The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer

Clarey (Davis Cup Yearbook 1999), the tennis correspondent for the New York Times, takes a paltry look at the life of tennis great Roger Federer. The author, who has had tremendous access to his subject—covering him over two decades, and interviewing him more than 20 times—breaks down the player’s approach to the game and how he won a record-breaking 20 Grand Slam singles titles. In doing so, he analyzes Federer’s style and tactics, such as his use of the forehand “in parts of the court where many others could not have managed it.” Despite the level of detail he offers in recounting Federer’s legendary Wimbledon matches—including his epic 2003 final against Mark Philippoussis—his handling of the Swiss’s life off the court is notably superficial. In one instance, Clarey describes how Federer’s wealth enabled him to arrange the best homeschooling for his twin daughters, but he fails to explore how that choice (made for Federer’s convenience) impacted his children. Meanwhile, Federer’s laudable decision to establish a foundation to help improve early childhood education in Africa is given short shrift in favor of extraneous trivia on other top tennis pros. Those seeking a deep dive into the personality of a sports star may need to keep looking. Agent: Susan Canavan, Waxman Literary Agency. (Aug.)