The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis

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by Matthew Futterman · 2026

A reported examination of modern professional tennis, exploring the fame, fortune, pressure, and personal costs faced by elite players. Drawing on access to players and the tennis world, Matthew Futterman follows the pursuit of greatness and the forces shaping the contemporary game.

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1 episode featuring The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis

The Daily
Tennis enters a post-icons era at the U.S. Open
The draw brings together rising stars, durable champions, and a generation confronting what it takes to win after tennis’s defining rivalries fade.
Aug 30, 2026 · 43 min

1 episode featuring The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis

Tennis enters a post-icons era at the U.S. Open