Peter Underwood - Author of The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis - talking tennis from the pre-Open era of Bill Tilden, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales a Australians Hoad, Emerson, Rosewall a Laver.
Episode 6 - Interview with Australian writer Peter Underwood, author of The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis. Peter and I discuss the pre-Open era when professional tennis players were prohibited from playing in tennis' high profile events such as the Grand Slam tournaments (Australian, French, Wimbledon, US Championships) and Davis Cup. During this era, these tournaments were reserved only for "amateurs" players who made money from "under the table" payments and minor sponsorships.From the 1920s through 1968 the select few who had the opportunity to play professional tennis made a living by playing head-to-head barnstorming tours traveling from city to city and by playing a small number of professional tournaments like the US Pro, Wembly Pro, and French Pro. Peter Underwood brings to life stories featuring Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzalez and the great Australians Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, and Ron Laver. Additionally, we talk about how and why the tennis world finally united to bring professionals and amateurs together to start the Open era in 1968 which lead to the tennis boom of the 1970s.Have a suggestion for a Serve and Return Podcast guest? email Chris at cmtrieste@gmail.comChris' book - 14 Great Coaches: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Coaching, Have A Lasting Impact https://www.amazon.com/14-Great-Coaches-Lessons-Coaching/dp/1546856625/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8aqid=asr=Serve and Return Website:http://serveandreturnpodcast.buzzsprout.comTwitter:@serve_returnpod