Autobiography
Miss Truman to Serve
‘If tennis was easy, why aren’t all the people walking up and down Oxford Street playing at Wimbledon?’B
Billie Jean King
‘Work lasts longer than you do…’ Mother
Miss Truman to Serve
Christine Truman, now Dr Christine Truman Janes MBE, was born in 194 and brought up in Woodford Green Essex.
Her first ambition was to be as good at tennis as her older siblings, hoping to join their mixed doubles. It never happened. Instead she achieved some of her dreams, including a ranking of No.2 in the world, aged 18, in 1959.
She won the Grand Slam title in Paris at 18, the youngest Brit since the war. She holds the record at 16 of being the youngest British semi finalist at Wimbledon since Lottie Dod in 1887. 135 years ago! Also US finalist 1959 and Wimbledon finalist 1961.
‘If tennis was easy, why aren’t all the people walking up and down Oxford Street playing at Wimbledon?’
Billie Jean King
‘Work lasts longer than you do…’ Mother
‘Talent will out.’ Father
‘Champions know they will win!’
‘Play the ball, not opponents!’
Coach Norman Kitovitz
‘It’s the tennis girl, dear!’
Clementine to Winston Churchill, 1959
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
I have read many autobiographies and biographies, including other sporting people, but I have to say this one is at the top of the tree for me. Christine Truman Janes has an easy, reader friendly style of writing, so much that I got through in a day and a half. The archive photos are spaced well and show her as a treasure who seemed always to connect with the public. What a lady! So pleased she devoted time to produce her memoir. Well done to all concerned.