SKU: 9415961933

Little Pancho: The Life of Tennis Legend Pancho Segura

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Little Pancho: The Life of Tennis Legend Pancho SeguraBorn into a poor family in Ecuador, Pancho Segura was an undersized and undernourished kid working as a ball boy at an exclusive tennis club when he first picked up a racket. Little Pancho is the story of how this improbable athlete, with his bandy legs, infectious smile, and unorthodox two handed style of play, became one of the greatest and most beloved tennis players of all time. During his twenty years in pro tennis, general audiences appreciated

Born into a poor family in Ecuador, Pancho Segura was an undersized and undernourished kid working as a ball boy at an exclusive tennis club when he first picked up a racket. Little Pancho is the story of how this improbable athlete, with his bandy legs, infectious smile, and unorthodox two-handed style of play, became one of the greatest and most beloved tennis players of all time. During his twenty years in pro tennis, general audiences appreciated his spirit as a master entertainer, while tennis fans adored him. Drawing on interviews with many in the game who knew or admired Pancho, Caroline Seebohm provides a close-up picture of the unlikely pro as his career first emerged in Ecuador and then developed further in the United States during the 1940s, where he broke down social and political prejudices with his charm, naturalness, and brilliance on the court. Little Pancho follows Segura from the University of Miami, where he won three consecutive NCAA championships (still a record), to his time on the U.S. professional tennis tour. On the pro tour of that time, Segura and his fellow players struggled to earn a living and find acceptance in the traditional, sometimes elitist tennis world, which scorned "professionals" as outcasts. Little Pancho shows us Segura when he quit the professional tour to become a coach at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club, working with movie stars such as Charlton Heston, Barbra Streisand, and Lauren Bacall. And finally, we hear for the first time from some of the later champions Segura coached, including Jimmy Connors. This history of tennis in the midcentury also is the inspiring story of how one poor Latino kid, through sheer grit, grace, and talent, changed the face of the sport forever.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 05/01/2009
ISBN: 9780803220416
Pages: 210
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.70w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Multicultural Review 10/01/2009 pg. 62
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SKU: 9415961933

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Rafael Morales
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
better than the series
Format: Kindle
The chemistry the characters the banter the amazing direction of the story all builds up to a crescendo that simple didn’t let go! This is the first of an epic series that simply let love in its many different ways and journey transformed lives in ways that one couldn’t imagine! Beautifully worded and crafted with a creative nack to entertain and really dig this universe! Well done Miss Kennedy, well done!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
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Giliana
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 4
Not forced or rushed
Format: Hardcover
I really liked this book. Hannah & Garrett’s story starts off like a typical smart girl tutors the jock to help him get though a class in college. But their stories are traumatic and the things that they have both had to overcome make this book so much more than your typical tutor/jock story. Garrett is sweet, cocky, funny and helps bring Hannah out of her shell in a refreshing way. Hannah is not meek or mild or quiet, she is strong because of her past but still a little unsure. Together their chemistry is hot and their relationship just sort of naturally unfolds. I really loved that it didn’t seem forced or rushed, it just happened as it should. Garrett’s story in particular hit very close for me so maybe that is why I felt connected to these characters so much. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
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Max Alvarado
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
The Hype Train Goes 🚂
Format: Kindle
4.5⭐️ | 4🌶️ | 4🎧 I genuinely enjoyed this book! It’s been sitting on my TBR for ages, and with all the buzz surrounding it lately, I finally decided to hop on the hype train. Thankfully, this one absolutely delivered. What surprised me most was how much depth this story had. Beneath the humor, hockey, and romance are some pretty heavy topics, and I thought Elle Kennedy handled them with a lot of care. Hannah’s journey in particular felt incredibly authentic, and I appreciated how thoughtfully the book approached her past trauma. This story felt like a safe space for survivors, never minimizing what she experienced while still allowing her healing and growth to shine through. Garrett and Hannah were such a fun couple to follow. Their banter was hilarious, their chemistry was undeniable, and their relationship developed in a way that kept me completely invested. I loved watching them challenge each other, support each other, and slowly become exactly what the other person needed. The romance was sweet, the spice delivered, and the emotional moments hit when they needed to. As a hockey fan, I also loved the sports aspect of the story. Hockey is one of the few sports I actually watch, so those scenes were especially enjoyable for me. But more than anything, I adored the sense of found family throughout the book. The friendships and team dynamics added so much heart and made the world feel lived in and welcoming. The audiobook was solid overall. Christian Fox and Lorelei Avalon did a good job bringing the characters to life. Christian Fox was a standout for me, while Lorelei Avalon occasionally sounded a little robotic during certain scenes. It wasn’t enough to take away from my enjoyment, but it was distracting at times. Overall, I can definitely see why so many readers love this book. It’s funny, emotional, spicy, and full of heart. I’m excited to continue with the rest of the series and spend more time with this group of characters! 💕⛸️🏒
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Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2026
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B Truly
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Dreamy Hockey Men & Steamy Romance
Format: Audiobook
Loved this book! This book came up as one of my Amazon similars. As for contemporary, they must have an intriguing plot to hold my interest. I normally prefer Paranormal, Dystopian or Sci-fi romance or romantic suspense. The blurb sounded appealing, so I decided to give it a chance. This was my first hockey romance. After reading this book, I'm now a fan of the genre. This story had everything in it that I loved. An intense, slow-built romance. A cocky guy, who didn't really do relationships until he meets the girl who brings him to his knees. Friends to lovers with a few games in between. Spicy love scenes and jealous. Most importantly, a driving plot with intense drama that had the perfect balance. But it wasn't childish or over the top. I was over the moon when I recently learned that this book is becoming an adaptation for on Amazon. May 13th can't come fast enough. This book was so good, I decided to check out book #3 in the series, The Score. All 4 books in the Spin off series blurbs sounded interesting. After book #3, I immediately read all the books in the spin-off. Book #1, The Deal is tied with The Play in the spin-off series as my favorite with The Risk in the spin-off being a close 2nd.. Another thing I like about her series is that they all the books are stand-alones. You can also read the books out of order. Each book is a separate couple, so you get a new story each time, alongside following the other characters that were introduced in previous books
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
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Angie
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 4
Good Start
Format: Kindle
This was the first book in the "Off-Campus" series. Hannah Wells, a focused and reserved music student, and Garrett Graham, the confident captain of the college hockey team whose academic struggles threaten his future. When their paths cross through an unexpected agreement, a friendship begins that gradually deepens into something more meaningful. I normally read YA but I found that I liked both of these characters I also liked the secondary characters as well. This was a pretty good read and I see why it's a good series on prime. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026

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