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‘Federer plays tennis like Michelangelo painted: every stroke is perfection, the end result a masterpiece. Christopher Clarey captured just that’ Martina Navratilova

‘A deep and enlightening view of Roger’s life and career that sports fans will be parsing for decades’
Jim Courier

‘Deeply reported and crisply written’
Wall Street Journal


THE NEWLY REVISED BIOGRAPHY OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC ATHLETES

Widely regarded as one of the greatest ever sportspeople, Roger Federer made it look astonishingly easy to climb to the top of his sport in an era of brutal competition and deep cynicism. But his path from temperamental, bleach-blond teenager to one of the most elegant of competitors has been an act of will, not destiny. Federer not only had talent. He had grit.

Top international sportswriter Christopher Clarey was on court in Paris for Federer’s Grand Slam debut and has interviewed him exclusively more than any other writer – with unique access to his inner circle including coaches and key competitors. Now updated after Federer’s retirement, The Master is a thrilling portrait of the workings of unfaltering excellence.

Reviews

Roger Federer is the most beautiful and balletic player I've ever seen. In this entertaining and deeply researched book, Christopher Clarey, the top tennis writer of today, tells the story of how Federer became one of our sport's greatest champions and how much harder it was than he made it look
Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 professional tennis player
Style married with substance. Heft married with levity. Polished, detail-oriented, executed with grace. Roger Federer gets the biography he deserves
L. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated executive editor and bestselling author of THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS
Roger Federer plays tennis like Michelangelo painted: every stroke is perfection, the end result a masterpiece. Christopher Clarey captured just that
Martina Navratilova, former World No. 1 professional tennis player
Christopher Clarey is a rare combination: the consummate insider with an objective lens. With THE MASTER, he delivers a deep and enlightening view of Roger's life and career that sports fans will be parsing for decades
Jim Courier, former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam singles champion
An iconic master in his own field, Christopher Clarey is the perfect writer to wrap up the gift that is Roger Federer's career. You're not going to get a better look into his life, personality, and character. Christopher got close but not too close to Roger to compromise his perspective on this great champion. He shows sides and layers of Roger through conversations and stories that we have never been privy to before. I have deep respect for Christopher's fair and thoughtful journalism
Chris Evert, American former world No. 1 tennis player and winner of 18 Grand Slam singles championships
Roger Federer is the most beautiful and balletic player I've ever seen. In this entertaining and deeply researched book, Christopher Clarey, the top tennis writer of today, tells the story of how Federer became one of our sport's greatest champions and how much harder it was than he made it look
Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 professional tennis player
Style married with substance. Heft married with levity. Polished, detail-oriented, executed with grace. Roger Federer gets the biography he deserves
L. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated executive editor and bestselling author of THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON SPORTS
Roger Federer plays tennis like Michelangelo painted: every stroke is perfection, the end result a masterpiece. Christopher Clarey captured just that
Martina Navratilova, former World No. 1 professional tennis player
Christopher Clarey is a rare combination: the consummate insider with an objective lens. With THE MASTER, he delivers a deep and enlightening view of Roger's life and career that sports fans will be parsing for decades
Jim Courier, former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam singles champion
An iconic master in his own field, Christopher Clarey is the perfect writer to wrap up the gift that is Roger Federer's career. You're not going to get a better look into his life, personality, and character. Christopher got close but not too close to Roger to compromise his perspective on this great champion. He shows sides and layers of Roger through conversations and stories that we have never been privy to before. I have deep respect for Christopher's fair and thoughtful journalism
Chris Evert, American former world No. 1 tennis player and winner of 18 Grand Slam singles championships