Matthew Futterman Discusses "The Cruelest Game" at Scarsdale Library

On the heels of the U.S. Open, Matt Futterman, revered journalist of the New York Times and the Athletic, will discuss his best-selling work, The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis (2026), in conversation with Elyse Mall Klayman. The book offers never-before-reported access to the daily routines, mindsets, and personal trials faced by today’s major stars and tomorrow’s rising newcomers. The story of modern tennis shines with immense fortune and glamour as well as unrelenting high stakes as players excel and implode under excruciating pressure, alone on the court for the world to see. Futterman takes us inside the private practice courts, the tunnels beneath the major tournament stadiums, the training academies, and faraway war-torn hometowns. With unmatched access to the top players and coaches, and their unique psyches and personalities, The Cruelest Game is a breathtaking account of what it takes to succeed, the price that is paid, and the insatiable competitive spirit that propels the rarest of athletes to greatness.

Students will receive a copy of the book, included in the tuition.

Futterman is a veteran sports journalist with the New York Times. He has previously worked for the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Star-Ledger of New Jersey, where he was a part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News in 2005. He graduated from Union College, and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He lives in New York with his wife and children. In his spare time he runs marathons. He is starting to understand why.

Sponsored by the Scarsdale Adult School
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Wednesday, September 16 • 7:00PM-8:15PM •
Scarsdale Public Library • Course 14345 • $50