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The Roundtable

Award-winning Sports Journalist Matthew Futterman's new book is 'The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis'

By Joe Donahue

Published August 24, 2026 at 11:12 AM EDT

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Award-winning sports journalist Matthew Futterman has spent decades covering the biggest stories in athletics for 'The New York Times,' 'The Athletic,' 'The Wall Street Journal,' and other major publications.

His latest book, 'The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis,' takes readers behind the scenes of one of the world's most demanding sports, exploring the extraordinary mental and physical pressures faced by today's stars.

Drawing on remarkable access to players, coaches, and the inner workings of the professional tour, Futterman examines what it truly takes to reach the top - and the personal cost of staying there.

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Joe Donahue

Joe talks to people on the radio for a living. In addition to countless impressive human "gets" - he has talked to a lot of Muppets. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years and currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.

See stories by Joe Donahue

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