First published 2021
Roger Federer stands as the greatest men's tennis player of the modern era, but his journey to that summit was far from inevitable. New York Times correspondent Christopher Clarey gained unprecedented access to Federer himself, his inner circle, and tennis luminaries including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Roddick. The biography traces Federer's transformation from a temperamental, bleach-blond teenager with questionable fashion choices into the most elegant and self-possessed competitor the sport has known. Clarey covered Federer from his first Grand Slam match on the Suzanne Lenglen Court in Paris and conducted more exclusive interviews with the champion than any other journalist. The book reveals how Federer's signature carving backhands, gliding forehands, and gravity-defying overheads emerged through sustained effort rather than pure destiny. His career redefined what enduring excellence means in professional sports, making him a global sentimental favorite while maintaining his position atop a cynical sporting world.
Genres: biography, sports, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rise-to-fame, underdog-story
Setting: Paris, Suzanne Lenglen Court
Period: Modern Era
432 pages · Hardcover · Twelve