Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging

by Gerald Marzorati

An award-winning author attempts to become a nationally competitive tennis player—at the age of sixty—in this “soulful meditation on aging, companionship, and the power of self-improvement” ( The Wall Street Journal ).

Being a man or a woman in your early sixties is different than it was a generation or two ago, at least for the more fortunate of us. We aren’t old…yet. But we sense it Careers are winding down, kids are gone, parents are dying (friends, too), and our bodies are no longer youthful or even middle-aged. Learning to play tennis in your fifties is no small feat, but becoming a serious, competitive tennis player at the age of sixty is a whole other matter. It requires training the body to defy age, and to methodically build one’s game—the strokework, footwork, strategy, and mental toughness.

Gerry Mazorati had the strong desire to lead an examined physical life, to push his body into the “encore” of middle age. In Late to the Ball Mazorati writes vividly about his difficulties, frustrations, and triumphs of becoming a seriously good tennis player. He takes on his quest with complete vigor and absolute determination to see it through, providing a rich, vicarious experience, involving the science of aging, his existential battle with time, and the beautiful, mysterious game of tennis. “Enjoyable…crisp and clean” ( Publishers Weekly ), Late to the Ball is also captivating evidence that the rest of the Baby Boomer generation, now between middle age and old age, can find their own quest and do the same.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, History

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Anita Ashland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting glimpse into what it is like to learn a sport in late middle age once the kids are on their own. I like tennis and have often wondered if it would simply set me up for injuries if I played regularly, but it is compelling how tennis keeps him in good shape (a fitness age of 26 according to a longevity calculator) despite having to take Advil all the time.

In this book we get the rundown on his consultations with various performance coaches, tennis coaches, a visit to a tennis academy, and his exchanges with a Jungian analyst. This makes the narrative a bit of a blur. But it's poignant at the end how having to suddenly tend to his newly widowed father cuts down on his time to play tennis.

Overall my favorite part of the book is his description of the joys of playing doubles and having a consistent doubles partner to bond with. I also like how one of his coaches tells him that he likes working with adult students because they are self-motivated and not there because of a parent or other external pressure. I also appreciate that one of his coaches told him that having less athleticism shouldn't be a bother because it still just boils down to improving your technique and that can happen at any age.

[Pop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It resonated with me as the author is roughly my age and facing similar life issues (lose of parents, empty nest, career wind down, aches and pains) and he uses tennis as an outlet. The difference is he was picking up tennis late in life in a big way with lessons, tennis camps, tournaments and rapid improvement. The book is part tennis tutorial, part comedy and part life lessons. Fun read for me but probably not up my daughters' alleys!

[David Linzee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, in his early 60s, says that he wants to push his body--before it starts pushing him. So he sets out to improve his tennis. If you're the author's age, it's a compelling subject. The author spends a little time reviewing the research on how much potential remains in the aging mind and body, and a lot of time working with the most innovative tennis coaches around. I would have liked the book better if it had been the other way around.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a typical tennis memoir, in that the writing is extremely "literary". At times, the writing is stretching a bit for metaphors. Yet, it is some beautiful writing, and a nice mixture of tennis and the process of aging and all that encompasses. This might be a bit much for someone purely after tennis writing, but for someone who likes the combination, Marzorati does a nice job showing how tennis wove itself into his (privileged and wealthy) life.

[Brian Nwokedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview
Late to the Ball by Gerald Marzorati is a heartfelt and inspiring memoir about discovering passion later in life. As a former college athlete and amateur tennis player myself, this book struck a deeply personal chord. Marzorati’s journey into tennis in his 50s is a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to challenge yourself, embrace a new passion, and find meaning in the pursuit of mastery.

The book explores his struggles, triumphs, and the sheer joy of immersing himself in the sport—not just for the sake of competition, but for the fulfillment of striving toward improvement. From court strategies to the humbling lessons of aging, Marzorati’s reflections are as much about life as they are about tennis.

Why You Should Read This Book?
Whether you’re a tennis fan, a lifelong athlete, or simply someone looking for inspiration to push your limits, Late to the Ball is a must-read. Marzorati’s story speaks to anyone who understands the beauty of discipline and the grit it takes to keep chasing goals, no matter your age.

As someone who resonates with the defensive style of tennis—much like the struggles Marzorati faced when developing his game—I found his insights refreshingly relatable. His reflections on the sport’s artistry brought me back to watching Wimbledon, my favorite event, and admiring legends like Roger Federer, my all-time favorite player.

The book captures the essence of what makes this sport so special: the mental endurance, the strategy, and the way it teaches you to embrace both victories and losses with grace.

Concepts That I Learned That Will Change My Behavior
1. It’s Never Too Late to Start
Marzorati’s journey reminded me that the pursuit of a passion isn’t about age or outcomes—it’s about effort and dedication. Whether it’s improving my defensive game or working on my backhand, I’m inspired to continue refining my tennis skills, no matter the hurdles.

2. The Joy of Incremental Growth
This book reinforced the importance of celebrating small improvements. Marzorati’s approach to tennis as a craft to be honed resonated with me deeply. His patience and persistence have inspired me to focus on enjoying the process of getting better rather than just the results.

3. Tennis as a Reflection of Life
Marzorati’s reflections on aging and humility hit home. Tennis, much like life, teaches us to embrace challenges, respect our limits, and keep showing up on the court—whether we’re having a great day or struggling to find our rhythm.

Final Thoughts
Late to the Ball is more than a memoir about tennis; it’s a story about the transformative power of embracing a passion, especially later in life. Gerald Marzorati captures the essence of why so many of us fall in love with this game: the elegance, the strategy, and the unrelenting pursuit of improvement.

As someone who grew up idolizing players like Roger Federer and Michael Chang, and who now finds excitement in the rise of Jannik Sinner, this book reminded me why tennis holds such a special place in my life. It’s about the beauty of the game, yes, but also about the life lessons it teaches us along the way.

If you’re a tennis fan—or just someone searching for a story about finding joy and fulfillment in effort—I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s left a lasting impression on me, both as a player and as someone striving to live with intention.

Easy to Read: (5/5) 100%
Deep Content: (3/5) 60%
Overall Rating: (4/5) 80%

[Vance Miguel Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but many because I sit in a place of privilege. Gerald’s life lessons are fine, but there’s no class or gender analysis of any of the wonderful privileges he gets to experience in his old age. Hard not to think about while reading.

[Kimberly]

Late to the Ball tells how a man in his 60s decided it was time to play tennis before he became too out of shape. He began by being fascinated in tennis, as I am, then he began the process of pushing his body to play. I found the book interesting and the author is able to share his experiences for those of us who may think about, or not, beginning to be fit as we age.

I enjoyed this book. This book was given to me by NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Glenn Hyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. But you may not like it so much unless you are a tennis enthusiast. I was expecting a little less tennis and a little bit more on latest research findings on how you stay in mental shape through taking up new challenges and learning new skills. It is well-written and an enjoyable read, but not something that is a page-turner. This is a great book for reading when you have some down time that you might want to fill.... All that said, I very much agree with the idea that learning something new and improving your skills, continually trying to be better is a great idea at any age, but especially as we get older.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biggest dilemma after reading this book - should I hide it from my husband? Marzorati is beautiful writer, who makes tennis seem so romantic, noble, life-giving. I like these memoirs that get to meaning of life through sports or adventure odyssey. Reminds me of Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run," and Cheryl Strayed's "Wild."

There are some very poignant parts of the book, such as how he explains the challenge and joy of finding male (any?) friendship; what [spoiler] trumps tennis as a way to pass the time. But also, the book is littered with insights from social scientists, psychologists, tennis coaches, life coaches that give the story depth. I read the book in 2 days, a delightful read.

However, I also feel like I do not want my husband to read this. If he spent the hours and expense on coaching and traveling I would not be very understanding.

[Writemoves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marzorati takes up tennis seriously in his 50s and 60s. While most men his age are slowing up, particularly when it comes to athletic competition, Marzorati hires coaches and consults tennis gurus to improve his game. Marzorati is not only competing with other players but with time and age limitations as well. The book focuses on his struggles to improve in tennis and also details some of the mechanics in perfecting groundstrokes and volleys. As I am the author's age and also enjoy tennis, I found the book fairly interesting. This book may not be as interesting for those who do not enjoy tennis or who are not concerned with athletic limitations because they are relatively young. I admit I found it a bit inspirational – – maybe I'll go out and practice my serves.

[Sarah D Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little mannered in places; needed to adjust its proportion of tennis to Updikey midlife navel-gazing. Still, that's the stated topic, and it's a smoothly written, fast read.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes

“Marzorati teaches us that to be a novice is a gift.”

“Sometimes, Tom, we have to do a thing in order to find out the reason for it. Sometimes our actions are questions, not answers. John le Carré, A Perfect Spy”

“Personally,” she said, “I don’t see any reason why someone who is satisfied cannot also be unsatisfied—insomuch as still seeking.” It was like when I read somewhere that you could be both a happy person and an unhappy person, because happiness and unhappiness, according to what neuroscience had discovered, were situated in and triggered by different sides of the brain—were discrete and did not cancel each other out. Some people were very happy and very unhappy, too. Me, I was a sunny melancholic. Now I could see I was a satisfied seeker.”

“Tennis, I believed, is the most difficult sport there is to master, requiring speed and endurance and hand-eye coordination and psychological toughness.”

“Alexandra responded: “I heard an interview recently with Linda Ronstadt on Fresh Air”—the public-radio show. “She was talking about the first time she heard Emmylou Harris sing. She, Ronstadt, said something like, ‘Her voice was incredible, and I could either stand to the side and envy her, or try to meet her and sing with her.’ I really liked that way of putting it. Envy is an initial recognition of a capacity. Nothing wrong with recognizing.”

“I learned those gracious on-court phrases—the serve “just back”; the passing shot “too good”; the “sorry,” however insincere, after a ball you’ve struck slaps the net cord and somehow has enough momentum to just eke over the net, irretrievable—that soften the failures and disappointments of tennis.”

“Kirill now did his Federer and Djokovic. Both use what’s called a “platform” serve. The feet are kept about shoulder-width apart throughout the serving motion, which provides stable support. There’s a weight transfer from back foot to front during the racquet swing, the hips rotate, and the back foot swings forward to complete the hip rotation—not unlike when a pitcher throws a baseball. Djokovic (Kirill’s imitation was spot-on) arches his back more deeply than Federer; and, watching more closely, as Kirill had urged, I picked up that Djokovic began bending his knees as soon as he tossed the ball, while Federer paused till the ball was reaching its highest point, a yard or so above his head, before his knees bent down and forward toward the court, his back shoulder dropped, and he launched into his swing.”

"He was careful not to say it would be easy, and it would not be. It would turn out to be about the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to learn. Which meant that if and when I did learn it, I would have a whole lot psychically and emotionally tied up with the accomplishment. It is one thing to confront the things you cannot do in your sixties. It’s another to get the hang of something at that age—something difficult and by its very nature temperamental, which serving a tennis ball is."

"His unforced errors would accumulate—balls heading to the back fence like missiles—and eventually he would commence the self-berating and racquet throwing: signs that the match was mine.”

“Also, remember the big picture here,” he went on to say. “You took a step backward to take a step forward. You gave up a serve that you got in much of the time and started over, from the beginning, on a real serve. Very few people at any level of tennis are willing to do that—even though that is the thing you have to do to improve in tennis. Always.”

“You come to know, playing tennis, that fatigue has a lot to do with your mental state”

“I found myself thinking: Is this the real reason, however unconsciously, I had been drawn to play tennis? To discover, through playing, within the court’s pressing, disclosive confines, that everything I thought about myself was untrue? That I had been hiding myself, or aspects of myself, from myself all these years?”

“I play to grow. Tennis and pleasure go hand in hand for me. No matter how I play, whether I win or lose, I experience the joy of working on my game, both inner and outer. I play in the present and this state of focus helps my performance, my freedom from anguish, and my growth as a player and a person. I love to compete as much as or more than I love to win. I accept my results with dignity and class. I make no excuses. I respect and appreciate my opponents, knowing that they are my teachers.
I play in joy, knowing that every time I step on the court I grow.”

“It’s clear—from neuroscience and experience—that the aging brain takes longer to collect and compute data to the body, and that the aging body takes longer to absorb this data on the muscular level, especially under pressure. This is why older drivers shouldn’t go too fast, and why older students of tennis don’t know half the time where their legs and excitement are carrying them.”

“It can be enough, at afternoon’s end, to have something to reach for.”

“Fading and losing would not rob me of my stubborn joy.”

“Time speeds up as we age—an illusion we feel as real, especially in our sixties and beyond, however difficult it has been to prove experimentally. Richard A. Friedman, a professor of clinical psychology at the Weil Cornell Medical College, has a theory about this. He suggests that we perceive time as having unfolded more slowly in our younger years because that is when we did the bulk of our learning. “It takes time to learn new tasks and encode them in your “memory,” he has written. Friedman points to studies showing that the greater the cognitive demands of a task, the longer its duration is perceived to be. We don’t sense those years as having flown by because they are crowded with memories like my dad’s, memories of learning, memories that can be summoned later in life because their creation was careful, deep, and meaningful. Friedman’s advice to the aging is: If you want time to slow down, become a student again.”

Notes From: Gerald Marzorati. “Late to the Ball.” Apple Books.

Check out this book on the Book Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/late...

Late to the Ball: Age. Learn. Fight. Love. Play Tennis. Win.

[Marc Machiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Face the Failing Light With a Racket and a ball

For those of us who have lived a lifetime in our heads, there is a bittersweet pleasure to finally inhabit our bodies, more present, more in the moment and sweatier, even as those bodies wear out, beset by aches and injuries. Retirement or a downshifted career can afford you this pleasure leavened with pain. But it comes with effort and commitment, no less than our youthful studies. The author offers a meditation and memoir of his struggle to lose himself in a late life love affair with tennis, whose satisfactions and frustrations seem so removed from his work as an editor for the New York Times. Ironically, his years as an editor qualified him to write engagingly of his struggle to escape cerebral preoccupations and pursue what he calls “embodied learning.” My struggles track his closely, though I’m a few years older, already retired and still on the fence as to whether Tennis is truly a late life organizing principle, or just a joyous pastime. After reading this, I intend to play harder.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not remember how I came to read this book - I believe I had read a review of this in the newspaper or magazine.

It is a true story, written by a man who has been an editor of the New Yorker and Harper's magazine. He is obviously a very talented writer. Gerry lives with his family in New York City. He has never played tennis competitively, but at the end of his 50's he decides he wants to become a serious competitor on the senior tennis circuit.

He dives headfirst into his quest, working with top trainers and traveling to different training camps around the US to learn from pros. He tackles both the physical and emotional aspects of the challenge. Although he faces the challenges of playing an arduous sport at an older age, he is also looking to find meaning within his life and his game.

I did enjoy it, but I would have liked it much more if I actually liked tennis!

[JDK1962 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, not so much for the (very) detailed tennis information--I haven't played since the early 80s--but for his insights on learning a new skill later in life, and on aging and the transition between work and retirement. The author is much more of an extrovert than I am, so I did have some problems identifying with him: I'm the kind of person who can go on a vacation and never engage in a single conversation with a stranger. The problems faced in the book are admittedly the first world problems faced by those older Americans lucky enough to be reasonably healthy and financially secure, but if that's your life, those are the problems you work through (along with gratitude for not having a different, harder set).

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love tennis and wanted to love this, but I had hoped for a lot more about the author's life outside of tennis. He would drop his wife's name here and there and I wondered about the impact of his new big interest on her and their relationship. I also thought throughout that he must have retired before taking his tennis journey and then at the end it is clear he is still working at The Times Magazine. Which made me wonder why nothing about juggling tennis and work, or comparing/contrasting tennis and work, made its way into the story. That said, it was a pretty breezy read and the theme of aging and its impacts was intetesting. Also there were a few play by plays on the court that brought me way back to my competitive tennis days.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this okay - parts were really interesting and parts were too self-helpy. I love tennis, so I found his quest to see if he could become a good player with such a later start intriguing. He has the resources to explore this much more so than most people could, so it was nice to see some of the things out there we don't normally see (like the guy that wired him all up so he could map his strokes). A lot of options that us common folk wouldn't even know about. But a lot of it also veered in to a lot of his own psychoanalysis that was, to me, much less interesting. I will say that he found a genius way to write off a whole bunch of tennis lessons, kudos for that, for sure!

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book overall, offering much insight into the mental part of the game. I enjoyed the lofty pieces about the relentless goal to improve. As a player, I can identify with much of the struggles, achievements, and humble moments the author describes. Overall, there's a slight heir of pretentiousness, but the book still works overall. My only real complaint is the choppiness of the book. It doesn't flow all that well at times.

At the end of the day, a great story about learning something new later in life, and in Gerry's case, going all in. As someone constantly working on my game I will take away a lot of his tips and sentiments when trying to improve and get better

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who would really love to be able to dedicate the time and money to significantly improve her tennis game, this book was kind of like an aspirational "to-do" list. Aspirational b/c I have neither the time (and especially not the money) to throw at one of my favorite pastimes like Marzorati clearly does. However, I enjoyed reading about his journey to relative tennis greatness later in life. Lots of interesting stuff about the psychological and physical aspects of tennis. For any tennis player who is passionate about the sport or wants to improve his or her game, this is a worthwhile read.

[Ann Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and I probably would have liked it even more if I knew something about tennis! Despite being ignorant about tennis (particularly how it is scored and what all the strokes are - basically everything!) I enjoyed the story about a guy in his sixties working at becoming "good" at something he took up late in life. That is something many of us can relate to whether it be sports or otherwise.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to most of the more serious books that I have been reading, this book was a joy. I am a tennis lover and player and, therefore, appreciated his references to specific players and his yearning to be a better player. I am older, too, and realize that my ability to play is changing; however, I feel similar to the author as I experience similar joy and frustration playing tennis and love every minute of it!

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's fun to read a book about tennis, Marzoreti's background as an editor, not writer, heightens the beauty of David Foster Wallace's tennis writing at this author's expense. It was hard to stay engaged with the self indulgence and kitchen sink full of blended aging and sports psychology, but one final observation, attributed to Cornell's Richard Friedman, deserves to stick: "If you want time to slow down, become a student again."

[Michael Battistone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very well-written and readable. My relatively low rating reflects my view that it was a bit egocentric and self-absorbed, though in fairness, I don't think the book could have been written any other way. The author clearly LOVES tennis, and I highly recommend this to those who share his passion. I think I was looking for something with a bit more depth and substance, but recognize that this is a personal view, and others may find that in this book.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book and it was read by the author. I read it because the author took up tennis later in life and wanted to be really good at it, even competing in tournaments and flying across the country for lessons from well-known coaches. I could only relate to the taking up tennis later in life part, but enjoyed his story. It frequently dived into specific matches, scores and outcomes. My takeaway from this book is that it’s never too late to try something new and get really good at it.

[Jeesun Hunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hopeful to feel a little more inspired as someone who is also a beginner adult tennis player (younger than Gerry). But his experience, I think, is not typical for the average person unless they are rich. Private coaches, country club memberships, adult tennis camp, etc. There were some things I could relate to but for much of the book I mostly felt envious that "pay to play" is a thing even for adults.

[Nathan Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a tennis aficionado, I love books on tennis in general. Marzorati's story about learning to play tennis is inspiring, in part--he is a latecomer to the game. Also, the author captures the "real world" of tennis struggles, which is not the world we see on television, necessarily. Great read for those interested in the sport, especially at the club level.

[Danny Theurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a washed-up baseball player who decided to pick up tennis in his 30s, I found such unexpected joy reading this book. Marzorati finds a way to weave a very honest, human look at aging around a pursuit to pick up and master tennis later in life. The journey is incredibly realistic (you will not find anything close to the author upsetting Federer at Wimbledon) and is one worth the read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not just for people interested in tennis! The book is really a meditation on aging, learning and happiness. The tennis is really just the vehicle for the author to examine what it means to get older, how we learn and what it means to still be learning as we get older and what happiness is.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking up tennis late in life, check. Contemplating the effects of aging on your body, check. Considering your own mortality, check. I loved this book, but there is a lot of tennis in it, so it may not be a great read if your not into the tennis part.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Late to the Ball: Age. Learn. Fight. Love. Play Tennis. Win" by Gerald Marzorati. This memoir includes wonderful explorations of the life of the mind and the life of the body, including the possibility of developing muscle wisdom late in the game. 🎾📘