Name: Lovituri de geniu
ISBN: 9786067222180

L. Jon Wertheim

Om finale-tenniskampen 6. juli 2008 på Wimbledon Court mellem Roger Federer og Rafael Nadal

Federer, Nadal şi cel mai mare meci din istoria tenisului

Lovituri de geniu

Nona G

I'm a huge sports fan in general, a big tennis fan and, nowadays, Federer is my idol (although I have to admit, no one will replace Agassi in my heart). However, I haven't read much in terms of sports books, except for Andre Agassi's "Open" and Steffi Graf's biography. Which is why I am so surprised to say I have been immensely impressed by this book.

Much like the 2008 Wimbledon final, which I have seen and breathed live, I found that I never wanted this book to end. It's not an exaggeration to say, even today, that the final this book is all about is maybe the greatest tennis match in history, and the book does it justice.

However, it is wrong to say that the book is about that one tennis match - although this may be the first impression. Wertheim L J delves into Fed and Nadal's lives and families, into their childhoods and histories, into their minds and play styles, as much as into the game itself. Or, to be more accurate, even more so that into the game itself. 

For a Federer fan like myself, it's been a real treat to learn more about how he grew up, what his family is all about, how he thinks and plays and what his life and tennis philosophies are, and maybe it's been good to see behind the tennis god that I've come to adore and find some flaws, which make him more human in my eyes.

On the other hand, for a vocal Nadal hater (and I am still that, I suppose), it's been good to read about his life behind the tennis courts and understand that he's not the villain of the story.

The book deals with the rivalry between the two in a very down-to-earth, no bullshit, no taking sides kind of way, dissecting their oh so different philosophies and playing styles, all the while putting the game into the bigger picture and showing us everything that surrounded that doomed (I still say this) Wimbledon final - the two players' lives, training, their families, the media coverage, even the umpire's thought process. It's also filled with bits and pieces of tennis history, as well as Wimbledon traditions that will make you better understand "The Championships" and why it is considered the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. 

All this superbly written and action packed, a definite must read for all tennis fans out there, be they Federer or Nadal fans, or neither. I must give special thanks to the friend who recommended this book to me, it's one of those "no regrets" moments.

Lovituri de geniu Federer, Nadal şi cel mai mare meci din istoria tenisului

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