Margaret Court: The Autobiography

by Margaret Court

"For sheer strength of performance and accomplishment there has never been a tennis player to match Margaret Court" International Tennis Hall of FameWith 64 major grand slam titles to her name, Australian Margaret Court stands alone as the greatest tennis player of all time.Born in a country town to a hard-living father and a very protective mother, Margaret's first racquet was a timber paling and her first step on a tennis court was via a hole in the fence. Against all odds, she built an indomitable game based on speed, power and a fighting spirit.After a stellar 17-year career of 24 singles, 19 doubles and 21 mixed doubles titles, three Grand Slams (one in singles, two in mixed doubles) and seven individual years as world No.1, Margaret retired to be with her husband and children.Following a period of depression and seclusion, in 1991 she became an ordained minister. Today, 'Pastor Marg' preaches to thousands around the world and her charities feed, clothe and house many lost, homeless and hungry souls.This long-awaited autobiography explains what lit a fire in the poor girl from Albury to make her the most extraordinary champion tennis has ever seen and the proud woman she is today.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2016

About the author

Margaret Court AC MBE (née Smith; born 16 July 1942), also known as Margaret Smith Court, is an Australian retired former world No. 1 tennis player and a Christian minister. She is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Reviews

[Dariush Youkhaneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Her last name just changed after she got married , She was a brave , young and disciplined woman, a young lady from an unknown place in NSW Australia called Albury. We see immaturity of her young ages in a few chapters. As we read further, we see a different Margaret , whom life made her tougher! I didn't know about her faith till a google search and her ministry in Christianity world. This was exactly the type of book , I liked to read ! An ordinary Margaret turned to be an extraordinary person. It seems being a famous tennis player , haven't changed her inside out. The emptiness of her heart only was met by the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit.
Mrs Hopeman , the only person made her alot of trouble! Which later on died of a cancer. The young Margaret Smith , didn't go to party , her whole life was playing tennis and tennis and tennis.
She was brave to leave her hometown for pursuing her big dream, Albury in NSW could not take her anywhere. Later On after wining beyond wining , from Australia championship to Wembeldon. She made it , the first woman to win in Wembeldon. The first woman travelling with two kids to win the games. She trained hard , she played well from rise and down , still nothing satisfied her thirsty soul! All this big story was to prepare her for a bigger plan. She came to a point , found by God and everything got started to bring meaning and purpose. Her soul found rest as we read it in her few last chapter of her book. She opened up talking about her comment about marriage and why she isn't favourite as others.
This book is a book of thriving , loving, working hard for your dreams , purpose and plan of God. A tennis court still is on her name in Melbourne Australia, Margaret Court arena.
Now , Margaret Court preaching and speaking On her own ministry platform , whom God appointed her to be. Along side with her husband Barry.
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[Deborah Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I only knew she was a tennis play due to Margaret Court arena being named after her. I am amazing by her grit and determination to do the best she could and to stand up for what she believed in.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Margaret Court’s autobiography. However I often felt like I wasn’t the intended audience. While her tennis career took up less than half her life, three quarters of the book details these events. I like tennis, but sometimes the details of particular tournaments were a bit tedious, even though for Margaret they were significant events.

In her early days of tennis Margaret inadvertently challenged the cultural image of women as being mild and submissive, not everyone appreciate this. However, Margaret was fortunate to find those who saw her talent and determination, and she received good support through some difficult times.

The remaining quarter of the book is about her life after tennis and the journey that lead to her becoming a Pentecostal Pastor. Margaret had always been a devout Catholic so becoming a Pentecostal was quite a shift in spiritual direction, and then becoming a pastor even more so. This section of her story seems quite compressed after the leisurely description of her tennis achievements. In fact her own battle with cancer took less than a page. As a pastor who believes in healing, some more explanation of her acceptance of a mastectomy would have been welcome.

Margaret finishes the book with a quick comparison of some of her achievements compared to others, in particular Serena Williams. I wondered if this is because Serena is closing in on her record of 24 grand slam single titles? Margaret has won more regular singles titles, and more grand slam doubles titles than Serena is ever likely to win. It seems to chafe Margaret that Serena is sometimes refers to as the greatest ever female player. Nevertheless, it’s hard to make such comparisons when their achievements were in different time periods, under different conditions.

Margaret has endeavoured throughout the book to be honest and frank. Sometimes however, this comes across as being abrasive and insensitive. At several junctions she wonders why she didn’t get the affirmations from the crowd and the media that others received. I suspect it is because her honesty is interpreted as abruptness or terseness. Her opinions come across much more strongly than she realizes.

The book would have flowed better with some extra editing, but overall it was an interesting read.

[Veronika Winkels]

A breath of fresh air. This is a story of true individuality, of independent thinking, not just grit and determination- although it is about those things too. Court's monumental achievement in her tennis career is conspicuously absent from popular acknowledgement of tennis legends of history. She touches upon this only briefly, but outlays the reasons why she suspects this is the case, namely, her defence of traditional marriage, which she has no qualms admitting. Whether you agree with her beliefs or not, her complete disregard of what people think is inspiring. She doesn't need to be liked. She needs to stay true to her convictions. The opposite is truer for most of us.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very detailed history of the many tennis titles accumulated by this remarkable player. I found the latter quarter a little too heavily religion based, however, when you read of the success in this field also you have to admire the drive applied here as in the tennis career.

[Amanda Whitburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know a lot about Margaret Smith/Court as her tennis was just before my time.
I loved the recounting of the tennis tournaments and her tenacity as a player.
Once she started espousing her homophobic views towards Martina Navratilova I stopped reading so I’m not sure how it ended.

[J Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book and very inspiring. Captures her raw emotions and feelings towards moments in her life, especially in her great tennis career. But what a 180-degree transformation when she met Jesus! Instead of serving tennis balls she is now fully serving the Lord with all her might!

[Debbie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a true champion Margaret Court is. Champion of tennis and now champion of Jesus Christ. Her story is compelling and her life is an inspiration. Hardworking, dedicated and courageous - if you need some encouragement today, I recommend reading Margaret’s story. You’ll be impressed!

[Casper De Vries]

I am searching for this autobiography.
Please when find email me casperluan@gmail.com
Many thanks.

[Garrett Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and highly readable account of the greatest Female tennis player of all time.