If you thought, “Here comes another book about Rafael Nadal and what could possibly be written that we don’t already know?” you might be wrong, just like I was. Sportswriter Christopher Clarey, from the very first chapter of his book The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay, makes you realise that he dug deep to write this.

Yes, the focus is of course on Rafa, but while reading, you end up learning so much — not only about him and the people around him in the tennis world, but also about the sport itself. Clarey shares fascinating behind-the-scenes details and offers surprising tennis knowledge, from how Roland-Garros prepares its courts to insights about red clay, and even blue clay (yes, that too).

So be prepared. This is not a standard biography. It focuses mostly on his 14 Roland-Garros titles, although it does cover the other Grand Slams. And even if you’re not a fan of Rafa, but you love tennis, this book might still be for you. I loved Clarey’s storytelling. He writes eloquently and his tennis knowledge is on another level.

The most emotional chapter to me was The Warrior, also the title of the book. All these years, I was still emotionally recovering from the 2012 Australian Open final, where Rafa lost to Djokovic. I’m still not sure I can watch that match again (I was devastated after that final). So when I realised what the chapter was about, I asked myself: why name the book after his hardest defeat, something so painful for all of us fans? But as you keep reading and see the quotes from the people around Rafa, you understand why the book had to be called The Warrior.

Rafa’s most successful tournament is Roland-Garros and this book gave me a lot of knowledge. Not just about Rafa’s matches there, but also about the tournament’s history and some lesser-known French players who played key roles in its legacy. You might wonder why Clarey includes all that in a book about our champ, but the historical connections are woven in really well. They enrich our understanding of what Rafa has achieved and why it matters in a broader context.

While reading, I smiled a lot. If you’ve followed Rafa for years, you’ll instantly recognise his legendary quotes and the book brings back memories of moments you might’ve forgotten. It’s really nice to have them all in one place across 20 chapters. But there are also stories I hadn’t heard before.

Even as an active player, Rafa got his own statue at Roland-Garros and the background story about it is fascinating. Clarey includes multiple perspectives from the people involved in making it. As you approach the end of the book, there are still surprises that make you think, Wow, what a beautiful chapter. I love when the author keeps surprising me in a good way.

As a book lover, I have to admit I can’t ignore a good cover. After I got this edition, I found out (as is often the case with books) that there are different covers for different markets… and now I want that one too. Also, the book is already translated into German, Hungarian, and Polish, and the author mentioned that more languages are coming. So if English isn’t your comfort zone, there’s still hope you’ll be able to enjoy it in your native language.

For me, summer is the best time of year to read and that’s usually when I read the most. I’m glad I postponed this book until after the French Open and Wimbledon this year. I was able to fully focus on it with no rush. I ended up reading it in one breath and finished it in two days. Definitely worth reading. And if you’re looking for a good book, The Warrior is a must-read. Happy reading, Rafa fans!