ABSTRACT

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on key concepts discussed in preceding chapters of this book. The book aims to far-reaching in attempting to describe and explain how tennis emerged, developed and changed within the context of broader social historical processes in Britain from the mid to late nineteenth century to the present day. Dominic Bliss, a sports writer and former editor of Ace, the leading British tennis magazine, which is commercially sponsored by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), recently revealed, however: The one subject they wouldn't tolerate was any mention of lesbians in tennis. While Baltzell brought to attention American tennis clubs that were known to be racially exclusive and inaccessible to Jews, blacks and other distinguishable ethnic minorities, there is a noticeable gap in our understanding of racial prejudice in tennis clubs. The attitudes of Britain's leading tennis officials in the areas of gender, social class, race/ethnicity and nationalism influenced their views on amateurism/professionalism, coaching, talent development and commercialism.