author
John Barrett
A former British tennis player who became the BBC’s celebrated “Voice of Tennis,” John Barrett brought rare firsthand insight to his writing on Wimbledon and the sport’s history. His books combine the perspective of a competitor with the storytelling skill of a veteran broadcaster.
1 Audiobook
Crash Beam
by John Barrett
About the author
John Edward Barrett is a British former tennis player, television commentator, journalist, and author. He competed at Wimbledon for two decades, represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup in 1956, and later served as the team’s captain from 1959 to 1962.
After joining the BBC in 1971, Barrett became widely known as the corporation’s “Voice of Tennis,” a role he held until 2006. He also wrote about tennis for the Financial Times and worked as a broadcaster for networks in several countries.
His books include Wimbledon: The Official History, Centre Court: The Jewel in Wimbledon’s Crown, Tennis and Racket Games, and Wimbledon: The Singles Draws 1877–2012. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014 and appointed an MBE in 2007 for services to sports broadcasting.