A great Australian story of sport, mateship and being a maverick.
Paul McNamee is a legendary figure in Australian tennis. From his early days as a talented Melbourne teenager, McNamee became a top international player, conquering Wimbledon and the Australian Open with his doubles partner, Peter McNamara. Along the way he shared a court with such luminaries as Rod Laver, Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.
Just as important have been his contributions to the evolution of the sport: as the driving force behind the Hopman Cup and the reinvention of the Australian Open, and as a coach. This is his story - candid, compelling and insightful - of an ever-changing life in tennis.
Paul McNamee AM is the only player to have changed from a one-handed to a two-handed backhand midcareer. He became the Australian number one in singles, reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open, and in doubles won five Grand Slam titles and held the world number-one ranking. He is credited with invigorating the Australian Open, positioning it as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific and instigating the night final - the highest rating show in Australian television history. As co-founder of the Hopman Cup, Paul helped turn the tournament into a prestigious international event. He is a professorial fellow at Monash University.
'McNamee is one of the most vibrant and ambitious minds in tennis. It's an indisputable fact.' Australian