The Racket: Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award

Conor Niland's memoir recounts his career as a professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of 129. At 16, he was selected to train with Serena Williams at Nick Bollettieri's tennis academy as the Irish junior number one. During his professional career, he encountered top players including Roger Federer and faced Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam stadium while suffering from food poisoning, yet never reached the sport's highest levels. The Racket documents the experiences of professional tennis's lower-ranked players—those who travel globally pursuing ranking improvements and Grand Slam entry while earning barely enough to cover expenses. The book examines the social dynamics, economics, and darker aspects of professional tennis, including gambling and doping. It contrasts the lives of elite players with coaches and physiotherapists against the isolation of touring professionals struggling financially. Niland's account combines memoir with an insider's perspective on professional tennis, exploring the sacrifices, commitment, and unglamorous realities of life on the circuit. The book won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.