First Serve is the lyrical, heartwarming, and inspiring story of three women whose friendship and courage help them navigate the challenges of high-stakes professional tennis, racism, physical trauma, and a long-missing father to come out the other side stronger, wiser, and closer than ever.
–Peter Guzzardi, author of Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow and former editor at Random House, Inc.
Cynthia Suzanne Sauer writes an engaging novel that captivates. It was enjoyable to read the story from start to finish. I, particularly, loved the many twists and turns and the recognizable parts of the tennis scene – from tournaments to people to clubs. Well done, Cynthia.
–Kim Bastable, MS, USPTA, PTR, Professor of Practice and Director of Professional Tennis Management, University of Florida
Cynthia Suzanne Sauer takes us on a journey of self-reflection and self-discovery in her novel, First Serve. Through the main character’s story, we are compelled to question our own moral compass and reflect on the choices that we make which ultimately shape our future. As a high-performance coach for over thirty years, I value the tremendous impact that we have on the lives of those we coach. Cynthia’s messaging around friendship, prejudice, tragedy, and redemption exposes the truth about human decency and what it really means to unleash human potential. This is a must-read for not only tennis enthusiasts but for coaches, parents, and teenagers alike because there is hope and a bright future through the connection of sport and friendship for all.”
–Emma Doyle, International High-Performance Coach, Author, Speaker & Owner of Open Door Coaching USA