Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

Oct 1, 2024 8:28 PM

Author:Tony Hawks

'All I knew about Moldova were the names of eleven men printed on the inside back pages of my newspaper. None of them sounded to me like they were any good at tennis ...'

An eccentric wager finds Tony Hawks, a man who loves an unusual challenge, bound for the little-known Eastern European state of Moldova. His mission: to track down members of the country's football team and persuade them to play him at tennis. The bizarre quest ultimately has little to do with tennis or football, but instead turns into an extraordinary journey involving the Moldovan underworld, gypsies, chronic power shortages, near kidnap, and a surprisingly tender relationship with his host family.

Follow the fortunes of Tony in this hilarious and often moving adventure as it takes him from Moldova, onwards to Northern Ireland, leading to an exciting denouement in Nazareth - and the naked truth of the bet's final outcome ...

Reviews

Even if you hate tennis and couldn't find Moldova on the map, you'll be charmed. Utterly recommended

—— FHM

Surprisingly touching as well as incredibly funny

—— The Oxford Times

I expected to find this book funny, which it is; I didn't expect to find it illuminating and rather moving, which it is too

—— Daily Mail

This immensely readable account, enriched with moments of true hilarity is, quite honestly, a bit of a gem

—— Living Abroad Magazine

Fotheringham is at his best when describing the emergence of a new national hero from a world of rubble and grinding poverty

—— Richard Williams , Guardian

A fantastic study of Coppi's life and achievements ... Everything you need or want to know about Fausto is in this book

—— Sir Paul Smith

Poppa Neutrino built a raft from stuff he found on the streets of New York and sailed it across the Atlantic: he is a joy to meet through the happy medium of Wilkinson's wonderful words as Poppa plans his next epic voyage

—— Saga magazine

A remarkable and compulsive re-enactment over 235 pages of the day Scotland confounded all expectation to win

—— Paul Ackford

A priceless read ... quite outstanding

—— Robert Kitson , The Guardian

If you haven't bought Tom English's book about the 1990 match - The Grudge - then do yourself a favour and get it now. It's terrific

—— Alex Massie , Spectator

Tom English's excellent book, The Grudge, revisits an occasion when sport and politics and ancient rivalry came together

—— Chris Foy , Daily Mail

True tales: great stuff

—— Frank Keating , The Guardian

Shudderingly good ... English has a rare talent for getting to the core of a person

—— Rugby World

Thatcherite politics and rugby come crashing into contact in this rich and textured account

—— i

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