The Racket
On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%
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The Racket
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Narrated by:
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Conor Niland
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By:
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Conor Niland
About this listen
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.
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What listeners say about The Racket
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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
- Anonymous User
- 16-08-24
Absorbing listen
Fascinating insight into the itinerant and lonely
life of a journeyman tennis player. Well written and well read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-02-25
Outstanding!
An amazing series of insights by Conor and a worthy recipient of the many plaudits sung by the experts on sports writing.
I clenched my fist and said "Come on" a little loud when the $11,000 tournament in India was won
I was on a Ryanair flight.
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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
- Anonymous User
- 18-11-24
Really enjoyed it
Never played tennis and don’t really watch it but thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story of his years trying to break into to top of the game.
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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
- Anonymous User
- 17-02-25
Brilliant read
I loved the honesty insight into the life of a professional tennis player and the family dynamics. It was wonderfully written and narrated. So enjoyable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-02-25
The real world of professional tennis
A fantastic book, exploring the dreams, difficulties & reality of the majority of professional tennis players. Conor’s story is fascinating, well told & its greatest appeal is it is a life story, not only for tennis fans (which I am not particularly) but for all. I would highly recommend this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-10-24
Real, informative and personal
Very enjoyable, well paced, insight into international tennis and a personal journey. Well narrated and heartfelt.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paul Birkett
- 12-02-25
Was like taking a walk down memory lane
Really good book, describing the life of pro tennis. Told in an entertaining way that makes it very relatable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 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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