The Tennis Partner

Tennis is a recurring motif throughout the book that symbolizes life itself. The title of the book reiterates this, signifying how David is Abraham’s partner not just on the court, but during a difficult period in his life, too. Both men’s approaches to tennis offer insight into their personalities and approaches to life. Abraham plays consistently, passionately, and diligently, and this is the way he approaches other aspects of his life as well, especially his work as a doctor. He reflects on and learns from his experiences. David’s on-court presence similarly mirrors how he is easily distracted by stresses and temptations. He has natural talent and potential but is not able to maximize this potential because of his Disease of Addiction.

The tennis sessions between Abraham and David also act as a barometer for their relationship. The game feels good and sessions are regular when their friendship is in a good place, and cancelations and no-shows crop up when their relationship is faltering. Abraham gets increasingly better at the game and eventually beats David in a set, symbolic of how Abraham eventually recognizes and accepts the hierarchy inherent in their relationship. As their friendship falls apart, the games turn “lifeless,” and they completely die out. As an author, Verghese also weaves tennis into the narrative framework of the book. Stand-alone chapters and anecdotes from the history of tennis foreshadow or mirror events and insights in his life off the court.