Documenting the successful journey from political turmoil to international tennis fame, this compelling memoir chronicles the highs and lows in the life of Wimbledon champion Jan Kodes. Detailing the early days of darkness and family persecution in cold war Czechoslovakia, the complexities of becoming a professional tennis player under a totalitarian regime is explored. The thrilling victories at Wimbledon and the French Open are highlighted, along with two final-round runs at the U.S. Open. Tennis fans and history buffs will delight at this copiously illustrated biography that outlines the fascinating path from Communist disapproval to an eventual induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.