Longlisted

'CHASING POINTS' ON SBOTY LONG LIST

'CHASING POINTS' ON SBOTY LONG LIST

Today it was announced that Gregory Howe's unique tennis tale, Chasing Points, has been longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

Our congratulations go out to Greg, whose debut book, Chasing Points: A Season on the Pro Tennis Circuit, offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a touring tennis professional from the perspective of a real 'underdog'.

After quitting as a teacher in London at the age of 34, Greg chased his childhood dream of becoming a world-ranked tennis professional. He started his year-long journey in the minor leagues, playing across four continents, as far afield as Bangkok, Kampala and Lahore, initially struggling against younger, fitter players.

Greg now finds himself with even tougher opposition for the prestigious 30th William Hill Award  including F1 driver Jenson Button and Paralympian Andy Grant, not to mention an exposé of Tiger Woods and a gonzo-style look at the crazy world of World Championship darts culture.

A total of 17 books make up the long list, with a shortlist set to be announced on 23 October. 

Chasing Points: A Season on the Pro Tennis Circuit follows Gregory Howe in his journey through the levels of the professional game. Discover how Gregory:

  • Joined thousands of aspiring pros on tennis’s low-level Futures tour – travelling week after week around the world competing for precious ATP points
  • Played pro events in nations such as Sudan and Pakistan, as armed conflict and martial law threatened to become a reality
  • Broke through on to the ATP rankings to become Britain’s oldest ATP-ranked pro
  • Found himself in the locker rooms and player lounges of the elite ATP tour, where he encountered the sport’s biggest names
  • Eventually managed to juggle competing on the ATP tour while holding down a nine-to-five job
  • Was followed online by a community of tennis fanatics, who commented on his matches and started searching for clues about his identity
  • Encountered the full spectrum of the tennis world, from players and coaches to officials and fans – revealing how the game is played and viewed in its traditional strongholds and far-flung outposts

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Chasing Points.