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The Racket
- On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%
- Narrated by: Conor Niland
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
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The Racket
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
When Conor Niland was 16, he got the chance to hit with Serena Williams at Nick Bollettieri's famed tennis academy. Conor, the Irish junior number one, was feeling a bit homesick. Serena, also 16, already owned her own house beside the academy.
Conor Niland knows what it's like when Roger Federer walks into the dressing room ('Ciao, bonjour, hello!'), and he has had the exquisitely terrible experience of facing Novak Djokovic in the world's biggest tennis stadium - while suffering from food poisoning. But he never reached the very top.
The Racket is the story of pro tennis's 99%: the players who roam the globe in hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments. It brings us into a world where a few dozen super-rich players - travelling with coaches and physios - share a stage with lonely touring pros whose earnings barely cover their expenses. Painting a vivid picture of the social dynamics on tour, the economics of the game, and the shadows cast by gambling and doping, The Racket is a witty and revealing underdog's memoir and a unique look inside a fascinating hidden world.
What listeners say about The Racket
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- BryanS
- 19-06-24
Brilliant story
Best book about Tennis since Agassi's. Great listen. Gives a real behind the scenes account of the Tennis tour
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Len Mc Carthy
- 16-06-24
Great story of live on the ATP tour
Excellent book. I would recommend to any sports fan. Interesting to hear of the live of players who struggle, as opposed to the mega stars of the game
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 23-06-24
10/10
Best sports book I've ever read. Great insight into the tough reality of a professional tennis player living outside the top 100 - must read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Marc Meehan
- 02-07-24
Great read
I really enjoyed this insight into the grind of the tennis tour as a lower ranked player. The author has a great sense of humour also
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 22-06-24
Amazing story of real life on the tennis tour
Amazing story and talent. Loved the insights into the different pro levels on the tour. Well done, Conor. You did Ireland proud. 👏👏👏
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 17-06-24
A window into a side of tennis rarely seen.
A great listen from start to finish. Even the most involved tennis fan would be forgiven for having little insight into the tour at lower levels. Conor delivers this is a very well written, often emotional account of his journey. Highly recommended.
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- Ciaran Hutchinson
- 01-07-24
Ace
A gipping and pacy story, well told and wonderfully narrated, full of wry humour and some heartsink moments that had me crouching on my kitchen floor with my hands on my head.
If you enjoyed Phil Gaimon's cycling books on the fringes of pro cycling, this is for you. The Racket taps a similar rich vein, but is more compelling. Fantastic.
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- Harrow
- 28-06-24
This is not only for tennis fans
I know less than nothing about tennis and rarely read sports books but devoured this after reading an excerpt in The Guardian.
It is a book about ambition, loyalty, family and dreams that won’t quite come true. It is very, very well written indeed.
Highly recommended.
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- Dave H
- 10-07-24
Great story well narrated
Like all great sports books, you don't need to have a huge interest in the game to enjoy this one. Niland is an engaging and gifted writer, with insights and anecdotes without a trace of self-pity. It's an engrossing read that combines humor with some of the most detailed and intense descriptions of a high-level tennis match. A par with Andre Agassi's "Open," but in reverse.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- P J B
- 13-06-24
Bravo
Excellent book, well read by Conor. This is a fantastic insight into a professional tennis player's path. Was great to hear how supportive his parents were throughout his journey, great memories for all!
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