Against a seething backdrop of tennis academies, star
athletes and ubiquitous parents, three individuals emerge harboring a dark
secret. Pulling no punches, Vivien Kalvaria faithfully delivers the raw truths
of life in this microcosmic world where elite players travel in packs for
months at a time competing in tournaments across the globe. Delving beneath the
surface, the story covers the genesis and journey of a gifted player while
exposing the complexities and emotional struggles that beset parents and coaches
in the grooming of teen athletes and the seductive elements that drive a father
to mastermind a diabolical scheme. The book moves at a crackling pace with
lavish descriptions of knockdown-dragout matches as the story slipstreams from
the relentless crafting of champions, to a tour of European tournaments and an
astonishing revelation that impels a family toward a very public trial and
shattering climax.