Former professional tennis player Conor Niland has candidly opened up in his memoir ‘The Racket’ about the lasting impact of key losses even after retirement, revealed in a discussion about his five-round defeat by Adrian Mannarino back at Wimbledon 2011. Reflecting on a missed opportunity to face Roger Federer on Centre Court as a result of the loss, Niland divulges that this memory often intrudes on his thoughts.
Assisted by sports writer Gavin Cooney, his memoir provides a unique insight into the less glorified aspects of tennis, moving away from the typical narrative saturated in a champions’ victory.
Character sketches of fellow athletes breathe life into the memoir – Federer, who Niland beat as a youth, is remembered for a charming yet intimidating presence backstage in Doha. Andy Murray reflects an everyman’s sensibility in his appreciation for a good pasta deal, while Grigor Dimitrov, whose impersonations made Niland chuckle, whispers of Maria Sharapova’s interest in him (they ended up dating).
Yet, no picture felt more emotive than Novak Djokovic during ‘The Racket,’ where he is compared to Niland’s father’s reading posture, prior to their match at the US Open 2011. This represented Niland’s only second main draw appearance at a Grand Slam. As the top-rated Irish male player in the Open Era, the memoir gives an intimate view into what it means to dedicate one’s life and career to the realm of professional tennis.
The Racket, written by Conor Niland, is a book that does not focus on the privileged few in society. Instead, it is a narrative about those majority who struggle to navigate through challenges like misused potential, friendships built on mutual gains, botched match strategies, ill-timing, and dire luck. Despite parental pressure to excel, Niland does not excessively focus on the sacrifices made by him and his family, but the undertone of their expectations is palpable throughout the book.
[An Irishman’s Wimbledon Chance: ‘There was great excitement about my participation, but sadly, I only got one opportunity’]
Grasping the complexities of becoming the world’s top player in any sport can be difficult. We grasp even less, instinctively, about the struggle it takes to break into the top 200, which was Niland’s peak, reaching the position of 129th in the world.
Despite its scoring system’s mix of frustrations and thrills, similar to a game of snakes and ladders, tennis is a game of small differences with a wide range of results. The ranking system can also be seen as a tedious process. To make one’s way up, men typically have to battle it out in the ATP Challenger tour, which is one step below the major ATP men’s tennis tour. However, securing a spot in the Challenger events necessitates accruing ranking points from tournaments of a lesser level. This is a less than glamorous journey; at times it feels like you must buy your way in.
The Racket hits the shelves as the well-researched Hollywood film, Challengers depicts this exact topic, enticing viewers in cinemas with the prospect of Zendaya being part of a throuple. Yet, Niland’s version will ensure that readers understand that there’s nothing glamorous about getting injured on the wet clay of Banja Luka, Bosnia, and then limping towards your chair. It’s like sliding down the snake after climbing the ladder.
Around the globe, the logistics of professional tennis can seem irrational. But Niland’s account of the somewhat inhospitable Tennis Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland — who declined to send his older sister Gina and her doubles partner to the 1992 Olympics despite qualifying — may fuel Irish supporters into a fury akin to tennis star Andrey Rublev (or if you prefer, John McEnroe).
/”Being born in Birmingham before his family relocated to Limerick when he was merely two, the steadfast Niland could have chosen an easier path of representing the UK, therefore gaining numerous valuable wild cards to Wimbledon. Instead, he committed to the arduous journey of making it to SW19 through elbow grease and perseverance. Niland doesn’t shy away from bluntly pointing out that Ireland, even considering its population size, significantly underperforms in tennis.
The harsh reality of this solitary, transient life hits hard as he approaches the end of his career, driven forward by the impending requirement for hip surgery. The sense of relief is nearly tangible. His life story enables anyone to empathise with his sentiment, when he pens that though he couldn’t have striven harder, he still didn’t manage to reach his potential. The common man may find it easier to relate to his journey, rather than the lives of the high-flyers who effortlessly soar into historic books claiming that dreams become reality.”/