Best Tennis Coffee Table Books

Introduction

There arehundreds of excellent books about tennis, but surprisingly few true tennis coffee table books. The best combine exceptional photography, premium craftsmanship and compelling storytelling to celebrate the sport both on and off the court.

‍

Some focus on legendary players. Others document the history of Wimbledon or the evolution of the game. A select few explore remarkable tennis courts and destinations around the world.

‍

This guide reviews what we believe are the finest large-format tennis coffee table books available today. While each takes a different approach, they all share one thing in common: they're books you'll want to leave on display long after you've finished reading them.

‍

‍

How We Chose These Books

Rather than comparing books that all do exactly the same thing, we've chosen titles that each represent a different side of tennis.

‍

Some celebrate legendary players, others document the history of the sport, while a select few explore remarkable tennis courts, destinations and the culture surrounding the game.

‍

To help readers find the book that's right for them, we considered:

• Photography and visual appeal
• Print and production quality
• Originality
• Depth of storytelling
• Overall reading experience
• How well each book represents its particular corner of the tennis world

‍

‍

#1  The Tennis Travels - Europe (Sideline Studios)

Why It Stands Out

Rather than documenting professional tournaments or famous players, The Tennis Travels – Europe takes readers on a journey to more than fifty remarkable tennis courts across Europe that are all open for guest play.

‍

Every destination has been personally visited and photographed, creating a consistent visual identity throughout the book while combining travel writing, history and original photography.

‍

The result is a coffee table book that not only inspires but also encourages readers to experience these extraordinary places themselves.

‍

Best For

Travellers, tennis lovers and anyone who enjoys discovering remarkable places through sport.

‍

Pros

• Original photography throughout

• More than 50 playable courts in remarkable destination (344 pages)

• Finest high quality in a large-format production

• Combines travel, architecture and history

• Excellent value for a premium coffee table book

‍

Cons

• Covers Europe only

• Less focused on professional tennis history

• Does not focus on famous players

‍

‍

‍

Related stories from The Tennis Travels

Explore some of the destinations featured in the book here:

‍

• Lake Como

• Cornwall - St Ives

• Jungfrau Region

• Bohuslän

• Il San Pietro di Positano

‍

‍GET THE BOOK HERE!

‍

‍

‍

#2. Roger Federer (Assouline)

‍

‍

Why It Stands Out

Assouline's tribute to Roger Federer is one of the most beautifully produced sports books available. Combining iconic photography with personal stories, it celebrates one of tennis' greatest ambassadors in luxurious large format.

‍

Best For

Roger Federer fans and collectors.

‍

Pros

• Exceptional print quality

• Beautiful photography

• Luxury collector edition

‍

Cons

• Dedicated exclusively to Federer

• Covers one career rather than the broader tennis world

‍

‍

‍

‍

#3 Rafael Nadal (Amphora)

‍

‍

Pros

• Exceptional photography spanning over 20 years

• Premium oversized coffee table format

• Intimate images from one of Nadal's closest photographers on tour

‍

Cons

• Focuses exclusively on Rafael Nadal rather than the wider world of tennis

• Limited editorial depth, with photography taking precedence over storytelling

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

#4 Tennis: The Ultimate Book (teNeues)

‍

Why It Stands Out

A comprehensive visual history of tennis, documenting legendary players, unforgettable matches and the evolution of the sport through exceptional archive photography.

‍

Best For

Readers wanting the definitive visual history of tennis.

‍

Pros

• Extensive historical coverage

• Hundreds of photographs

• Premium oversized format

‍

Cons

• Primarily focused on professional tennis

• Less emphasis on destinations and recreational tennis

‍

‍

‍

‍

#5 Wimbledon: The Pinnacle of Sport (Vision sports)

‍

Why It Stands Out

Few sporting events possess the history and prestige of Wimbledon. This beautifully illustrated volume captures the atmosphere, traditions and defining moments of the Championships.

‍

Best For

Wimbledon enthusiasts.

‍

Pros

• Rich historical photography

• Beautiful production

• Timeless subject matter

‍

Cons

• Dedicated exclusively to Wimbledon

• Limited coverage beyond the Championships

‍

‍

‍

#6 Courtship: For the Love of Tennis (Rizzoli)

‍

Why It Stands Out

Courtship explores tennis through architecture, design, fashion and lifestyle, offering a different perspective from books centred on players or destinations.

‍

Best For

Readers interested in tennis culture.

‍

Pros

• Elegant design

• Beautifully curated

• High production quality

‍

Cons

• Focuses more on lifestyle than tennis travel

• Less destination-oriented than some readers may expect

‍

‍

‍

#7 Paradise Courts (ERG Media)

‍

Why It Stands Out

A visual collection of tennis courts from around the world, photographed by the authors and presented in an attractive large-format edition.

‍

Best For

Photography enthusiasts.

‍

Pros

• Original photography

• Attractive slipcase presentation

• Global selection of courts

‍

Cons

• Hard to justify its very premium price, especially considering the photography, print quality and editorial content in most cases do not deliver the level of quality offered by other leading tennis coffee table books.

• Prioritises aesthetics over editorial depth

• Lacks somehow a clear, consistent narrative throughout the book

‍

‍

‍

#8 The Tennis Court (Workman publishing)

‍

Why It Stands Out

A broad collections of remarkable tennis courts from around the world through curated photography and informative text.

‍

Best For

Readers interested in discovering beautiful courts worldwide.

‍

Pros

• Broad international selection

• Well written

• The scope

‍

Cons

• Smaller less impressive format than the best tennis coffee table books

• Mixed photographic styles from multiple contributors makes it visually inconsistent

• More of a curated tennis book experience than a fully conceptualised book

‍

‍

‍

This article was written by Jakob Roed, author of The Tennis Travels – Europe, a coffee table book featuring more than 50 remarkable tennis courts across Europe, all open for guest play. If you'd like to learn more about the book, click here.

‍

‍