Don't miss Ireland's Davis Cup Team Captain, Conor Niland talking about his award-winning memoir 'The Racket'
One for fans of tennis, sport, sports psychology and sports memoir.
WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024
Conor Niland hit balls with Serena Williams at Nick Bollettieri's famed tennis academy when they were both just 16, he knows what it's like when Roger Federer walks into the dressing room, and he has had the exquisitely terrible experience of facing Novak Djokovic in the world's biggest tennis stadium - while suffering from food poisoning. But he never reached the very top.
The Racket is the story of pro tennis's 99%: the players who roam the globe in hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments. It brings us into a world where a few dozen super-rich players - travelling with coaches and physios - share a stage with lonely touring pros whose earnings barely cover their expenses. Painting a vivid picture of the social dynamics on tour, the economics of the game, and the shadows cast by gambling and doping, The Racket is a witty and revealing underdog's memoir and a unique look inside a fascinating hidden world.
'Niland writes about the loneliness and absurdity of life on tour with an elegance and immediacy that makes readers feel as if they are alongside the battered pro trying so hard to reach a better life for himself.' Donald McRae, The Guardian
Conor Niland grew up in Limerick, and was Ireland's top-ranked tennis player for much of his youth and all of his adult career. As a youth player he beat Roger Federer - and he still has his coach's notes on the match. His career peaked in 2011, when he reached the main draw of both Wimbledon and the US Open. He officially retired in April 2012 due to a recurring hip injury and has been the captain (head coach) of Ireland's Davis Cup team since 2015.
‘A stone-cold classic’ Malachy Clerkin, The Irish Times
Come along for a fascinating evening as Conor talk about his career and memories of his time on the tour, expertly interviewed by best-selling author Jack Meggitt-Phillips. The evening is a joint fundraiser for Oundle Festival of Literature and Oundle Tennis Club.
When: Friday 11th September 2026
Where: Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle PE8 4EJ
Tickets: £17.50/£7.50 (young tennis players) https://www.oundlefestivalofliterature.co.uk/what-s-on
Doors open at 6.50pm. The evening will include the interview with Conor, an audience Q&A and a book signing.
There will be a bar and books available to buy for the signing. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has disabled facilities onsite.
Oundle Tennis Club is proud to support the Johnny Reynolds Foundation and will make a donation to the Foundation from any event profits.