Tennis books

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

RE: Tennis books

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

The Grauniad have also done an extract from the Conor Niland book above -

www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/27/the-loneliness-of-the-low-ranking-tennis-player

Definitely on my buy list!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
A book arguably in the mould of Gregory Howe's Chasing points, the thoughts of the former Irish player, Conor Niland: The racket, on tour with tennis's golden generation - and the other 99%. An extract appeared in The Sunday Times last weekend &, as I'd found myself spending more time perusing the actual paper during my enforced absence from cyber-circulation instead of just picking & choosing the odd article on-line + readers' comments, I actually did read it. It's published today & may be worth a look. He was definitely a cut above Rob Dee...

Just to say, reading this book by Conor Niland at the moment - every bit as good suggested above, worth a read for anyone with an interest in the tennis tours moving through from juniors, NCAA to Futures, Challengers and the ATP Tour itself.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I finished the Conor Niland book. It is a good read but a bit bleak at times. I dont think he ever enjoyed being a tennis pro; he didnt seem to make any friends on the circuit or really like anyone he came across; and it seemed to be constant hard work for him. He obviously had family money to get by and stick at it around the 100/200 level for a number of years, but only ended up in two slam main draws after qualifying - Wimbledon 2011 where he lost to Mannarino and US Open 2011 where he got food poisoning the day before what would have been the biggest match of his life against Djoko on Ashe. And of course he couldnt play at any sort of level and ended up retiring.

But it all felt like he never got joy out of tennis and that is sad to do that for many years and not be fulfilled. Not even sure he felt he realised his potential and that was in part down to him losing matches he should have won due to nerves etc.

Still a good read but not one filled with joy or a happy ending

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Just ordered the Andrew Jarrett biog Championship Points. I always liked Jarrett as a young player, I remember he played a decent level of doubles with Jonathan Smith. But hes obviously most well known as Wimbledons referee for a good number of years