The Warrior - by Christopher Clarey (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After his award-winning look at Roger Federer, Christopher Clarey, one of the world's preeminent tennis writers, focuses his lens on Rafael Nadal, the indomitable and inspiring force of nature from Spain who has been one of the most relentless competitors in any sport. THE WARRIOR examines Nadal's mindset and most mind-blowing achievement: 14 French Open titles. Nadal has won big and won often on tennis's other surfaces en route to becoming one of the greatest players of all time: securing two Wimbledon titles on grass and four U.S. Open titles on cushioned acrylic hardcourts. But clay, the slowest and grittiest of the game's playgrounds, is where it all comes together best for his tactical skills, whipping topspin forehand and gladiatorial mindset. Clay is to Rafael Nadal what water is to Michael Phelps, which helps explain one of the most impressive individual sports achievements of the 21st century. Clarey, who has been covering Nadal since he was 17, draws on interviews over many years with Nadal and his team and with rivals like Roger Federer. But like The Master, this is not just a book about tennis. THE WARRIOR draws much wider lessons from Nadal's approach to competition"--

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Master comes an intimate biography of tennis's enduring champion Rafael Nadal.

In The Warrior, Christopher Clarey illuminates the skill and determination it took to accomplish Rafael Nadal's most mind-blowing achievement: 14 French Open titles. Nadal has won big on tennis's many surfaces en route to becoming one of the greatest players of all time: securing two Wimbledon titles on grass and four U.S. Open titles on cushioned acrylic hardcourts. But clay, the slowest and grittiest of the game's playgrounds, is where it all comes together best for his tactical skills, whipping topspin forehand and gladiatorial mindset. Clay is to Rafael Nadal what water is to Michael Phelps, which helps explain one of the most impressive individual sports achievements of the 21st century.

Clarey draws on interviews over many years with Nadal and his team and with rivals like Roger Federer. Not just a book about tennis, The Warrior draws much wider lessons from Nadal's approach to competition.

Review Quotes

"This insightful, wide-ranging book could serve as a model for other sports biographers.... An inspired portrait of an unusually dominant athlete."--Kirkus Reviews

"Though the narrative focuses on Nadal, Roland-Garros's clay courts become a character in their own right as Clarey provides rich background on the event's history... It's a meticulous recap of one of tennis's great achievements."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Christopher Clarey was the longtime tennis columnist and global sports correspondent for the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, covering more than 100 Grand Slam tournaments and 15 Olympics.