Conor Niland
Author ‘The Racket‘ William Hill Sports book of the Year
Conor Niland is the author of The Racket, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, Irish Times SBOTY and Second Captains SBOTY 2024. As a professional tennis player, Conor reached a singles ranking of 129 in the world and competed at Wimbledon and the US Open singles in 2011, facing Novak Djokovic in the first round. He is currently the Irish Davis Cup captain.
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.