Tennis books for children and teens
From early picture books about picking up a racket to junior tournament romances, biographies and practical guides, these tennis books for children and teens cover playing, training and the people who have changed the sport. Younger children can meet tennis champions through illustrated life stories, while older students can follow sporting ambitions, friendships and the pressures of professional competition. The selection also includes a tennis-linked graded reader and adult crossover titles for sixth formers. This list features books by Noel Streatfeild, Billie Jean King, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Katherine Woodfine, Simon Mugford, Ivy Bailey, Dan Freedman, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Andre Agassi, and Conor Niland.
Tennis books for children and teens – our recommendations
Tennis picture books for 3-7 year olds
Busy Tennis by Campbell Books, illustrated by Jayri Gómez
Push, pull and slide the moving parts to introduce an exciting tennis game! This board book uses short rhyming text and interactive mechanisms to show young children the action on court, including strokes and movement. Jayri Gómez’s colourful illustrations give each page a clear visual focus. It combines a first conversation about tennis with hand movements, new sporting vocabulary and shared reading.
Backyard Tennis by Carl Merrison, illustrated by Samantha Campbell
A group of children in the Kimberley region of Western Australia gather friends and equipment as they move through their neighbourhood for a game. The story places tennis within everyday community life, showing the practical excitement of making a game happen together. Samantha Campbell’s illustrations capture the setting and the growing group of players. The book gives 3+ year olds a lively introduction to cooperation and playing sport.
Rafa Nadal by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Rocio Ledesma
The Little People, BIG DREAMS series tells the story of Rafael Nadal’s journey from a childhood interest in tennis to success on the international circuit. Illustrated scenes and a short biographical narrative introduce his early training, sporting ambitions and achievements. This picture-book biography for 4-7 year olds connects a familiar sporting figure with themes of practice, persistence and dedication.
Billie Jean King by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Miranda Sofroniou
Billie Jean King’s career takes centre court in this illustrated biography from the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. Beginning with her childhood and interest in tennis, it introduces the sporting achievements and campaigning that made her an important figure in women’s sport. It is a useful starting point for talking about fairness in sport, opportunity, determination.
Sisters: Venus & Serena Williams by Jeanette Winter
Venus and Serena Williams grow up in Compton, California, where their family supports their ambitions and their tennis training. Jeanette Winter tells the sisters’ story through concise text and her own illustrations, moving from early practice sessions to major tournaments. The picture book gives room to their relationship as sisters as well as their competitive careers.
Serena Williams: A Little Golden Book Biography by Bria Alston, illustrated by Anthony Ketuojor Ikediuba
Serena Williams’s journey through tennis is retold in the familiar Little Golden Book format. The biography includes her relationship with sister Venus, major sporting achievements, Olympic medals and the distinctive style she brought to the game. Anthony Ketuojor Ikediuba illustrates the story across colourful pages. Ideal for 4-8 year olds.
Two For Tennis by Amanda Brandon, illustrated by Carissa Harris
A young character called Ron wants someone to play tennis with and sets out to find a partner. The story uses a familiar game to introduce cooperation and the satisfaction of taking part with someone else. Short passages and illustrations by Carissa Harris make the action easy to discuss as the characters approach the court.
Tennis books for children aged 7-12
Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
The Heath family has limited money to spend on tennis, and four children begin looking for ways to use their talents and interests. Tennis becomes a significant part of their family story, especially through the prospect of training and competition. Noel Streatfeild sets the sporting ambitions alongside sibling relationships, work and the challenges of growing up. A classic children’s novel, it gives children a chance to encounter tennis in fiction where family life and personal determination matter just as much as the game itself.
Lottie the Little Wonder by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Ella Okstad
This historical children’s story introduces Lottie Dod, the British sportswoman who became a Wimbledon champion during the Victorian era. Katherine Woodfine shows a young Lottie discovering what she can achieve through a love of sport, while Ella Okstad’s illustrations help bring the period to life. The dyslexia-friendly Barrington Stoke format supports a wide range of children developing their reading confidence.
Tennis for Kids: An Illustrated Guide by Alberto Bertolazzi and Filippo Simonetti, illustrated by Erika De Pieri
A large-format guide to tennis that starts with the sport’s history before introducing equipment, court rules and playing techniques. Illustrated explanations cover essential skills, including how to serve, and the later sections contain exercises children can try. Erika De Pieri’s pictures help make the sequence of movements visible. This is a practical reference for 5+ year olds who want to understand a match or learn more about their own play.
Sports Academy: Tennis by Clive Gifford
Clive Gifford explains the fundamentals of tennis using step-by-step illustrations and straightforward sporting vocabulary. Serving, scoring, equipment and the techniques needed to develop a game all have their place, alongside information about competition. The format makes it possible to revisit individual topics before or after a PE lesson.
Sports Superstars: Raducanu Rules by Simon Mugford, illustrated by Dan Green
Emma Raducanu’s rise through competitive tennis is the subject of this illustrated sports biography. The book introduces her training, development as a player and 2021 US Open victory through accessible chapters, facts and Dan Green’s cartoon artwork. Its presentation brings a contemporary British tennis player into children’s non-fiction reading.
The Extraordinary Life of Serena Williams by Shelina Janmohamed, illustrated by Ashley Evans
Shelina Janmohamed tells Serena Williams’s life story, including her early years, family background and achievements in professional tennis. Ashley Evans’s illustrations support the account and give the book a visual thread through the different stages of her career. It introduces both athletic success and the wider significance of Serena’s public life.
Trailblazers: The Unmatched Story of Women’s Tennis, Young Readers Edition by Billie Jean King and Jolie C. Matthews, illustrated by Alexandra Badiu
Billie Jean King and Jolie C. Matthews introduce more than twenty women whose achievements have shaped tennis. Illustrated profiles include players such as Venus and Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty and Diede de Groot. Alexandra Badiu’s artwork helps make this a book to browse as well as read from beginning to end.
A Life Story: Emma Raducanu by Sally Morgan, illustrated by Mike Philips
Emma Raducanu’s early tennis career and her victory at the 2021 US Open are at the centre of this illustrated biography. The A Life Story format presents key stages in a public figure’s life alongside timelines, facts and black-and-white drawings. Ideal for UKS2.
Tennis books for teens
Game, Set, Matched by Ivy Bailey
Billie and her twin brother Tom have always dreamed of playing junior doubles at Wimbledon. When Tom falls ill before a qualifier, Billie needs a replacement partner and ends up joining forces with Harley, her coach’s nephew. Their different attitudes to training and competition create tension on and off court, even as their partnership develops.
Fifteen-Love by Daisy Wilson
Izzy signs up as a ballgirl at the Carrington Cup, hoping for a memorable summer and something useful to put on her university application. The tournament brings her back into contact with Jack Hamilton, a junior tennis star who used to be her doubles partner and closest friend. Their shared history becomes important when Izzy asks him to support a cause that matters to her.
The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia
Three teenage tennis players arrive at the elite Bastille Invitational tournament in Florida with different ambitions and personal concerns. Alice is grieving her father and worrying about the expense of competing, while Violetta faces pressure from her former tennis-star mother. Leylah, returning to competition after a long absence, is determined to prove herself. Their developing connections offer a view of friendship, identity and rivalry around high-level junior sport.
Switch-Hitter: A Tennis Novel by Barnaby Starr
Sheila is an unusual tennis player: she is ambidextrous and plays with a forehand on each side. The death of her father, who had coached her, interrupts her sporting ambitions, before an older Bahamian tennis coach helps her return to the court. This American young adult novel follows her attempt to build a competitive career and deals with family, personal obstacles and the discipline needed for elite sport.
Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes
Maguire Kelly believes her presence causes accidents and bad luck, and she has withdrawn from much of ordinary school life. She meets Jordy, a young tennis player, while attending therapy, and the relationship becomes part of her gradual effort to reconnect with others. Tennis matters both to Jordy’s ambitions and to Maguire’s own goals, including trying out for the school team. This YA contemporary romance blends together sport, anxiety and friendship.
All-Star Love: A Six Lakes Tennis Academy Novel by Stephanie J. Scott
Maisie Maxwell hopes her final year at a tennis academy will help her attract attention from university scouts. Her plans change when the school’s founder disappears with its money and a reality television programme becomes part of the attempt to keep the academy running. A relationship with another young player complicates her situation. This young adult sports romance places training, competition and the pressures of academy life alongside a story about reputation, friendship and difficult decisions.
Unstoppable by Dan Freedman
Twins Roxy and Kaine share sporting talent but have different goals. Roxy is working towards becoming a professional tennis player, while Kaine is drawn to football. Their family circumstances and the demands of training put pressure on both of them as they pursue their ambitions. The alternating stories give tennis an important role in a wider novel about elite youth sport and family relationships. This contemporary novel for 12+ year olds opens up useful discussion about the expectations placed on talented young athletes.
As Others See Us by Nicola Prentis
Gemma notices strange changes after getting a new phone. Her school marks improve without extra studying, her tennis suddenly becomes much better and her new abilities attract attention from classmates. Tennis practice and the prospect of competition form part of this mystery about popularity and identity. Part of the Cambridge Experience Reader series for teenagers learning English, the short and highly accessible novel is an ideal option for secondary students developing reading fluency.
Tennis books for sixth formers aged 16+
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Former champion Carrie Soto returns to professional tennis when a younger player threatens to overtake her record. After six years away, she begins training again with her father and prepares to confront the physical and psychological challenges of top-level competition. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel follows a determined athlete whose relationship with victory has shaped much of her life. Ideal for 16+ year olds interested in ambition, rivalry, coaching, women’s sport and the pressures surrounding an elite career.
Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi recounts his childhood training, years on the international tennis circuit and the complex relationship he develops with the sport. His memoir moves through family expectations, professional successes, setbacks and personal relationships, giving sustained attention to the demands of a highly public career. Older students can compare the first-person account with the public image of a sporting champion. The book also gives sixth-formers impetus for discussing the difference between sporting achievement and personal fulfilment.
All In: The Autobiography by Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King tells the story of her tennis career and her work for greater equality in sport. From early participation to major championships and campaigns for professional opportunities, the autobiography connects events on court with wider social change. King reflects on the decisions, relationships and public debates that shaped her life.
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
This book examines the mental side of tennis, especially the relationship between concentration, self-criticism and performance. W. Timothy Gallwey develops practical ideas about attention and learning through examples drawn from tennis instruction and playing. It’s ideal for older teens interested in motivation, coaching and sports psychology.
The Racket by Conor Niland
Irish tennis player Conor Niland recounts his journey through the professional game, including the considerable distance between the sport’s biggest stars and players working their way through lower-level tournaments. The memoir describes the routines, costs, travel and competitive pressures of attempting to build a tennis career. Its first-person perspective makes the everyday economics of elite sport visible.
Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison
Brad Gilbert approaches tennis through tactics and match preparation, drawing on his professional playing and coaching experience. Alongside Steve Jamison, he explains the decisions players make about opponents, momentum, concentration and the small advantages that influence a contest. The emphasis is on match awareness as much as technical execution. Sixth-form tennis players can use the book to reflect on how they prepare for competition, while PE students can examine the link between strategy and sporting performance.
The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey
Journalist Christopher Clarey draws on his years of reporting to examine Roger Federer’s career, development and influence on world tennis. The biography follows Federer’s progress from talented junior to a leading professional player and considers the people and events that shaped that journey. Its account gives sixth-form readers a sustained example of long-term development in elite sport. The book can also support comparison between journalistic biography, athletes’ memoirs and the images created through sporting media coverage.
The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese
Abraham Verghese’s memoir recalls a friendship formed through tennis when he is working as a doctor in Texas. His regular games with David Smith, a medical student recovering from addiction, become a way for the two men to connect while dealing with difficulties in their lives. The court is an important setting for conversations and trust. A fascinating memoir.
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Tennis resources for teachers
- The Lawn Tennis Association’s LTA Youth Schools programme provides free curriculum-linked tennis lesson plans for KS1, KS2 and KS3, GCSE PE assessment drills, teaching videos and professional development for teachers. Schools can register for free access to the Education Hub, which also includes personal development and STEM activities.
- The PE Hub features primary tennis teaching guidance, free lesson plans, a downloadable tennis glossary and a guide to scoring. Resources cover sending and receiving skills, racket control, rallies, serving and modified games for KS1 and KS2.
- PE Planning offers a free sample Year 1 tennis lesson with activities, teaching points, assessment questions, equipment guidance and safety considerations. The activities introduce ball control, throwing, catching, aiming and simple game tactics. Further schemes of work are available through its subscription service.
- The LTA’s Tennis at Home resources include downloadable activity cards for children aged 4-7 and 8-11, warm-up activities, video demonstrations and tennis challenges requiring minimal equipment. These can be adapted for primary PE lessons, active breaks and home learning.
- LTA Schools Competitions provides guidance on organising competitive tennis for primary and secondary pupils. Primary competitions in England form part of the School Games, while secondary schools can enter free national team competitions. Additional competition resources are available to registered schools.
- The LTA Open Court programme includes downloadable disability tennis coaching resources and guidance on adapting activities for pupils with hearing impairments, visual impairments, physical disabilities and learning disabilities. These materials are useful when planning inclusive PE lessons and extracurricular tennis sessions.
- LTA Youth Tennis Leaders is a free leadership programme for 11-18 year olds that secondary PE teachers can deliver. Its training modules cover organising activities, helping at competitions, supporting coaching sessions and working with younger pupils. Free course materials include teacher guidance and pupil workbooks.
- The LTA’s tennis rules and scoring guide explains points, games, sets, serving, tie-breaks and the differences between singles and doubles. It provides a useful reference for introducing the rules in PE, preparing pupils to officiate matches and developing understanding of tennis terminology.
- Tes Wimbledon tennis resources brings together classroom activities, tennis-themed worksheets, display materials and PE teaching ideas for primary and secondary pupils. The collection includes resources for exploring Wimbledon and developing tennis skills, with free and paid materials.
- The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum’s Learning programme offers educational visits for primary, secondary and further education groups. Workshops and lectures explore the history of Wimbledon, sporting innovation and business, alongside museum activities and tours of the grounds. Visits must be booked and are charged.
- NRICH Mathematics at the University of Cambridge offers Any Win for Tennis?, a challenging probability investigation for sixth form students. Pupils calculate the probability of winning a tennis game, explore different scoring sequences and use mathematical reasoning, spreadsheets or programming to model outcomes. Teacher guidance is included.
- STEM Learning features the Royal Institution’s Magnus Cups demonstration, which explores how spinning objects interact with moving air. Suitable for sixth form physics, the video provides a way to investigate the forces that cause a tennis ball to curve through the air when a player applies spin.
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