Nouvelle arrivée
Rafa
The Sports Plus take
Nadal's own story, written mid-career.
Rafael Nadal wrote this with journalist John Carlin in 2011, in the middle of his run of titles. He tells how his uncle Toni coached him from age four in Mallorca, what went on in his head during the 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer, and how family troubles and injuries brought him low in 2009. It's an inside look at the mental side of elite tennis, though it ends well before his retirement in 2024.
Shelf
How it reads
Easy read
Best for
- Tennis players and fans
- Young athletes
- Readers who love sports memoirs
About this book
- Author
- Rafael Nadal with John Carlin
- Publisher
- Grand Central Publishing
- Published
- May 22, 2012
- Format
- Paperback
- Pages
- 288
- ISBN-10
- 1401310923
- ISBN-13
- 978-1401310929
Book description
Tennis star Rafael Nadal tells the stories behind his success in this memoir, written with award-winning journalist John Carlin.
What makes a champion? What does it take to be the best in the world at your sport?
It begins in Mallorca, where the tight-knit Nadal family has lived for generations. Coached by his uncle Toni from the age of four and taught humility and respect by his parents, Nadal managed the uncommon feat of becoming a global celebrity while remaining a gracious, hardworking role model.
Now, he takes us behind the scenes, from winning the Wimbledon 2008 final - described by John McEnroe as "the greatest game of tennis" he had ever seen - to the family problems that brought him low in 2009, and the numerous injuries that threatened his career.
With candor and intelligence, Nadal brings readers on his journey, never losing sight of the prize he values above all others: the unity and love of his family.
About the author
Rafael Nadal was born in 1986 in Mallorca, Spain. He won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 French Opens, and retired from professional tennis in 2024. John Carlin is a British journalist and author whose book Playing the Enemy became the film Invictus.
