Game, Set, and Deadline: A Tennis Odyssey

Tennis reporter for the Times of London for almost 30 years, Bellamy looks at his coverage of the French, British and U.S. Opens since 1960 and proves himself one of the best sportswriters of our time. His greatest affection is clearly the tennis played at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, since he feels the sport as a sport reaches its apogee there. He enjoys the ambience of Wimbledon, but finds the grass courts a negative feature. He detests New York City, tolerates Forest Hills but has little kind to say about Flushing Meadows. His writing displays a wonderful talent for simile and metaphor: ""Sadri was a classical artist in the alien environment of a jazz club''; ``Becker drank deeply from the wine of experience, which leaves an after-taste of wisdom.'' This 165-page book, however, is overpriced. Photos. (July)