Conor Niland’s The Racket wins William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2024

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Former Irish tennis professional Conor Niland has won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2024 with his memoir The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation.

The Racket becomes the first tennis book to clinch the world’s longest established and most valuable literary sports-writing prize in its history and Niland is the first author from the Republic of Ireland to win since Paul Kimmage’s Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel with a Pro Cyclist in 1990.

Niland’s autobiography describes the highs and lows of his career on the ATP Tour, revealing the hardships of the majority of players struggling to balance the books as they seek to breakthrough against the game’s best.

The Racket is an underdog story that lifts the lid on the perils of match-fixing and doping in tennis, while also sharing light-hearted tales of Niland’s seven years on the road.

The debut release from the 43-year-old was one of six books shortlisted for this year’s award, which was decided by a six-person judging panel and announced in central London this afternoon, with Niland beating off competition from the likes of double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes and Afghanistan women’s football captain Khalida Popal.

Panel praise an ‘astonishing’ winner

Niland’s memoir was crowned the winner by a judging panel comprised of chair Alyson Rudd, Clarke Carlisle, Gabby Logan, Dame Heather Rabbatts, Mark Lawson and Michelle Walder. In addition to the prestigious trophy, Niland also claims the winning £30,000 prize.

Rudd said:

We are delighted to present Conor Niland with the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2024 for his astonishing autobiography, The Racket. This prize seeks to highlight the best in sports writing and there is no doubting the fact that Conor’s work is of the highest calibre, offering a fascinating insight into his career as a tennis professional. The book brings the reader into the world of elite sport, but also emphasises the relatable underdog story of an everyman fighting against the odds to fulfil their dreams. The panel wishes to praise all six nominated authors and another year of stunning releases, showcasing the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences.

Niland’s celebrates ‘improbable’ win

Winning author Niland said:

I accept this award with a lot of humility. The other shortlisted books are incredible stories so I feel very fortunate to have won and so grateful. This is all pretty improbable. My brother told me I would win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award when he read this last Christmas, I took that with a pretty large pinch of salt, but he was right. It’s amazing. The pro tennis tour is a little bit of a misunderstood sport, we were able to show what the world is really like, for the guys a little bit further down the rankings.

Diverse shortlist

Niland was nominated alongside David Peace, who told the story of Manchester United in the months following the 1958 Munich air crash, in his book Munichs.

Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes was also shortlisted with her autobiography Unique, as was former British champion swimmer Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell’s memoir These Heavy Black Bones.

Also included on this year’s shortlist was My Beautiful Sisters by Afghanistan women’s football captain Khalida Popal and When I Passed The Statue Of Liberty I Became Black – a posthumous memoir written by Britain’s first Black Olympic medallist Harry Edward, edited by Neil Duncanson.

The William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is dedicated to rewarding excellence in sports writing and was first presented in 1989. The award is the world’s longest established and most valuable literary sports-writing prize.