Your best tennis book may have to step aside for this semi-autobiographical novel. A tennis coach and a writer, John Gruberg has been mentioned on the Tonight Show and in Playboy Magazine. “There are tears in my eyes as I finish this book. Wow, I am really stunned!” … Roger Kahn, USPTA “What a great, entertaining and FUN read! John Gruberg has nailed this one. Don’t miss it!” ... Dick Gould, Director of Tennis, Stanford University “I can relate to this book. Great tale!” ... Peter Smith, Men’s Tennis Coach, USC “At last, a great tennis novel!” ... Gary Glassman, Tennis Coach, Stony Brook University “A tennis story that begs to be told.” … Sean Sloane, Past Director of Education, USTA “ Tennis Hobo is, perhaps, the best on its subject.” ... Alan Hager, Chair Emeritus, Department of English, University of Illinois “Gruberg’s Tennis Hobo brings to mind A Handful of Summers by Gordon Forbes.” ... Andrew Weldon, Former Conductor, Burlington Northern Railroad . . . . . . . The golden years of Borg, Connors, McEnroe / Evert, Navratilova, King, haunt the background as two California pros investigate off-the-beaten-path money tournaments, hobo trains, and life in the not-so-fast lane; while simultaneously negotiating the joys and sorrows of teaching the game. (Witty insights and unique instruction tips are a bonus.) Hop on board and find out why Tennis Hobo might become your favorite tennis book. "One ace of a novel! At first glance the country club sport of tennis may not seem like ideal material for a Kerouac-style road novel, but one of the many charms of John Gruberg's Tennis Hobo is that it pulls off just such a window-to-the-world approach with good-natured ease. Gruberg does so through a narrator named Stretch, whose adventures from boxcar to center court include more than a handful of vivid main characters, not to mention bit-part players who provide everything from comedic nicknames to Lorca-like poetry. Readers can pick up helpful tips on the value of a well-timed moon ball, not to mention renderings of the Berkeley hills and flat lands as well as the Bay Area, California, and broader Western landscapes that only a sharp-eyed person with both feet on the ground can provide. It's no surprise that Gruberg's book is garnering enthusiastic praise from the likes of USC 's Peter Smith and Stanford's Dick Gould. Subtitled, "A Derailed Memoir," Tennis Hob o makes for one compelling, entertaining ride. Gruberg's fictional first serve is a uniquely loopy ace down the T." * John Huston, Inside Tennis * Tennis In A New Light ... a review by Gene Mayer Tennis Hobo brought back many wonderful memories. John Gruberg's book is well crafted with tremendous attention to detail, and portrays tennis in a new light. Although the accurately depicted social mores of the tennis scene in those days give me some pause, I nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed Tennis Hobo . So many memories, in so many areas, came flooding into my mind. Here are a few: People - Dick Gould, Trey Waltke, Mike Fishbach, JimMcManus, George Hardie, Jeff Borowiak, Torben Ulrich, Steve Docherty and Whitney Reed. Places - Berkeley (particularly Junior Davis Cup Camp), Stanford, Pebble Beach ... and Antigua (by way of coffee, and funnily, where I read most of the book.) Experiences - learning from my dad, junior tennis competition, college at Stanford, and even opening a can of balls with the sardine can type key. Life - excitement/loneliness of the early years on tour, countless lifetime friends through tennis, touching lives of every age through coaching, and even what makes for a good life. Thank you, John Gruberg, for some very poignant and enjoyable reading! Gene Mayer, Former #4 Singles Player in the World "I totally love this read, so much is relatable to my own journey and many of my close friends making a living/life in the industry. As a player, coach, and someone who deals every day with the goals of teaching pros and their protegés, John Gruberg really speaks to me. Tennis Hobo is not only entertaining, but it has something to say!" Sid Newcomb, USPTA National Head of Testing and Certification " Tennis Hobo is a pleasure that resonates like a cold beer on a hot Saturday afternoon. And then, after a satisfying game of doubles with old friends, it will be hard to resist talking about this book. John Gruberg brings us the story of a consummate tennis pro, where love of the sport remains the center piece. Set at a time when Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe were rivals, Tennis Hobo opens magical windows to old Berkeley and San Francisco, and to public parks where old timers are cherished and new talent is born. If you've never hopped in a boxcar with your tennis racket, this is your chance!" Lucia Romanov Former WTA & Fed Cup Player, Romania "John Gruberg's book paints a vivid picture of what it is like to pursue your tennis dream, especially if you aren't lucky