Private Lessons

As she stages a comeback to win her tenth Grand Slam at thirty-seven, Olympic gold medalist Bethanie Mattek-Sands faces off against her fiercest adversary: herself.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands burst onto the professional tennis scene at fourteen and rose to fame in singles and doubles by mixing her rock-star style with grit, guts, and moxie. But behind her bold personality and charismatic play was a life in constant upheaval and a career shaped by inner battles as well as titles and trophies. She realizes, even being #1 in the world can’t prevent heartbreak.

Told with fierce candor and rhythmic intensity, Bethanie’s most recent years navigating the pro circuit force her to confront her rocky rise and near catastrophic fall and the personal toll tennis has taken on her fifteen-year-marriage. Raw, electric, and unforgettable, this is the story of how a world champion, advocate, and icon rallies her way back and redefines what it means to win, both on and off the court.