Nadal has won big and won often on tennis's other surfaces en route to becoming one of the greatest players of all time: securing two Wimbledon titles on grass and four U.S. Open titles on cushioned acrylic hardcourts. But clay, the slowest and grittiest of the game's playgrounds, is where it all comes together best for his tactical skills, whipping topspin forehand and gladiatorial mindset.
Clay is to Rafael Nadal what water is to Michael Phelps, which helps explain one of the most impressive individual sports achievements of the 21st century. Clarey, who has been covering Nadal since he was 17, draws on interviews over many years with Nadal and his team and with rivals like Roger Federer. But like The Master, this is not just a book about tennis. THE WARRIOR draws much wider lessons from Nadal's approach to competition.