TRAILBLAZERS

Spanning the globe and more than a century, this young readers’ edition of tennis champ King’s adult title offers a whirlwind tour of other powerhouse female players.

After a brief introduction to the sport and an exploration of how Title IX affected women’s athletics, the authors dive into one- to two-page biographies accompanied by stylized portraits in dynamic poses. King and Matthews have selected a wide range of players, from international celebrities such as Venus and Serena Williams to potentially less recognizable names including Maria Bueno (known as the São Paulo Swallow) and pioneering wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer. While the breadth of information is inspiring—avid tennis fans will find many new names to research and admire—the biographies themselves offer simultaneously too much and not enough detail. Many entries provide lists of championship titles and awards won, which become difficult to differentiate within the context of so many elite players. King and Matthews also highlight players’ work off the court, such as championing racial equality, mental health awareness, and disability inclusion. But the profiles often don’t explain how the women achieved their various social impacts, as in the entry lauding co-author King for strides in pay equity without mention of the persistent lobbying, sponsorship deals, and threatened boycotts she deployed to accomplish her purpose.

Tennis fans will find some aces here, but this collective biography struggles to balance the stats with the social change.