Frank Deford, the dean of American sportswriters, died at the age of 78 on May 28, 2017, the first day of the French Open. He passed away at his winter home in Key West, Florida. For decades Deford served as a celebrated correspondent for Sports Illustrated, for US National Public Radio, and for HBO TV Real Sports. He covered a wide range of subjects, but tennis fans will remember Deford not just for his brilliant tennis reporting and player profiles but also for his books about the game – Big Bill Tilden, Days of Grace with Arthur Ashe, and a couple of books with Pam Shriver and Billie Jean King. He also wrote a novel about tennis, The Spy in the Deuce Court. Frank Deford is survived by his wife Carol, his son Christian, and his daughter Carol.
MICHAEL MEWSHAW is the author of 21 books. His most recent, AD IN AD OUT, a collection of his articles about tennis, is now available online.
