Rafael Nadal Boeken

* Revelatory memoir from the greatest sportsman in the world today. * Fascinating insight into the making of a champion. * First ever look into the life of a charismatic yet intensely private man.

"En su nueva novela, Rafel Nadal presenta una epopeya ambientada en el sur de la Italia rural. La historia muestra un fresco que ilustra extraordinariamente bien la primera mitad del siglo XX. La maldición de los Palmisano acompaña al lector por un recorrido histórico a través de las ideas sociales y políticas que marcaron esa época. Con su pulso narrativo, y con una carga intimista y simbólica muy expresiva, Nadal capta el sentimiento de unos años que dejaron Europa malherida. Esta novela no se decanta por bandos ni ideologías, sino que plantea un posicionamiento antibelicista representado por el protagonista principal de la historia, testimonio de las brutales acciones, la incongruencia, el irracionalismo y la violencia que acarrean todas las guerras. Además, vincula de forma muy efectiva la historia (en minúsculas) de una persona marcada por su destino con el trasfondo histórico (en mayúsculas) de los hechos que agitaron la Europa de la primera mitad del siglo XX. La maldición de los Palmisano consigue provocar en el lector un sentimiento de solidaridad y empatía con los personajes principales de este drama, especialmente con su protagonista, Vitantonio Palmisano."

What makes a champion? What does it take to be the best in the world at your sport? Rafael Nadal has the answers. In his memoir, written with award-winning journalist John Carlin, he reveals the secrets of his game and shares the inspiring personal story behind his success. It begins in Mallorca, where the tight-knit Nadal family has lived for generations. Coached by his uncle Toni from the age of four and taught humility and respect by his parents, Nadal has managed the uncommon feat of becoming an acclaimed global celebrity while remaining a gracious, hardworking role model for people in all walks of life. Now he takes us behind the scenes, from winning the Wimbledon 2008 final-described by John McEnroe as "the greatest game of tennis" he had ever seen-to the family problems that brought him low in 2009 and the numerous injuries that have threatened his career. With candor and intelligence, Nadal brings readers on his dramatic and triumphant journey, never losing sight of the prize he values above all others: the unity and love of his family. From RAFA: "During a match, you are in a permanent battle to fight back your everyday vulnerabilities, bottle up your human feelings. The more bottled up they are, the greater your chances of winning, so long as you've trained as hard as you play and the gap in talent is not too wide between you and your rival. The gap in talent with Federer existed, but it was not impossibly wide. It was narrow enough, even on his favorite surface in the tournament he played best, for me to know that if I silenced the doubts and fears, and exaggerated hopes, inside my head better than he did, I could beat him. You have to cage yourself in protective armor, turn yourself into a bloodless warrior. It's a kind of self-hypnosis, a game you play, with deadly seriousness, to disguise your own weaknesses from yourself, as well as from your rival."

Nach dem Tennis-Olymp erobert er jetzt auch die Bestsellerlisten Rafael Nadal ist der ungekrönte König des Sandplatztennis und einer der wenigen Tennisspieler, die alle vier Grand-Slam-Turniere gewannen. In seiner Autobiografie enthüllt der bedeutendste Tennisspieler seiner Generation, was ihn zum Champion werden ließ. Von seiner Kindheit auf Mallorca über die Zeit als vielversprechendes Nachwuchstalent bis zum denkwürdigen Wimbledon-Sieg 2008, den John McEnroe als »das größte Tennismatch, das je gespielt wurde« bezeichnete. Dieses Buch liefert Einblicke in das Innenleben einer faszinierenden Sportlerpersönlichkeit und einen Blick hinter die Kulissen des internationalen Tenniszirkus.