Over 40 of the world’s leading tennis players have participated in the International Tennis Federation’s new book promoting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Tennis Event.
‘Journey to Beijing – Tennis celebrates the Olympics’, a 140-page publication which features a series of specially commissioned photographs of the game’s top names dressed as athletes from other summer or winter Olympic sports.
These are accompanied by interviews with the players talking about their Olympic memories and hopes for Beijing.
Among the 44 players represented in the book is current world number one Ana Ivanovic, who is shown playing beach volleyball.
Maria Sharapova takes time out from a photo shoot to try rhythmic gymnastics in Los
Angeles, while Serena Williams demonstrates her ice skating abilities at home in
Palm Beach.
Amelie Mauresmo appears as a sprinter, Lindsay Davenport plays volleyball, Elena Dementieva showcases her skills as a softball player, and Svetlana Kuznetsova takes up snowboarding for a day.
The photographs were taken over a six-month period by some of the world’s leading tennis photographers, with photo shoots held in venues as varied as Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Indian Wells, Los Angeles, Miami, Melbourne, Moscow, Netherlands, Palm Beach, Santiago, Shanghai and Tel Aviv.
The players also give an insight into the part the Olympics has played in their lives,
with a series of exclusive interviews looking at their childhood memories, previous
Olympic appearances and ambitions for this summer’s Games.
“I believe the book shows how proud current tennis players are to represent their countries in the Olympic Games as well as the importance the Olympics has played in their lives,” ITF Francesco Ricci Bitti said in the ITF’s announcement.
“In turn, we have witnessed the continued growth, not only of the Olympic Tennis Event, but also of the international reach of our sport since tennis returned to the Olympic Games in 1988.”
To view an online edition of this book, please visit here.
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