John Bercow - Tennis Maestros: The twenty greatest male tennis players of all time

FOR SPORTS LOVERS everywhere, it is the ultimate question. Whether we are passionate about football or boxing, cricket or baseball, golf or tennis, or indeed any of the other professional pastimes that are played for the entertainment of the masses, the one thing we all want to know is this: who was the greatest performer of them all?

It is a question about which we all have opinions sometimes strong ones. Would you rate Muhammad Ali (alias Cassius Clay) ahead of Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, as the worlds greatest heavyweight champion? Or perhaps Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier or even George Foreman would be your choice?

What about the golfers? Where do you place Harry Vardon or Bobby Jones alongside Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods?

The arguments are endless and inconclusive, simply because in most sports it is impossible to compare performers of different generations who never competed against one another. The exceptions, of course, are those sports like athletics and swimming where the clock and the tape measure are the ultimate judges of performance, regardless of era. Even then, there are problems. What about the improvements in performance due to technological advances in track and pool manufacture (yes, the swimmers insist that there are fast pools and slow pools), as well as innovations in equipment. Then there are the improved training methods enjoyed by todays athletes, plus greater knowledge about dietary supplements. How have they improved performances?

As he explains in this fascinating volume, John Bercow is aware of the pitfalls. In attempting to place the top twenty gladiators of mens tennis in ascending order, he realises that the game played by todays champions using modern equipment is very different from the one played by those from the era of wooden rackets. Playing surfaces, too, have changed and so have the tennis balls.

Nevertheless, John has bravely attempted to answer that ultimate question and for that we should all be grateful. His list is certain to promote protest and debate, a situation he is familiar with as Speaker of the House of Commons. Nevertheless, his arguments do have a certain logic. As he introduces us to the great players of the past and present (and each biographical sketch is very well researched), there are facts and figures aplenty to support his case, many of which will be unknown to the casual reader.

What emerges from all this is Johns firm grasp of his subject. His love affair with tennis began early. I remember him as one of those promising young players, each of whom had won an official LTA age-group tournament, who were invited to attend the clinics I was organising in the mid-1970s for the BP International Tennis Fellowship. John was one of those determined and dedicated youngsters at our clinic in Ilkley. His speed about the court was commendable as John Lloyd played a tie-break against him and his enthusiasm was boundless. Clearly, he was relishing the challenge.

John brings that same energy and enthusiasm to his writing. As someone who has followed the game closely ever since those days of his youth, he has formed opinions about the players that he shares with us quite openly. Whether we agree with his conclusions is a matter for individual readers to decide.

Order, order. Let the debate begin.