The Racket
On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Racket
Buy Now for $21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Conor Niland
-
By:
-
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.
What listeners say about The Racket
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-10-2024
Eye opening
Eye-opening account of life on the tour, written and read in an insightful and, at times, amusingly self-deprecating style. Highly recommend. Also: I look forward to seeing Ireland v Australia in the Davis Cup sometime in the near future ;)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-11-2024
Loved his voice and accent and his honesty
The hard work and loneliness of getting started in tennis. Felt very sad for Conor
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sai
- 13-12-2024
Eye opening
Connor has done an incredible job of telling it like it is outside of the glitz and glams of tennis. It was entertaining yet eye opening. Great listen and highly recommended for any sports fan
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!