The Racket

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

By: Conor Niland

Narrated by: Conor Niland

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

Critic reviews

As elegant and powerful as a Federer backhand … It’s Kitchen Confidential for tennis (Ed Caesar)

A brilliant, unvarnished look at a brutal sporting life. (Michael Foley)

An entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpse at life on the global tour

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)

A thoughtfully constructed memoir … plenty of self-deprecating humour, poignancy and insight to make this a page-turner

A visceral, melancholy and often self-lacerating book … History is usually written by the winners, but this intelligent, unvarnished, emotionally draining memoir shows why an also-ran’s perspective can be just as valuable (Andrew Lynch)

A crushing reminder of the grist from which sporting greatness emerges

One of the best Irish sports books of the last decade (Kieran Shannon)

A fascinating, self-deprecating insight into the life of a tennis professional who isn’t one of the prize-grabbing elite

A stone-cold classic. The story of Conor Niland’s life in professional tennis … recently became the third Irish book ever win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. And deservedly so. (Malachy Clerkin)

Great look into the unseen hustle of the tennis pro

"The Racket" is a phenomenal read for anyone who loves tennis but especially for those curious about the unseen side of the sport. Conor Niland’s memoir offers a rare and candid look at what it truly takes to climb the different circuits before a player can even dream of a Grand Slam appearance.

Unlike memoirs from the sport's titans—who often live in a bubble where the practicalities of travel, equipment, and finances are entirely managed for them—this book illustrates the sheer grind of building a professional career from the ground up. Niland is unflinchingly honest and thorough, including details that paint a vivid picture of the lonely, often unglamorous reality of life on the Futures and Challenger tours. He covers everything from cramped hotel rooms and endless bus rides to the constant pressure of making enough money to justify the next flight.

My only criticism, and it's a small one, is that Conor sometimes rushes past his wins to dwell on the losses and missed opportunities. However, this has the powerful effect of making his victories, when they are finally celebrated, feel so much sweeter and more hard-won. This book is a must-listen for any fan who wants to understand the immense sacrifices and dedication that lie beneath the surface of a professional tennis career.

Well written and insightful

a very well-written book. It tells the s side of the tennis world that we are all oblivious to.

Fantastic book about life behind the scenes of a tennis pro

This book provides excellent insight into how gruelling life on tour is for tennis professionals outside the top 100. As someone very interested in the sport, it provides a unique view into the travel, work, and finances that go into trying to make it big as a tennis player. Engaging throughout and very well narrated by Connor Niland.

Very honest and interesting

I’m a casual tennis fan, general sports fan and enjoy a good sports biography and this was one of my favourites. He doesn’t try to portray a certain image, it’s a very honest book. His degree in literature was put to good use as it is very well written.

The other 99%

Had no idea what it was like to not be a top player on tour. It’s a pretty sad existence honestly, but sharing these kinds of stories can help change it someday. Tennis is a beautiful game and players deserve more support than they receive to turn this into more of a serious profession than it is.