Rafael Nadal: The Biography
by Tom Oldfield
Our Price: $34.14
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Tom OldfieldEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-07-01
ISBN: 1844547221
Number of pages: 258
Publisher: John Blake
Book Reviews of Rafael Nadal: The Biography
Book Review: Fool's Gold
Summary: 1 Stars
I eagerly awaited this book to find out more about Rafa - one of the most exciting sports performers going. As a tennis fan, I already knew some basics about him, but nothing could have prepared me for this lousy letdown. Can you write a biography without interviewing a single person? Could you make an electrifying person's life story unreadably boring? The book appears to have been created by "illuminating" match reports from newspaper and wire services accounts. It is stupefying page after page after page of generic sports travelogue: ...so after winning the first set easily, Rafa uncharacteristically relaxed, allowing the fiery ______ back into the match by dropping a tiebreak; he then found his purple patch and rolled over the helpless opponent 6-1 in the third... It reminded me somehow of the storied Reagan radio broadcast practice of recreating baseball games by reading the teletype rather than actually being at the game. The ONLY single fact about his life I learned from this book was that he spent some early time at Bollettieri's - no details, no quotes from coaches, no childhood pals or junior opponents. Wow - talk about phoning it in! There is far more Rafa bio information available in the splendid new Wertheim book Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played. If I sound bitter, I am - sadly, learning more about the fascinating Rafa and his rise through the tennis ranks awaits someone who is willing to actually research his life.
Summary of Rafael Nadal: The Biography
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal was 19 years and two days old when he won the 2005 French Open in his very first appearance at the event. A left-hander with a booming forehand, Nadal had been known as a clay-court specialist since playing his first pro tournaments in 2001. His aggressive style, flowing hair, and muscular build have made him a fan favorite as well. He won his first singles title in 2004, and had a breakout season in 2005, winning at Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, and Stuttgart as well as at Roland Garros. He won the French Open again in 2006, 2007, and 2008, defeating rival Roger Federer in the final each time. In 2008 he broke through at Wimbledon, beating Federer to win the men's singles title in a spectacular fashion. Here is his unbelievable story.
Biographies Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Biographies Books
Caddy for Life: The Bruce Edwards Storyby John Feinstein
Back Bay Books; Published: 2005-05-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.68
Price in other shops:
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillmanby Jon Krakauer
Anchor; Published: 2010-07-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It (Harper Perennial Modern Classics)by Lawrence S. Ritter
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2010-04-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.08
Price in other shops:
A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguezby Selena Roberts
Harper Perennial; Published: 2010-02-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.19
Price in other shops:
The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the Worldby Jere Longman
Harper Perennial; Published: 2001-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.30
Price in other shops:
Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Lifeby Mia Hamm, Aaron Heifetz
It Books; Published: 2000-07-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
This Voice in My Heart: A Runner's Memoir of Genocide, Faith, and Forgivenessby Gilbert Tuhabonye, Gary Brozek
Amistad; Published: 2007-05-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.81
Price in other shops:
Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Bigby Jose Canseco
It Books; Published: 2006-02-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops:
The Last Seasonby Eric Blehm
Harper; Published: 2006-04-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.96
Price in other shops:
Hawk : Occupation Skateboarderby Tony; Mortimer, Sean Hawk
Regan Books; Published: 2000; Hardcover; Book
Similar Books and other products
Wimbledon - The 2008 Finals: Nadal vs. Federer / WidescreenKultur; Release date: 2008-08-19; DVD
Best price: $13.08
Price in other shops:
Open: An Autobiographyby Andre Agassi
Knopf; Published: 2009-11-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Rafael Nadal: Cronica de un fenomeno / Rafael Nadal: The Chronicle of a Prodigy (Spanish Edition)by Jaume Pujol Galceran
Rba Libros; Published: 2009-08-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.66
Price in other shops:
The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfectionby Rene Stauffer
New Chapter Press; Published: 2007-06-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $55.00
Rafael Nadal: The Biographyby Tom Oldfield
John Blake; Published: 2010-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Rafaby Rafael Nadal, John Carlin
Hyperion; Published: 2011-08-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.64
Price in other shops:
A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennisby Pete Sampras, Peter Bodo
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2009-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.34
Price in other shops:
Roger Federer: The Greatestby Chris Bowers
John Blake; Published: 2011-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.58
Price in other shops:
Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Playedby L. Jon Wertheim
Mariner Books; Published: 2010-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops: