Sphere nets ‘hugely entertaining’ story of Wimbledon’s first winners
Little, Brown imprint Sphere has acquired The First Champions: The Wimbledon Rivals Who Saved Tennis by Mark Laurence and David Berry, billed as an “extraordinary account of the men and women who pushed the boundaries of tennis and helped to establish Wimbledon as one of the world’s most significant sporting events”.
Publishing director Tig Wallace acquired world all-language rights including film, TV and merchandising directly from the authors, with publication scheduled for May 2027 to coincide with Wimbledon’s 150th anniversary.
The description reads: “The very first Wimbledon winners, Spencer Gore, Frank Hadow, John Hartley, the Renshaw twins, Maud Watson, Blanche Bingley and Lottie Dod, who were as famous as Federer in their day, have now faded into obscurity. Together, these stars ensured that the game invented as a country house recreation in the spring of 1874 turned into a sport which is now played and watched by millions across the world. This book tells you how they did it, while managing their deep rivalries, complicated personal lives and the pressures that came with their success.”
Wallace said: “Mark and David have delivered a superbly researched, hugely entertaining look at the early days of lawn tennis and Wimbledon. The first champions they cover were fascinating mavericks and rule-breakers: men and women whose off-court exploits entertained as much as their on-court prowess. We couldn’t be prouder to publish this at Sphere and shine a light on an important piece of tennis history, in time for Wimbledon’s 150th birthday.”
In a joint comment, Laurence and Berry said: “After five years of extensive research that has taken us from the grass tennis courts of Cheltenham to the clay courts (and wine bars) of Cannes; from the gravel courts (and tea plantations) of Sri Lanka to the lakeside courts of St Moritz, we are delighted that Sphere will be publishing these untold stories of the early men and women who won Wimbledon. Their talent, fierce rivalries, and remarkably rebellious Victorian lives saved lawn tennis from the fate of other now long-forgotten pastimes. They also illuminate what it still takes to be a great sports hero a century and a half later, the sacrifices you make and the cost you often pay to become a champion.”
