Second Serve: My Fall from Grace and Road to Reconciliation

by Roscoe Tanner, Mike Yorkey

Armed with the fastest serve in tennis, Roscoe Tanner, the 1977 Australian Open champion, reached the highest levels of the game, nearly winning the 1979 Wimbledon singles championship against legendary Bjorn Borg.

When his pro career was over, however, Roscoe’s life fell into a sinkhole of financial disasters that led to two divorces, estrangement from four daughters, and imprisonment in Germany and the United States. Roscoe paid his debt to society and has focused on repairing his relationships with his daughters.

These days, Roscoe is living a life of redemption and looking for ways to serve others, which is why he’s titled his book Second Serve. What you’re about to read is a brutally honest account of a celebrity athlete who experienced the highs and lows of professional sport—only to see everything evaporate in his hands.

If you’re looking for an electrifying tale about a prodigal son in tennis shorts, then Second Serve delivers an ace.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2025