The Spy in the Deuce Court — Frank Deford

A globetrotting journalist goes on assignment for the Central Intelligence AgencyAs the world’s premier tennis journalist, Ronnie Ratajczak has a plush life. Like the professional players about whom he writes, he spends his life on the road, hopping from one glamorous locale to another and taking in the giddy atmosphere that surrounds pro tournaments. But unlike the pros, Ronnie operates under little pressure, spending his days pecking out copy and his nights bedding some of the most beautiful women on earth. He is a world-class libertine, and keeps a very high profile. So high a profile, in fact, that he’s drawn attention from the CIA. They want Ronnie to work for them—not as a spy, but as a spy’s decoy. The job will be easy, well-paid, and, most important, a bit of fun. Ronnie accepts, but soon learns that pretend spies can die just as easily as the real thing.