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The Arts Intel Report

Gods of Tennis

Streaming on PBS

There’s just something about Wimbledon. The crisp manicured lawns, the strict rules about dress (tennis whites only), and the routine presence of British royalty in the stands—these offer calm contrast to the savage forehands, the vicious serves and spikes on the courts. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, a new crop of players took the game to a higher level. Through the prism of Wimbledon, Gods of Tennis focuses on these decades. Over three episodes, the documentary follows Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, and Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, as they each vie for trophies. With commentary from many tennis legends, this series is a fine homage to the greatest grand slam of them all. —Jack Sullivan

Photo courtesy of PBS