Booksology Struggling to find the right gift for your family sports fanatic?
With Christmas just two days away, time is quickly running out.
But fear not: Christopher Clarey has come to the rescue.
Clarey covered tennis and global sports for the New York Times and International Herald Tribune for more than 30 years. He wrote a bestselling biography on Roger Federer in 2022. He has interviewed Rafael Nadal personally multiple times.
The American was there for Nadal’s Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2003. He was there for the Spaniard’s Roland-Garros finale, in 2024. There are very few people better placed to immortalise the “King of Clay’s” feats on paper, and Clarey’s biography of tennis great Nadal does just that. It was a highly enjoyable pre-Christmas read. The perfect last-minute gift.
Embed from Getty Images
As the proverb goes: never judge a book by its cover. And Clarey’s book is certainly much more than its cover suggests. He provides an in-depth analysis of Nadal and his dominance on clay, of course. But, just as Nadal was more than a clay-courter, so too is The Warrior.
Over the course of 337 pages, Clarey covers an extraordinary number of topics. From the history of French tennis, to the precision with which the clay at Roland-Garros is made, to the biomechanics behind Nadal’s signature whipping forehand. The American spares no detail.
It is sometimes, perhaps, too much detail. For the run-of-the-mill sports fan, knowing that only the top five millimetres of a Roland-Garros court are red is probably not of the utmost interest. But for a self-aware tennis geek, Clarey’s writing is gold dust.
Embed from Getty Images
Each chapter tackles a different theme, beginning with a description of the towering Nadal statue that was unveiled at Roland-Garros in 2021. Titled “The Monument”, the opening poignantly sums up the Spaniard’s momentous achievements. Clarey then details Nadal’s early life and the root of his values in “The Code,” interviewing key members of his team, such as long-time coaches Toni Nadal and Francois Roig, along the way.
The following chapters are full of insightful data and interesting anecdotes. Who knew, for example, that Nadal’s bolo finish on his forehand has no biomechanical benefit? Who knew that the U.S. Open staff fully resurfaced Arthur Ashe just a week before the event in 2019, as Nadal had noticed a bump in the surface while practising? Through Clarey’s writing, we are given inside access to the inner workings of a great champion.
What stood out to me above all, however, was the emphasis on Nadal’s heart, grit, and fighting mentality. Nadal’s “never give up” attitude has always been my favourite part about watching him on court, and it was my favourite part of his life to read about too.
Embed from Getty Images
The rest of the book features tennis history, behind-the-scenes moments, and gripping accounts of Nadal’s biggest matches. Clarey ends with a word from the Spaniard himself, as his time on tour was winding down: “The only thing that gives me personal and big satisfaction and happiness is knowing that I pushed myself to try to get the most out of myself.” It is a fitting quote that encapsulates the mindset of arguably one of the greatest role models in sports history.
As for Clarey, it doesn’t take much to see why he has enjoyed such a successful career. He writes beautifully; the pages are a mosaic of metaphors and poetic word choice. “Like sawdust to a carpenter,” when describing how clay sticks to everything, is among my favourites.
I was not yet two years old when Nadal won his first French Open in 2005. But Clarey’s description of the match made it feel like I was watching courtside. And if words alone weren’t enough, he has also provided QR codes that take you directly to YouTube match highlights of Nadal’s Grand Slam-winning finals – all 22 of them.
Embed from Getty Images
On a personal note, The Warrior gives interesting insight into the life of a sports journalist who had the privilege of covering several of tennis’ golden generations, from Stefan Edberg to Carlos Alcaraz. Clarey was in attendance for almost all of the legendary “Big Three” duels. His interviews with Nadal benefitted greatly from his knowledge of Spanish, of course, the Spaniard’s mother tongue.
Clarey has covered more than 100 Grand Slam tournaments throughout his career. He interviewed more than 100 players, coaches, agents, psychologists, and historians for this book, whom he thanks in the acknowledgements. If anything, it is we who should be thanking the American.
And thank you, of course, to Rafael Nadal, without whom neither Clarey’s book nor this review would exist. Nadal’s hunger, humility, and achievements will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life.
So, if you’re stuck for ideas for the tennis fan in your life, check out your nearest bookshop – the perfect last-minute gift awaits.
