Christopher Clarey on His New Rafael Nadal Book—and Who to Keep an Eye on at the 2025 French Open

Christopher Clarey on His New Rafael Nadal Book—and Who to Keep an Eye on at the 2025 French Open

“The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay” explores everything from Nadal’s childhood and rise to the top of tennis to his rivalries with Djokovic and Federer—along with beautiful excursions into the mysteries of Roland-Garros.

The Nervous Habits That Made Rafael Nadal a Champion of the Clay Court

Rafael Nadal won a mind-boggling 14 singles titles on the French Open’s clay courts. Former tennis world No. 1 Rafael Nadal was as much a worrier in his sport as he was a warrior, his nervous habits extending from elaborate pre-point rituals to clocking issues with the courts he won Grand Slams on By Christopher Clarey I did not choose the title to my new book, The Warrior, lightly. Rafael Nadal was a tennis warrior, to be sure: a competitive be…