The Five Greatest Tennis Films Of All-Time
What could be more fun or more educational than watching a great tennis movie? There are many to choose from and here is my list of the five best of all-time, and what you can take from them.
1) Federer: Twelve Final Days
This is a behind the scenes documentary that follows the last twelve days of the career of Swiss born Roger Federer who most consider the best tennis player in history. In addition to being heart-warming and poignant, this film gives you a close up last look at what may be one of the world’s greatest role models. Called “The Federer Express”, Roger Federer had a unique combination of grace, elegance, power, and poise. He continually made winning look easy and even inevitable. His influence transcended sport. A poll taken in 2010 ranked Federer as the second most trusted and admired person on earth, right behind Nelson Mandela. So if you have a youngster that is serious about tennis, sit down with them and watch this documentary. The benefits will be considerable.
2) Naomi Osaka: Three Episode Netflix Series
Naomi Osaka is one of the most interesting athletes on earth. She was ranked #1 in the world, is a two time US Open champion, an activist for human rights and a renowned advocate for mental health in sports. She is also a tragic figure which is painfully evident when you watch this documentary. She is a shy, sensitive young talent who has had a hard time managing fame and fortune. Her depressive state and cheerlessness is obvious in every frame of this film; such is the cost one pays when drinking from the poisoned chalice of fame and fortune. The three episodes were filmed between 2018 – 2020 during her ascension, but shortly thereafter came her mental collapse signaled during the 2021 French Open. That was the well-chronicled debacle where she refused to meet with the media, was fined $15,000 and quickly withdrew, sighting mental illness concerns. Following all this came her relationship with rapper Cordae, her pregnancy, and the firing of coaches. Her embattled relationship with the media has had a real impact on professional golfers as well with both Colin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy getting into the controversial habit of ignoring all media requests following losses.
3) The Gambler
This 2014 crime drama is based upon the Fyodor Dostoevsky novel of the same name. It starred Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Jessica Lange and Emory Cohen as the college tennis star. It is a story of a self destructive literature professor with a big gambling problem and may be Mark Wahlberg’s greatest performance. Emory Cohen plays an emerging tennis star taking one of Wahlberg’s classes and the film emphasizes the crucial importance of natural giftedness if one is to rise to the top of any field—be it literature, tennis or basketball. This obvious and painful reality seems to be true. I have worked with many world class athletes in sports like golf, basketball, soccer, football and boxing. It is a truism that a big part of their world class status is genetics. As an example, Tiger Woods was so freakishly talented and he could hit a ball s close to a pin, with one hand using a seven iron as he walked down the fairway talking to you. This is not a nautical gift, this is god given. Of course you must couple that with a superb work ethic, some luck and very good support team that stick with you for the ten years but here is no denying that natural talent is a must. This film demonstrates that cruel and unfair fact very well. It is a fun and worthwhile film to view.
4) Carlos Alcaraz: My Way
This is another three-episode Netflix series documenting the Spanish-born Carlos Alcaraz. With his winning smile, charisma and good looks he has become the heir apparent to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic as the greatest tennis player on earth. And similar to Osaka, the series reveals the pain, stress and anguish that fame always brings. Since Carlos is still such a young man, the documentary unveils his struggle to hold onto his youth, his family, and his joy of tennis in the face of the endless obligations that stardom demands. This documentary is a cautionary tale of what happens when you get what you wish for.
5) King Richard
This biographical sports drama stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. The film is one of the great sports films, comparable to “Friday Night Lights” and “Any Given Sunday” and won Will Smith the Best Actor Academy Award. Unfortunately Will Smith channeled Richard Williams too well, which may explain his loss of control at the Academy Awards when he smacked host Chris Rock in the face. The film shows Richard Williams doing the impossible by raising two girls on the mean streets of Compton, California in such a way that they both ascended to the top of the tennis world. Mr. Williams instinctively knew how to protect his daughters from coaches who wanted to overexpose them to the stress of national competition. The Williams story contrasts sharply with the Osaka story in that neither of the Williams sisters imploded at a young age. The lesson here is that if you have a young prodigy, you would do well to safeguard them from both fame and fortune until they are old enough to handle it.
