Very Good

Hardcover with dustjacket. Inscribed by Author to contributing photographer. 

The Australian Open has become the richest annual event in Australian sport. and one of the four great tennis championships of the world. In Grand Slam Australia Joseph Johnson traces the development of this tournament from its humble beginnings at the Warehousemen's Ground in Melbourne's Albert Park in 1905, when only seventeen players contested the men's singles. through to the international, multi-media extravaganza of today, when top players from all over the world converge on Melbourne in the hope of winning a Grand Slam title.
In the early days the titles were known as the Australasian championships. and were twice held in New Zealand. in Christchurch and Hastings. At one time or another all the mainland capital cities of Australia have hosted the event.
We meet all the Australian champions of yesterday and today. On the men's side we get to know legendary figures such as Sir Norman Brookes and -Gentleman Jack- Crawford, through to more recent stars such as Ken -Muscles- Rosewall and -"Newk". Among the women we meet the ill-fated. five-times Australian champion Daphne Akhurst and the graceful Joan Hartigan. and then are given fresh insights into modern superstars like Margaret Court and Evonne Cawley. Grand Sion Australia is one of
the most exciting and thoroughly researched books yet written on Australian tennis.