Frank Parker Champion in the Golden Age of Tennis By Cynthia Beardsley

Frank Parker Champion in the Golden Age of Tennis

By Cynthia Beardsley

From the Inside Flap

Frank Parker's remarkable life story is a tale of adventure, competition, love, betrayal, and success. His ticket was amateur tennis, before the game turned pro, in an era when the sport was funded by the wealthy and played solely for love of the game. 

From the age of eight, when Frank shagged balls at his hometown tennis club, his affection for the sport and natural talent were evident. He won his first national tournament at the age of 14, earning him the nickname "Boy Wonder of Tennis." 

Though holding the record during his career for most USLTA top ten rankings, Frank's skill was overshadowed by WWII and his scandalous marriage to his coach's former wife. Yet his talents are remembered by those who knew him and rivaled him on the courts. The book features quotes from several of Frank's contemporaries including Gardnar Mulloy, Pancho Segura, Ted Schroeder, Eddie Moylan, Bill Talbert, Tony Trabert, Gene Mako, and Cliff Sutter.

About the Author

Cynthia Beardsley, an avid tennis player, met Frank Parker in 1990 when she began taking tennis lessons from him at McClurg Court Sports Center in Chicago, Illinois. Over the next seven years she and Frank became close friends and tennis companions. Ms. Beardsley is a Chicago freelance researcher and writer with a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in History from DePaul University.