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Rafa: My Story Unknown Binding – 7 Jun. 2012
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The Sunday Times bestselling autobiography from the greatest tennis player of his generation
'A winner' Independent
'A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes' New Statesman
'As exciting as Rafa himself' Woman's Own
No tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer's record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it.
This book takes us to the heart of Nadal's childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final - a match that John McEnroe called the 'greatest game of tennis ever played' - to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010.
It transports us from Nadal's lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person - who has never before talked about his home life - tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself.
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSphere
- Publication date7 Jun. 2012
- Dimensions12.7 x 2.1 x 19.6 cm
- ISBN-100751547735
- ISBN-13978-0751547733
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Review
A winner ― Independent
Rafa: My Story is a terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes and stamped with the authority of a ghostwriter who earned the complete trust of his subject. It is hard to imagine how Nadal could have done any more to get the best out of his own raw material. And it is to Carlin's enourmous credit that the book is a true reflection of the man, in every sense -- Ed Smith ― New Statesman
Rafa: My Story is a terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes and stamped with the authority of a ghostwriter who earned the complete trust of his subject. It is hard to imagine how Nadal could have done any more to get the best out of his own raw material. And it is to Carlin's enourmous credit that the book is a true reflection of the man, in every sense -- Ed Smith ― New Statesman
Between them they have served up a winner -- Simon Redfern ― Independent
Take a glimpse behind the curtain of both his private and professional life - it's as exciting as Rafa himself ― Woman's Own
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Product details
- Publisher : Sphere (7 Jun. 2012)
- Language : English
- Unknown Binding : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0751547735
- ISBN-13 : 978-0751547733
- Dimensions : 12.7 x 2.1 x 19.6 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 76,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 38 in Tennis Biographies
- 75 in Racket Sports
- 312 in Teaching & Learning Biographies
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Written uniquely - the Wimbledon 2008 finals interspersed with Rafa's words on his childhood and growing up years and those of someone else who has seen and worked with him lends a beautiful lucidity to the book. The bits about the Wimbledon 2008 finals, in particular, are gripping and give us a glimpse of what usually transpires in a player's mind during one of the biggest matches of his career. It not only confirmed my belief that tennis is a game of mind over matter but also demonstrated in more occasions than one, how Rafa's single-minded concentration, his ability to endure, his desire for victory and his never-say-die attitude overcame all - injury, history, rankings and expectations. Rafa, unlike Federer, always gave the impression that he was human and prone to error and injury - something which Rafa admits to on more occasions than one. How he admits to all his flaws and opens up his private emotions and thoughts at the most definitive moments of his life is endearing, to say the least. In addition to all this, the book offers valuable life lessons in endurance, hard work, grabbing opportunities, never giving up, discipline and humility more than any others that I have read in recent times. Vamos Rafa! You have converted me.
While it's written by a ghost writer, Mr Nadal's personality comes through very strongly, and it seems consistent with what you see him do on court, and off it as well. On court he is focused, courteous, powerful and always dangerous, with some breathtaking moves and the ability to hang in there and win on important occasions, even against opponents who were initially rated higher than he was. Off court he seems shy, again courteous, and incredibly modest and generous, both in victory and if he happens to lose. He does not give a lot away.
I assumed that possibly this is because he is (or seems to be) uncomfortable speaking English, but after reading this book I've come to understand that his reserve is more than a language barrier. It's the way he remains 'normal.' It's very reassuring to know that not every 'celebrity' is in love with the condition.
I found the parts of the story which deal with his family life, his career advancement, his training regimes and other external matters very interesting, but what really riveted me was his personal blow-by-blow description of his important matches. This is wonderful insight into what a tennis player actually has to do during a match, what comes naturally to him, what he has to consciously work at, and most interesting of all ...what his mind does during a match.
While other tennis players will no doubt react differently and think differently than Rafael Nadal, they all face the same challenges. It's very interesting to get insight into what these challenges actually are. I know I will never watch ANY tennis match again without being aware of these mental and physical challenges, and it will be interesting to watch how each player handles them.
I came away from this book feeling very informed. I like sports, but I'm not a competitive person, so it's interesting to read the views of someone who is. Rafael Nadal has (barring injury) many years left to play at the top level, I hope ...but this book left me wondering what he will do after his playing career comes to an end. This will be bulk of the rest of his life. How will he apply what he's learned so well to other aspects of his life?
There are interesting hints, especially when he says he was dismayed to learn just how little money most athletes outside of the big spectator sports have at their disposal for training purposes. He recognises that they all train just as hard as he does, but have little in the way of support. I hope that after his tennis career is over, he will turn his intelligence and focus to helping other athletes gain the financial backup they need to excel. It's one way he could advance and remain at the top of the sporting world, after his last tournament is played. I think he has a great deal of potential, and will remain a success no matter what he does with his life.
All in all, a very good read, and a very thought-provoking insight into a very unusual man.








