Federer and Me: A Story of Obsession

(Paperback)

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A story of tennis, obsession and Roger Federer for tennis fans and the general reader alike. A story of tennis, obsession and Roger Federer for tennis fans and the general reader alike. For much of the past decade, William Skidelsky has not been able to stop thinking about Roger Federer, the greatest and most graceful tennis player of all time. A devotion has been all-consuming. In Federer and Me, Skidelsky asks what it is about the Swiss star that transfixes him, and countless others. He dissects the wonders of his forehand, reflects on his rivalry with Nadal, revels in his victories and relives his most crushing defeats. But this is more than just a book about Federer. In charting his obsession, Skidelsky explores the evolution of modern tennis, the role of beauty in sport and the psychology of fandom, weaving his own past into the story. Thought-provoking and beautifully written, Federer and Me is a frank, funny and touching account of one fan's life. 'A splendid deconstruction of Federer's technique' Sunday Times

Reviews

Hilarious... Thought-provoking -- Matt Williams * BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo Drivetime *
Thought-provoking, instructive and highly readable. Positively gripping -- Simon OHagan * Independent *
Skidelsky is excellent at deconstructing the appeal of Federer This is the kind of book that sports fans will read over the summer, sitting in their gardens or in the stands of the All England Club, with a bowl of strawberries near at hand. It is gentle and wise, discursive but pointed -- Matthew Syed * The Times *
Brave Engaging Ultimately poignant -- Edmund Gordon * Spectator *
With clarity he illuminates the champions striking position as both a preserver and innovator of the sport -- Laurence Scott * Financial Times *

Author Bio

William Skidelsky has been literary editor of the Observer and the New Statesman as well as deputy editor of Prospect magazine. He has written about tennis for the Observer, Prospect and The Economist. He played tennis to county level as a junior and now plays at a club in south-east London, where he is first team captain. He lives in London with his wife and two children.