity to the discussion.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(83 90 98 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Each short piece in this collection is creative lyrical insightful and occasionally surprising. Through Linebarger's narrative and the artists' visions readers will discover a new lens through which to view tennis-a sport elevated to the realm of cultural and artistic significance.</span></p><p></p><p><em style=color: rgba(83 90 98 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Tennis Players as Works of Art</em><span style=color: rgba(83 90 98 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> promises to transform your understanding of tennis revealing the sport as a canvas where athleticism and creativity converge in unexpected and profound ways.</span></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Independent Book Review</em>: <em>Independent Book Review</em> named Tennis Players as Works of Art one of The Best Books We Read in 2024: This book packs in a lot. Facts and biographical information mix comfortably with emotions spanning joy anger sadness frustration and even pathos...Tennis Players as Works of Art is as rewarding as an absorbing museum exhibit without having to leave your sofa or armchair. And not just for tennis aficionados.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Kirkus Reviews</em>: Over a seven-year period the author compiled a remarkable assemblage of creative pieces by a wide range of artists-paintings photographs and images of sculptures that represented the athletic dynamism of tennis as a sport...Each of the dozens of pieces here are accompanied by the author's commentary and just as often composed in a soaring lyrical manner.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Reader's Favorite</em>: Tennis Players as Works of Art celebrates human creativity athleticism and ingenuity through a combination of art sports and poetic storytelling...As a casual tennis watcher I honestly had never even heard about most of the players featured in this book yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a book for tennis fans poetry lovers and art enthusiasts alike.</strong></p>