From the bestselling author of The Master, longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.An intimate, original biography of tennis legend Rafael Nadal, and the first to cover his entire career.After his award-winning look at Roger Federer, Christopher Clarey, one of the world's pre-eminent tennis writers, focuses his lens on Nadal, the Spanish force of nature. When he arrived on the scene in 2005, the record for men's singles titles at the French Open stood at six. Nadal more than doubled that total to a mind-blowing fourteen titles: one of the greatest sporting achievements in history. Nadal won big and won often on all of tennis's surfaces: securing two Wimbledon titles on grass and six on the US Open and Australian Open hard courts. But clay, the grittiest of the game's playgrounds, is where it all came together best for his whipping forehand and warrior mindset. Clarey, who has covered Nadal since he was seventeen, draws on interviews over twenty years with Nadal, his team and rivals like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Brimming with behind-the-scenes insight, The Warrior tells the story of a global sporting icon, interlacing man and place in a unique, must-read account of the evolution of excellence. Read more

As he announces his retirement, relive the story of one of the greatest to ever play the game - Rafael Nadal. This winning memoir, in Rafa's own words, gets to the heart of his major achievements on and off court, and is a fascinating insight into the making of a champion.'A winner' Independent 'A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes' New Statesman 'As exciting as Rafa himself' Woman's OwnNo tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer's record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it.This book takes us to the heart of Nadal's childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final - a match that John McEnroe called the 'greatest game of tennis ever played' - to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010. It transports us from Nadal's lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person - who has never before talked about his home life - tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself. Read more

Learn about the incredible life of Rafa Nadal, the dedicated sportsperson who's tenacity and drive has inspired young athletes across the world.Little Rafa was born in Majorca, Spain. Encouraged by his two uncles, he started playing football and tennis, but found that he particularly excelled on the court. His uncle Toni became his coach and Rafa soon dreamt of winning tournaments. He was fiercly dedicated and worked hard at his technique and stamina – always being the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Then, at just fifteen years old, he became a professional, and seven years later was the number one tennis player in the world! His journey has not been without challenges – he has faced several injuries and experienced losses – but each time he has come back stronger and more determined than ever to keep living his dream. Despite having won 20 Grand Slam titles, he remains humble and his perseverance and determination are the keys to his success. Today, he is considered one of the best tennis players in history.This powerful book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the tennis player's life.Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS! Read more

THE NO. 1 BESTSELLERIn his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny Sexton tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win.'Sexton will go down as Ireland's greatest ever player' Gordon D'Arcy, Irish Times‘A revealing glimpse into the psyche of a serial winner’ Robert Kitson, Guardian___________________Four European Cups. Four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams). A series win in New Zealand. Two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world. And the World Player of the Year award. No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton.Outspoken, on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.But it is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties.Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby.___________________'Levels of wit and psychological insight that are all too rare in a sporting star’s autobiography’ The Telegraph'A fascinating portrait of a man always at war … Candid, frank and brilliantly written, this is a must for any rugby lover’ Daily Mail'A seriously compelling book’ Stephen Jones, Sunday Times'The best ever Irish player to play the game' Andy Farrell‘An autobiography to be inhaled’ Irish Examiner‘Sexton is on that rarefied plane of athlete where even his mere presence can feel quietly decisive’ Jonathan Liew, Guardian‘An essential read for any keen follower of professional sport in Ireland’ Irish Independent‘One of the best sports biographies in any discipline in recent times’ RTÉ Guide‘A rich insight into one of Irish sport’s most complex, high-performing minds … up there with the all-time great rugby books.’ Irish Independent Read more

WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024A darkly funny memoir about the strange and fascinating world of professional tennis.'As elegant and powerful as a Federer backhand ... It’s Kitchen Confidential for tennis.' Ed Caesar'Well worth a read if you want the inside track on life on the lower rungs of the tennis circuit. Warts and all.'Judy Murray----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.----‘An entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpse at life on the global tour’ Telegraph Best 50 Books of the Year‘Fascinating’ The New York Times'Conor Niland may only have managed a career-high ranking of 129 – only? that is some achievement in itself! – but The Racket, his account of how he managed this, is up there with the best half-dozen books on tennis ever written.' Geoff Dyer'Blending a passion for his chosen sport with a realistic study of the traumas of the tour, The Racket offers a brilliant insight from Ireland’s greatest ever tennis player.’ John Boyne'A brilliant, unvarnished look at a brutal sporting life.' Michael Foley, Sunday Times‘One of the best Irish sports books of the last decade’ Kieran Shannon, Irish Examiner‘A stone-cold classic’ Malachy Clerkin, The Irish Times‘Outstanding’ Paul Kimmage, Sunday Independent‘A thoughtfully constructed memoir … plenty of self-deprecating humour, poignancy and insight to make this a page-turner’ The Times'Niland writes about the loneliness and absurdity of life on tour with an elegance and immediacy that makes readers feel as if they are alongside the battered pro trying so hard to reach a better life for himself.' Donald McRae, The Guardian‘Outstanding … brutally honest, brilliantly crafted’ Irish Independent Read more

He is one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court – but from early childhood Andre Agassi hated the game.Coaxed to swing a racket while still in the crib, forced to hit hundreds of balls a day while still in grade school, Agassi resented the constant pressure even as he drove himself, an inner conflict that would define him. In his beautiful, haunting autobiography, Agassi tells the story of a life framed by conflict.Agassi makes us feel his panic as an undersized seven-year-old, practicing all day under the obsessive gaze of his violent father. We see him at thirteen, banished to a tennis camp. A lonely, scared, ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning fast return.Yet, despite raw talent, he struggles. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world's best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon title. Overnight he becomes a fan favourite and a media target.Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match, and every public relationship. Alongside vivid portraits of tennis rivals, Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his relationships. He reveals the depression that shatters his confidence, and the mistake that nearly costs him everything. Finally, he recounts his spectacular resurrection and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf.With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi's game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed and power.Note that this ebook edition does not include illustrations that first appeared in the print version. Read more

SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSue Barker first walked through those famous wrought-iron gates aged 13 in 1969 to play in the National Schools event. What Sue didn't know then, was that every year for the next half century, she would be back in some capacity. As a junior, aged 15, as a semi-finalist and Grand-Slam winner ranked No.3 in the world, as a broadcaster leading the BBC coverage for thirty years and for the first time, as a fan in 2023.And now she returns as a storyteller.The magic has stayed the same,but times have changed. With her first-hand insight and perspective, Sue paints an intimate portrait of the place, past and present, full of behind-the-scenes details drawn from her own experiences as well as personal conversations with her former mentors, contemporary players, friends and colleagues - giants of the game such as Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Venus Williams and many others. They share poignant memories with her and some startling revelations, from Sampas's deep regret that he didn't involve his parents more in his Centre Court triumphs to Borg divulging that McEnroe was always the quietest presence in the locker room ... You cannot be serious!From the most talked-about matches and famous rivalries to the fashions and trends, from the stunning breakthroughs, to the near wins and gut-wrenching disappointments, Sue's personal history of Wimbledon is touched throughout by Championship stardust and is as tightly packed with stories as the courts are with blades of grass. Read more

COURTSHIP is a photographic ode to the most beloved of racket sports spotlighting the beauty and allure of the tennis court, ranging from high-altitude to wild and secret locations, taking in riviera chic clubs and inner-city brutalism along the way. For a tennis fan, the quest for a court and a game on the road is eternal. Bailey and Arrigo have documented a range of tennis courts, from iconic European showcourts to hidden gems in city and country settings, capturing the spirit and locale of each court and club in evocative photographs shot exclusively for this book.They pay tribute to one of the great global sports and their passion for it in words and images .This is a book about style, travel and the quest for the dream court. It’s about the love of the game and the power of community spirit for both friends and strangers. From the Côte d’Azur to the wilds of Loch Lomond and the peaks of the Swiss Alps, COURTSHIP invites you on an intimate adventure chasing Grand Slam beauties and the local courts that can anchor and inspire a village.Bailey contributes an essay that depicts her life on the court, expressing the joy and the moments of enlightenment she has experienced through tennis. A selection of quotes and short stories from heroes of the game- and the arts- and community leaders, accompanies a series of curated photographs evoking the legends and lore of this most stylish of sports.A celebratory and inclusive volume designed to capture the spirit of tennis, a well as support grassroots access to the sport via the LTA Foundation. COURTSHIP is timeless and collectible ~ and a love letter to the game. Read more

Lottie Dod leads the way to sporting victory in this inspiring Little Gem from bestselling author Katherine Woodfine.“Girls can’t play tennis as well as boys? What a lot of NONSENSE!” Lottie Dod is DETERMINED to show that girls can be just as good as sports as boys. She runs and jumps and leaps after the ball – playing tennis makes Lottie feel WONDERFUL. After beating her brothers, she eventually goes on to reach the finals of the most important tennis competition of them all – WIMBLEDON! Can she continue her winning streak to become the world’s first female sports SUPERSTAR? NEVER underestimate what girls can do! Read more

An instant classic of American sportswriting: the tennis essays of David Foster Wallace, the best mind of his generation (A. O. Scott) and the best tennis-writer of all time (New York Times). Both a one-time "near-great junior tennis player" and a lifelong connoisseur of the finer points of the game, David Foster Wallace wrote about tennis with the authority of an insider, the showmanship of a literary pyrotechnician, and disarming admiration of an irrepressible fan. Including his masterful profiles of Roger Federer and Tracy Austin, String Theory gathers Wallace's five famous essays on tennis, pieces that have been hailed by sports-writers and literary critics alike as some of the greatest and most innovative magazine writing in recent memory. Whiting Award-winning journalist John Jeremiah Sullivan provides an introduction. Read more

'All I knew about Moldova were the names of eleven men printed on the inside back pages of my newspaper. None of them sounded to me like they were any good at tennis ...'An eccentric wager finds Tony Hawks, a man who loves an unusual challenge, bound for the little-known Eastern European state of Moldova. His mission: to track down members of the country's football team and persuade them to play him at tennis. The bizarre quest ultimately has little to do with tennis or football, but instead turns into an extraordinary journey involving the Moldovan underworld, gypsies, chronic power shortages, near kidnap, and a surprisingly tender relationship with his host family. Follow the fortunes of Tony in this hilarious and often moving adventure as it takes him from Moldova, onwards to Northern Ireland, leading to an exciting denouement in Nazareth - and the naked truth of the bet's final outcome ... Read more

The instant Sunday Times bestsellerShortlisted for the Autobiography of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards'A life of two wonderfully entertaining halves' Sunday TimesRewind to 1971, and Sue Barker's coach is sending his 15-year-old tennis protégée to a junior championship in France, alone, with a one-way ticket, telling her she'll have to win the money to pay for her return fare. Sue hides in the grounds of the hosting tennis club overnight, to avoid paying for a hotel. The next day, she walks onto court and smashes it. Five years later, and she's Britain's No 1.The same combination of grit, grace and talent took her to the top of live Sports TV. And now, after four decades on camera encouraging other legends to share their stories, she is telling her own.Going all in for her once-only autobiography, Sue takes us inside the showbizzy world of 70s and early 80s tennis. She reveals the battles she fought for hard-won success in two careers and gives us a ringside seat on the nation's biggest sporting dramas, and a fascinating insider's understanding of competitors under pressure.This is the remarkable life story of a tennis champion, an award-winning broadcaster who has brought sporting history into our living rooms for decades, and a trail-blazing woman who has always called the shots. Read more

The Sunday Times bestsellerJudy Murray provides the ultimate insight into life with her tennis champion sons Andy and Jamie.What happens when you find you have exceptional children? Do you panic? Put your head in the sand? Or risk everything and jump in head first?As mother to tennis champions Jamie and Andy Murray, Scottish National Coach, coach of the Fed Cup, and general all-round can-do woman of wonder, Judy Murray is the ultimate role model for believing in yourself and reaching out to ambition. As a parent, coach, leader, she is an inspiration who has revolutionised British tennis. From the soggy community courts of Dunblane to the white heat of Centre Court at Wimbledon, Judy Murray’s extraordinary memoir charts the challenges she has faced, from desperate finances and growing pains to entrenched sexism.We all need a story of ‘yes we can’ to make us believe great things are possible. This is that story. Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award ‘Quite simply, she is inspirational, passionate and great fun’ Observer Read more

John McEnroe enjoyed tremendous success at all levels of tennis, and he owns 77 career singles titles, including 7 Grand Slams. He joined the circuit in 1978 and it took him only three years to attain the No. 1 ranking. The 1980 Wimbledon final, between McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, is considered by many tennis experts to be the best match ever, a five-set thriller which McEnroe avenged the following year for his first Wimbledon title.In doubles, McEnroe is recognised as the best player of all time. He was ranked No. 1 for a record 257 weeks and captured a total of 74 titles, including 8 Grand Slams. Still an active player, McEnroe is now an outstanding tennis commentator and broadcaster for the BBC and other national networks. This autobiography, his first, covers an awesome tennis career, marriage to movie star Tatum O'Neal and where arguably the greatest tennis player of all time goes from here.This is SERIOUS. Read more

'Federer plays tennis like Michelangelo painted: every stroke is perfection, the end result a masterpiece. Christopher Clarey captured just that' Martina Navratilova'A deep and enlightening view of Roger's life and career that sports fans will be parsing for decades'Jim Courier'Deeply reported and crisply written'Wall Street Journal THE NEWLY REVISED BIOGRAPHY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC ATHLETES Widely regarded as one of the greatest ever sportspeople, Roger Federer made it look astonishingly easy to climb to the top of his sport in an era of brutal competition and deep cynicism. But his path from temperamental, bleach-blond teenager to one of the most elegant of competitors has been an act of will, not destiny. Federer not only had talent. He had grit. Top international sportswriter Christopher Clarey was on court in Paris for Federer's Grand Slam debut and has interviewed him exclusively more than any other writer - with unique access to his inner circle including coaches and key competitors. Now updated after Federer's retirement, The Master is a thrilling portrait of the workings of unfaltering excellence. Read more

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKIn this endlessly stimulating investigation into 'things coming to an end, artists' last works, time running out', Geoff Dyer sets his own encounter with late middle age against the last days and last achievements of writers, painters, athletes and musicians who've mattered to him throughout his life. He examines Friedrich Nietzsche's breakdown in Turin, Bob Dylan's reinventions of old songs, Beethoven's final quartets, Jean Rhys's return from the dead (while still alive) and much more. Read more

Play with Freedom ... And Win More!The Best Tennis of Your Life is an inspirational and practical guide that will help players of all levels finally master the mental game. Author Jeff Greenwald draws from his unique background as a world-class player, sports psychology consultant, psychotherapist, and former coach to provides 50 specific tools you can immediately apply in any match situation. This comprehensive guide will show you how to:embrace nerves and play even better under pressuremaintain confidence to win more consistentlydevelop a pin-point focusaccess an ideal level of intensityplay with a renewed sense of passion and freedomWhy wait any longer to play the best tennis of your life? Get the mental edge with this invaluable resource and watch your game soar. Read more

LONG LISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024'A fantastic and fascinating exploration of the life of a great champion... Full of compelling insight.' - Tom Hiddleston'This book captures the deep complexities in Novak's mind and his life and how he's dealt with them in a thoughtful, soul-searching way.' - Chris Evert'A fascinating insight into the greatest tennis player of all time.' - Evening Standard tennis correspondent, Matt Majendie'An absorbing insight into the story behind the greatest player of all time.' - The Times tennis correspondent, Stuart Fraser'Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in tennis, as well as those who consider themselves experts.' - Charlie Eccleshare, tennis correspondent for the New York Times and The Athletic'Mark Hodgkinson goes memorably deep on Novak Djokovic - from his hard-luck beginnings to his gluten-free diet to his unorthodox mind - helping us better understand one of the most fascinating figures in sports.' - Christopher Clarey, author of The Master'Meticulously-researched, this is a go-to book for anyone who wants to get a real insight into what has made Novak Djokovic such a champion.' - Simon Cambers, author of The Federer EffectNo man or woman has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Novak Djokovic, who took his 24th major at the 2023 US Open. Based on fresh interviews with people close to Djokovic - including his friends and mentors, along with his former coaches and his rivals - this is an in-depth exploration of the psyche of one of the most fascinating and controversial sporting characters ever. From a bomb shelter in Belgrade to an immigration detention centre in Melbourne, and everywhere in between, this book uncovers his relentless pursuit of perfection and the unconventional beliefs that have propelled him to greatness. Rage. Forgiveness. Shame. Pride. Love. Searching for Novak examines the psychological and emotional side of rewriting tennis history. Read more

Explore the incredible life of Novak Djokovic – from his boyhood in war-torn Serbia to his 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, and winning Olympic gold for Serbia in the men's singles final in Paris, France 2024. Find out more about the greatest male tennis player of all time in this stunningly illustrated biography.Join expert tennis journalist Dominic Bliss, for an up-close look at the unbelievable talent of a player destined for greatness. Djokovic’s extraordinary achievements include iconic moments such as becoming the first man in the Open Era to achieve a double Career Grand Slam in singles, and the only man in tennis history to be the reigning champion of the four majors at once across three different surfaces, and only the third male player to win the Golden Slam (all four majors and the Olympic title).Novak Djokovic: The greatest of all time recounts the tennis legend’s remarkable ascent to sporting glory with: A riveting account of Djokovic’s life and career, from his childhood in Serbia, when his unparalleled talent was recognized, to being the biggest name in tennis with a fan base of over 10 million.Large, full-colour photographs from past and present illuminating his astonishing record-breaking career.Clear and insightful infographics analysing Djokovic’s playing style, and retellings of his top 10 best matches so you can recreate the most important moments of tennis history. With this captivating biography, find inspiration in the exceptional spirit and determination that led Djokovic to go on to win 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles, 96 ATP singles titles and a record breaking 390+ weeks ranking as No.1, and Olympic gold for Serbia in Paris, France.Complete your collection of all-time greats with Rafa Nadal: The King of the Court, and Fedegraphica which follow the incredible life and career of Djokovic’s ultimate rivals. Read more

An inspiring and innovative guide towards living your best life - made easy - from Venus Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all time.Throughout Venus Williams' incredible career in tennis, she's been asked almost every question imaginable. What she eats, how she trains, what she does to unwind, and most frequently, how does she manage to do it all?Venus harnessed a rich blend of hard-won wisdom and core discipline to achieve her goals while keeping a simple promise to herself: to keep things fun. But after being diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disorder that affected her emotional and physical wellness, Venus's vow was put to the test. She came up with the STRIVE strategy--a winning combination of holistic and scientific approaches to wellness and performance that focuses on making self-improvements reachable and sustainable.In STRIVE, readers will learn how eight tiny but essential tenets can help turn smart choices into habits. And once that happens, you'll forge a lifestyle you return to because you want to, not because you have to-and that's when you start winning. Read more