Conor Niland: The Racket, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Life on the Tennis Tour

But Jerome, great to have Conor on.

Yeah, I was really intrigued to listen back to the episode with yourself and Conor and get stuck into that amazing book that was making the rounds a few years back when it first came out.

And you know, being republished as well and seeing it just take off with the amazing insight that it gave into life on the tennis tour.

Yeah, one book of the year for William Hill Sportsbook in 2024.

He got a lot of recognition around it.

He talks about what tennis is like on the lower circuit, the challenger tour at futures level, ITF events, how difficult it is balancing finances, trying to support a coach to basically avoid loneliness at times.

The highs suddenly met with extreme lows, having to finish one event and then fly to another part of Asia or Africa or wherever it may be.

Yeah, really, really loads of great stuff.

And then the highs of playing at Wimbledon first round, but being 4-1 up in the fifth set against Adria Manorino and losing.

He would have played Roger Federer if he had won US Open first round.

He gets Novak Djokovic that same year, 2011.

He's sick.

He's got food poisoning.

He has to retire.

You know, these are big moments for him.

So discussing all of that as well.

He played Roger Federer as a junior.

So we talk about that.

Hit with Serena Williams.

when she was about 16 at the Nick Boletieri Academy.

So there's loads in it.

Connor's a great guy, speaks really well.

If you haven't read the book, I really urge you to read the book.

But yeah, this is a really, really interesting chat about why he wrote it, what writing the book provided him with, and loads of great stories.

But Jerome, great to have Conor on.

Yeah, I was really intrigued to listen back to the episode with yourself and Conor and get stuck into that amazing book that was making the rounds a few years back when it first came out.

And you know, being republished as well and seeing it just take off with the amazing insight that it gave into life on the tennis tour.

Yeah, one book of the year for William Hill Sportsbook in 2024.

He got a lot of recognition around it.

He talks about what tennis is like on the lower circuit, the challenger tour at futures level, ITF events, how difficult it is balancing finances, trying to support a coach to basically avoid loneliness at times.

The highs suddenly met with extreme lows, having to finish one event and then fly to another part of Asia or Africa or wherever it may be.

Yeah, really, really loads of great stuff.

And then the highs of playing at Wimbledon first round, but being 4-1 up in the fifth set against Adria Manorino and losing.

He would have played Roger Federer if he had won US Open first round.

He gets Novak Djokovic that same year, 2011.

He's sick.

He's got food poisoning.

He has to retire.

You know, these are big moments for him.

So discussing all of that as well.

He played Roger Federer as a junior.

So we talk about that.

Hit with Serena Williams.

when she was about 16 at the Nick Boletieri Academy.

So there's loads in it.

Connor's a great guy, speaks really well.

If you haven't read the book, I really urge you to read the book.

But yeah, this is a really, really interesting chat about why he wrote it, what writing the book provided him with, and loads of great stories.