“The ‘you are there’ atmosphere Todd Ley creates in the course of exploring tennis’s hidden influences makes for an unforgettable read that’s hard to put down…Offering a candidness not usually seen in either the sport of tennis or books about it…it’s an eye-opening and enthralling analysis and powerful memoir.” Midwest Book Review
SMASHED exposes the hidden and harsh realities associated with child sporting excellence, offering an unprecedented examination of the ruthless underbelly of tennis, the so-called ‘gentleman’s game’.
Behind the glitz and glamour of tournaments like Wimbledon and the Australian Open, from a very young age, a merciless world of tennis peasants fight to earn their spot on the grand stage.
Todd Ley, once the world’s top junior tennis player, the youngest athlete ever signed by IMG and a child inmate at a renowned international sporting academy, blends wild anecdotes, raw truth, tragic comedy, and hard-won experience, to vividly capture the reality of being a child tennis star and the devastation it reeked on his adulthood.
Ley’s darkly funny, unfiltered commentary is a fascinating read, delivering uncomfortable truths and coaching gold to put the game on notice.
Todd Ley, once the world’s top Junior tennis player at just 12 years of age, the youngest athlete ever signed by IMG and an inmate at a renowned international tennis academy has been making a racket in the tennis scene since he was a toddler.
In his book SMASHED: Tennis prodigies, parents and parasites, Todd exposes not just the experience of elite child athletes, but also the devastating ramifications it can lead to in adulthood.
From a youth in the sporting prodigy spotlight to family collapse, bankruptcy, alcoholism, and mental health struggles, Todd has recognised a disturbing pattern among other young athletes who fall short of glory. However, Todd’s lived experience of being broken into a thousand pieces has also given him the chance to reassemble himself into something new.
Todd is raw, real and not a huge fan of fake so he’s able to channel his hard-earned wisdom into delivering unflinching truths about the sport of tennis, thus delivering coaching gold. With the game being a source of untapped comedy that is rife for laughs, Todd is currently working on a dark comedy TV show titled ‘Tennis parent’.
While some might call Todd ‘controversial’, others call him ‘refreshing’. The ball is in your court to decide for yourself.
Todd is now available for interviews, speaking engagements, private consulting and author talks.
** Todd will be in conversation about his book SMASHED at Richmond Library during the Australian Open **
Wed 15th January 2025 at 3pm / Bookings essential via Humantix
Ask for SMASHED at your local library and they will be able to get it in for you.
The ISBN is: 9780645899764
Your local bookstore may have it in stock or can order it in for you on request.
Email us if you’d like to purchase in bulk.
For a copy for yourself or as a gift, you can order here.
SMASHED is available globally from online retailers from 2025.
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