The Racket cover art

The Racket

On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Racket

Written by: Conor Niland
Narrated by: Conor Niland
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $22.19

Buy Now for $22.19

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.

©2024 Conor Niland (P)2024 Penguin Audio Sports Tennis Witty
All stars
Most relevant
This is one of the most compelling books I have listened to. The authors story, along with the fascinating structure of the sport makes for a narritive that is difficult to turn away from. While Conor begins with dreams of winning Wimbledon this quickly devolves into hopes of making it there at all. This is the story of a man who is fighting for his career. Travelling to hidden corners of the world to keep his dreams alive, all while facing off against fellow competitors in the same boat. Fans of any sport should enjoy.

Gutwrenchingly Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.