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Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played
In the 2008 Wimbledon men’s final, Centre Court was a stage set worthy of Shakespearean drama. Five-time champion Roger Federer was on track to take his rightful place as the most dominant player in the history of the game. He just needed to cling to his trajectory. So in the last few moments of daylight, Centre Court witnessed a coronation. Only it wasn’t a crowning for the Swiss heir apparent but for a swashbuckling Spaniard. Twenty-two-year-old Rafael Nadal prevailed, in five sets, in what was, according to the author, "essentially a four-hour, forty-eight-minute infomercial for everything that is right about tennis—a festival of skill, accuracy, grace, strength, speed, endurance, determination, and sportsmanship." It was also the encapsulation of a fascinating rivalry, hard fought and of historic proportions. In the tradition of John McPhee’s classic Levels of the Game, Strokes of Genius deconstructs this defining moment in sport, using that match as the backbone of a provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining look at the science, art, psychology, technology, strategy, and personality that go into a single tennis match.With vivid, intimate detail, Wertheim re-creates this epic battle in a book that is both a study of the mechanics and art of the game and the portrait of a rivalry as dramatic as that of Ali–Frazier, Palmer–Nicklaus, and McEnroe–Borg.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2009
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2553 people want to read
About the author
L. Jon Wertheim
23 books65 followersL. Jon Wertheim is the executive editor of Sports Illustrated. A sports journalist with a passion for psychology and economics, he is the author of such New York Times bestsellers as Scorecasting (written with Toby Moskowitz) and You Can’t Make This Up (written with Al Michaels).
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July 10, 2023A great sports book. Mainly talks about Federer and Nadal: their upbringing, their tennis career, their personalities, etc. Really makes you appreciate them as athletes. Also goes over some Wimbledon and tennis history.
“Federer versus Nadal embodies righty versus lefty. Classic technique versus ultramodern. Feline light versus taurine heavy. Middle European restraint and quiet meticulousness versus Iberian bravado and passion. Dignified power versus an unapologetic, whoomphing brutality. Zeus versus Hercules. Relentless genius versus unbending will. Polish versus grit. Metrosexuality versus hypermuscular hypermasculinity. A multitongued citizen of the world versus an unabashedly provincial homebody. A private-jet flier versus a steerage passenger. A Mercedes driver versus a Kia driver.”
“Federer versus Nadal embodies righty versus lefty. Classic technique versus ultramodern. Feline light versus taurine heavy. Middle European restraint and quiet meticulousness versus Iberian bravado and passion. Dignified power versus an unapologetic, whoomphing brutality. Zeus versus Hercules. Relentless genius versus unbending will. Polish versus grit. Metrosexuality versus hypermuscular hypermasculinity. A multitongued citizen of the world versus an unabashedly provincial homebody. A private-jet flier versus a steerage passenger. A Mercedes driver versus a Kia driver.”
December 2, 2020
Describing the greatest tennis match ever played, even in 200 odd pages, seemed implausible to me. But this is, if there can be any, the perfect recounting of the event. Although, what actually makes this book elite, is not the narration of the match itself, but the invaluable context provided to that game. Everything from the history of rackets to the consequences of the 7 hours of drama that unfolded that night, LJW covers it extensively and beautifully. I thought I couldn't respect and admire the two athletes more than I already do, but this book changed that too. As a Rafa fan, it made me tear up towards the end. But more importantly, as a Tennis fan, it validated my love for the Sport once again.
June 17, 2019
In the 2008 Wimbledon men’s final, Centre Court was a stage set worthy of Shakespearean drama. Five-time champion Roger Federer was on track to take his rightful place as the most dominant player in the history of the game. He just needed to cling to his trajectory. So in the last few moments of daylight, Centre Court witnessed a coronation. Only it wasn’t a crowning for the Swiss heir apparent but for a swashbuckling Spaniard. Twenty-two-year-old Rafael Nadal prevailed, in five sets, in what was, according to the author, "essentially a four-hour, forty-eight-minute infomercial for everything that is right about tennis—a festival of skill, accuracy, grace, strength, speed, endurance, determination, and sportsmanship." It was also the encapsulation of a fascinating rivalry, hard fought and of historic proportions.
In the tradition of John McPhee’s classic Levels of the Game, Strokes of Genius deconstructs this defining moment in sport, using that match as the backbone of a provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining look at the science, art, psychology, technology, strategy, and personality that go into a single tennis match.With vivid, intimate detail, Wertheim re-creates this epic battle in a book that is both a study of the mechanics and art of the game and the portrait of a rivalry as dramatic as that of Ali–Frazier, Palmer–Nicklaus, and McEnroe–Borg.
Review:
I had started to following tennis more carefully couple of years ago, maybe even less than that. Some members of my family play pretty well on the recreational level and always enjoyed watching the competitions so eventually it sucked me in and of course I became fascinated by Federer and Nadal rivalry. I probably like Nadal a little bit more, but only because I saw him on the court first. I have nothing but deep respect for Federer and consider myself fortunate that for few years at least I may be able to watch these two genuis athletes play.
I obviously have not watched this match when it was played, but I wanted to read something about this rivalry and this book fit the bill. I really liked it. I am not a very visual reader, but I thought that the writer portrayed the picture of the actual game really well. The summary of the match was detailed - the chapters are named after sets, but he often went through the games shot by shot and it was exciting and very readable. I am very far from being an educated tennis fan yet, but it did not matter. The great game was played on the pages of the book and I was able to see some of it.
"The producer got a similar message from Michael Stich. The 1991 Wimbledon champ had been broadcasting the match for BBC Radio, but he was ready to walk out of the studio. “I want to go into the crowd and start yelling!” he exclaimed. “I’m working for you, but I want to be a fan!” Serving at 5–6 to stay in the match/ tournament/ tennis hierarchy, Federer played a clinical, efficient game. Relying on muscle memory, depriving himself of the opportunity even to consider the stakes, he pounded away at his serve and forehand, forcing still another tiebreaker.
It was Virginia Wade, the last Brit to win Wimbledon, who once described Centre Court as having the personality of both an august grandmother and an exuberant teenager. Here was a vivid illustration. Swiveling their heads in unison as they followed the ball, the fans watched points in dead quiet, the acoustics limited to the sounds of racket hitting ball, shoes squeaking on grass, and Nadal’s eeeaaaaaHHHH-UUUUGGGGhhhhhh grunting. As soon as the point ended, Centre Court came to rival any sports coliseum filled with apoplectic partisans held in thrall. The competing cheers of “Roger!” and “Rafa!” mixed with rhythmic foot-stomping formed a sort of cacophonous symphony.""
The writing just worked for me. As I said the writer mostly wrote about the match itself, but he weaved in so many fascinating facts which may have been well known to better educated tennis fans but which were still unknown to me - some biographical facts, but also about tennis equipment, about television coverage and some other fascinating things.
I really do like and respect both of these men and honestly besides enjoying watching them playing I also like how they behave on the field not just towards each other, but towards other adversaries. I don't find friendly rivalries boring, I find them more enjoyable than bitter ones.
"The more time Federer and Nadal spent together, the more they grew genuinely to like each other. For all their surface differences and the language barrier, they discovered plenty of common ground: a sister who shuns the limelight, a comfortable and conventional family upbringing, fond feelings for an understated hometown, a love of soccer, a similar sports code, a shared sense of how a top athlete ought to comport himself."
As I said, I felt that the writer brought all the threads in his story back to the match itself really well. Truly it read as a well paced novel. Recommended.
In the tradition of John McPhee’s classic Levels of the Game, Strokes of Genius deconstructs this defining moment in sport, using that match as the backbone of a provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining look at the science, art, psychology, technology, strategy, and personality that go into a single tennis match.With vivid, intimate detail, Wertheim re-creates this epic battle in a book that is both a study of the mechanics and art of the game and the portrait of a rivalry as dramatic as that of Ali–Frazier, Palmer–Nicklaus, and McEnroe–Borg.
Review:
I had started to following tennis more carefully couple of years ago, maybe even less than that. Some members of my family play pretty well on the recreational level and always enjoyed watching the competitions so eventually it sucked me in and of course I became fascinated by Federer and Nadal rivalry. I probably like Nadal a little bit more, but only because I saw him on the court first. I have nothing but deep respect for Federer and consider myself fortunate that for few years at least I may be able to watch these two genuis athletes play.
I obviously have not watched this match when it was played, but I wanted to read something about this rivalry and this book fit the bill. I really liked it. I am not a very visual reader, but I thought that the writer portrayed the picture of the actual game really well. The summary of the match was detailed - the chapters are named after sets, but he often went through the games shot by shot and it was exciting and very readable. I am very far from being an educated tennis fan yet, but it did not matter. The great game was played on the pages of the book and I was able to see some of it.
"The producer got a similar message from Michael Stich. The 1991 Wimbledon champ had been broadcasting the match for BBC Radio, but he was ready to walk out of the studio. “I want to go into the crowd and start yelling!” he exclaimed. “I’m working for you, but I want to be a fan!” Serving at 5–6 to stay in the match/ tournament/ tennis hierarchy, Federer played a clinical, efficient game. Relying on muscle memory, depriving himself of the opportunity even to consider the stakes, he pounded away at his serve and forehand, forcing still another tiebreaker.
It was Virginia Wade, the last Brit to win Wimbledon, who once described Centre Court as having the personality of both an august grandmother and an exuberant teenager. Here was a vivid illustration. Swiveling their heads in unison as they followed the ball, the fans watched points in dead quiet, the acoustics limited to the sounds of racket hitting ball, shoes squeaking on grass, and Nadal’s eeeaaaaaHHHH-UUUUGGGGhhhhhh grunting. As soon as the point ended, Centre Court came to rival any sports coliseum filled with apoplectic partisans held in thrall. The competing cheers of “Roger!” and “Rafa!” mixed with rhythmic foot-stomping formed a sort of cacophonous symphony.""
The writing just worked for me. As I said the writer mostly wrote about the match itself, but he weaved in so many fascinating facts which may have been well known to better educated tennis fans but which were still unknown to me - some biographical facts, but also about tennis equipment, about television coverage and some other fascinating things.
I really do like and respect both of these men and honestly besides enjoying watching them playing I also like how they behave on the field not just towards each other, but towards other adversaries. I don't find friendly rivalries boring, I find them more enjoyable than bitter ones.
"The more time Federer and Nadal spent together, the more they grew genuinely to like each other. For all their surface differences and the language barrier, they discovered plenty of common ground: a sister who shuns the limelight, a comfortable and conventional family upbringing, fond feelings for an understated hometown, a love of soccer, a similar sports code, a shared sense of how a top athlete ought to comport himself."
As I said, I felt that the writer brought all the threads in his story back to the match itself really well. Truly it read as a well paced novel. Recommended.
January 31, 2013
A competent, if not entirely inspiring, recounting of The Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played. Wertheim here is let down by his subject matter. At the end of day, neither Nadal nor Federer make for compelling personas off the court. Their stable upbringings - both emotionally and financially - are notable only in so-far as they are the exception to the rule amongst the elite of the athletically gifted. But when fleshed out in long form, their respective tales feel more like requisite biographical information rather than illuminating details in an epic yarn. Though Wertheim attempts to argue otherwise, the fact is that rivalries born of genuine animosity will, at least on the page, always outshine those built on a bedrock of respect. So all that's left is the tennis: the high-tide of the over 130 years of the sport's organized history, played out over five hours that no one who was witness will ever be able to forget. Here, only the visuals can suffice. It is, to steal a cliche, a match that must be seen to be believed. Wertheim's words pay the action appropriate homage, and at times are even capable of painting its lofty subject matter with a new coat of perception*, but a crisply worded recap is still just a recap. Amounting to much more is a difficult task, and those capable of the trick are few and far between (Mark Kram's recounting of the Thriller in Manilla stands out).
* On the players' mid-court meeting immediately following the match's conclusion: "After seven hours of the most intimate relations, they at last made physical contact."
* On the players' mid-court meeting immediately following the match's conclusion: "After seven hours of the most intimate relations, they at last made physical contact."
October 8, 2016
Două sunt meciurile de tenis care m-au enervat cel mai mult: meciul Simonei cu Sharapova în finala Roland Garros; meciul pierdut de Federer în 2008 cu Nadal, în finala Wimbledon 2008.
Despre cel din urmă meci este vorba în cartea pe care am devorat-o în ultimele două zile, acesta fiind analizat în amănunt, aducând însă și o mulțime de amănunte interesante despre viața și cariera celor doi protagoniști, cei doi fiind jucătorii care au dominat (până la apariția lui Djokovic, desigur) tenisul masculin mondial în ultimii 15 ani. 2008 a fost anul în care amândoi erau în mare formă, erau favoriți în orice turneu pe care îl începeau, iar finala Wimbledon 2008 este considerată de mulți cel mai frumos meci al tuturor timpurilor.
O carte specială pentru pasionații de tenis.
Despre cel din urmă meci este vorba în cartea pe care am devorat-o în ultimele două zile, acesta fiind analizat în amănunt, aducând însă și o mulțime de amănunte interesante despre viața și cariera celor doi protagoniști, cei doi fiind jucătorii care au dominat (până la apariția lui Djokovic, desigur) tenisul masculin mondial în ultimii 15 ani. 2008 a fost anul în care amândoi erau în mare formă, erau favoriți în orice turneu pe care îl începeau, iar finala Wimbledon 2008 este considerată de mulți cel mai frumos meci al tuturor timpurilor.
O carte specială pentru pasionații de tenis.
July 19, 2009
A must read for tennis fans. Inspired by what some consider the greatest tennis match ever: Wimbledon 2008 between Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. Great background information on both players. Having watched the match, this was like reliving it but this time having a tennis expert sitting next to me discussing every possible thought that popped up in my head. I couldn't put it down.
July 25, 2018
Strokes of genius indeed! I enjoyed remembering the 2008 Wimbledon final between Federer and Nadal. I was hoping for a rematch this year, but it didn't happen. Nonetheless, these guys are incredible! 🎾😍
October 21, 2022
If you enjoy tennis or just sports in general, it is a good book about the Greatest Tennis Match ever played. I really enjoyed listening to it.
September 27, 2022
Probably 4.5 stars. Really enjoyable, short read that transported me right back into Centre Court 2008. The background biographical material on Rafa and Federer was great, as were some of the diversions into the history of the sport. Loved it.
January 1, 2023
Its probably a 4.5, but I love Roger and Rafa so much that I just loved every minute of this read.
The title is descriptive...I appreciated the writing style. Succinct, to the point, but full of interesting bits about Rafa and Roger, their careers up to that Wimbledon Final, training patters, racquet design, chair umpires, tennis as a viewers sport compared with others, and even sport gambling.
But mostly, I was gripped with the beauty of the match, even though I never saw it. The fact that this match went to 5 set, that Roger came back from two sets down to win in tie-breakers. How the final set happened.
A few stats to blow your mind:
Aces: Roger - 25; Rafa - 6
Winning % on first serve: Roger - 73%; Rafa - 69%
Unforced Errors: Roger - 52; Rafa - 27
Total points won: Roger - 204; Rafa - 209
It just was such an evenly matched game, and both of them were playing perfectly.
I love both of them. Roger is slightly a favorite but I adore them both. And can appreciate their distinct approaches to the game. I'm so glad I got to see them at Roger's last match before he retired. (Laver Cup 2022, London. I got to see Fed, Nadal, Djokovich, Murray, and several others.) I cried like a baby as I watch that final match and how emotional they were at Fed's retirement.
Federer is a legend. So is Nadal and Djoker and I think they both have a few more slams in them, which is insane that they're so dominant and have been for the last 20 years.
I've only seen clips of this match. Looks like its time to watch all 5 hours! And then get myself to Wimbledon ASAP.
The title is descriptive...I appreciated the writing style. Succinct, to the point, but full of interesting bits about Rafa and Roger, their careers up to that Wimbledon Final, training patters, racquet design, chair umpires, tennis as a viewers sport compared with others, and even sport gambling.
But mostly, I was gripped with the beauty of the match, even though I never saw it. The fact that this match went to 5 set, that Roger came back from two sets down to win in tie-breakers. How the final set happened.
A few stats to blow your mind:
Aces: Roger - 25; Rafa - 6
Winning % on first serve: Roger - 73%; Rafa - 69%
Unforced Errors: Roger - 52; Rafa - 27
Total points won: Roger - 204; Rafa - 209
It just was such an evenly matched game, and both of them were playing perfectly.
I love both of them. Roger is slightly a favorite but I adore them both. And can appreciate their distinct approaches to the game. I'm so glad I got to see them at Roger's last match before he retired. (Laver Cup 2022, London. I got to see Fed, Nadal, Djokovich, Murray, and several others.) I cried like a baby as I watch that final match and how emotional they were at Fed's retirement.
Federer is a legend. So is Nadal and Djoker and I think they both have a few more slams in them, which is insane that they're so dominant and have been for the last 20 years.
I've only seen clips of this match. Looks like its time to watch all 5 hours! And then get myself to Wimbledon ASAP.
July 4, 2021
If you are a tennis fan, please read this book, a lyrical description of the 2008 gentlemen's singles Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, aka the Greatest Match Ever Played!
Besides the match, Wertheim provides readers with a ton of information about everything from lefty players to the Hawk-Eye system and from the betting industry to doping in tennis.
Many anecdotes like Mehr CDs/More CDs incident with Federer and Isner being one of the moderators of a Federer fan group on Facebook will delight you. The details about many subjects - like Nadal's uncle Toni and Federer's then-girlfriend (now wife) Mirka are insightful of the making of the legends.
I absolutely loved it!
Besides the match, Wertheim provides readers with a ton of information about everything from lefty players to the Hawk-Eye system and from the betting industry to doping in tennis.
Many anecdotes like Mehr CDs/More CDs incident with Federer and Isner being one of the moderators of a Federer fan group on Facebook will delight you. The details about many subjects - like Nadal's uncle Toni and Federer's then-girlfriend (now wife) Mirka are insightful of the making of the legends.
I absolutely loved it!
January 28, 2025
Much like the match itself, this book is a flawless masterpiece. Wertheim masterfully captures one of the greatest moments in sports history, skillfully recreating the tension and stakes of the match through a rich tapestry of backstories that set the stage—or in this case, the court. I finished this book with an even deeper appreciation for what was already my favorite sports memory, a testament to the brilliance of Wertheim’s storytelling.
July 1, 2025
It was interesting to learn about their upbringings and backgrounds, and to get more insight into their lives (at least back then), but otherwise this was just a glaze fest. And nearly every single point in the game was described… yeah, no thanks, skip. I like these two just as much as anyone else but this book was not for me
September 13, 2025
this MATCH bro-
June 21, 2020
A riveting, superbly insightful recap of the legendary 2008 Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final. Wertheim skillfully enriches the match details with biographical portraits and ruminations on every aspect of modern tennis. David Foster Wallace quality of tennis writing.
July 1, 2009
I never in a million years thought I would read a book about sports, let alone a single sporting event. However, there's no exaggeration when it comes to this tennis match.
The book covers much more than just the components of the match, such as shots, drama, etc. Wertheim really delves into Federer & Nadal's personalities, backgrounds, and families (which I loved), in addition to the isolated chair umpires and the larger context of tennis in the world today. It's truly full of fascinating tidbits.
That said (as Lord Drysdale says), I didn't care for Wertheim's writing style, some things jumped out as being erroneous, and he really characterizes the fans as being one of two extremes. Plus, the writer didn't come across as an objective observer, I believe he's a Rafa fan all the way. ;)
I can only hope that "Words of Wisdom from Uncle Toni" is published someday.
The book covers much more than just the components of the match, such as shots, drama, etc. Wertheim really delves into Federer & Nadal's personalities, backgrounds, and families (which I loved), in addition to the isolated chair umpires and the larger context of tennis in the world today. It's truly full of fascinating tidbits.
That said (as Lord Drysdale says), I didn't care for Wertheim's writing style, some things jumped out as being erroneous, and he really characterizes the fans as being one of two extremes. Plus, the writer didn't come across as an objective observer, I believe he's a Rafa fan all the way. ;)
I can only hope that "Words of Wisdom from Uncle Toni" is published someday.
February 13, 2019
I am a fan of tennis and always try to read as much as possible about this sports field. When I found this book, I buy it without any hesitation because I know that it is about the most dominant player in the history of tennis - Roger Federal. If you are also a fan of this player, my advice is that you should never miss this book. And, remember that it will be better if read it yourself rather than trying to find feedback from others.
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May 2, 2010
This will be a slow read. Not because I don't like it. But because that match is still painful to me. My emotions in tennis tend to stay with me a long time! I'm sure I could watch the final or Roland-Garros that Ferrero lost in 2002 and be as pissed at him that I was back then.
***
Very interesting! I really like all the part about the players, the umpire, the tennis world. Though I couldn't enjoyed the descriptions of the match for the reason stated above.
I'm reading the French translation, so I don't know if it is a mistake only in the translation or it was written that way in English, but Nadal didn't win Wimbledon 2 times. Might be true some day but not in 2007.
***
Very interesting! I really like all the part about the players, the umpire, the tennis world. Though I couldn't enjoyed the descriptions of the match for the reason stated above.
I'm reading the French translation, so I don't know if it is a mistake only in the translation or it was written that way in English, but Nadal didn't win Wimbledon 2 times. Might be true some day but not in 2007.
September 11, 2022
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Some parts of it felt 4 star worthy, while others seemed more like just 1 star material. I ultimately think it should get about 2.5, but I’m rounding up rather kindly (perhaps today being the US Open men’s final is making me think particularly positive tennis thoughts).
As an aside, I did watch the documentary version of this several years ago. I thought that was insightful and was definitely far superior to the book. The documentary features interviews with Federer, Nadal, their coaches, and other prominent figures to this story, which added a great deal of nuance and depth.
The simpler knock I have against Strokes of Genius is that tennis matches are really not very interesting when described point by point in written form. I absolutely love tennis and could watch and learn about it for hours, but it’s a weirdly stilted thing to lay out in prose.
My larger complaint is the author is somewhat insufferable and comes across as not actually liking his subject matter at times. L. Jon Wertheim is a longstanding Sports Illustrated reporter who has a lot of experience with sports commentary and analysis. Yet I came away from reading this with the impression he doesn’t like Nadal very much, which is a completely unprofessional thing allow the reader to observe, whether true or not. (And if it’s not correct, then I’m extra baffled at the choices he made here.)
I don’t know if this book is just a subject of its time, but the amount of instances where Wertheim used hombre when imagining Nadal’s thoughts was a little alarming. I don’t even mean that in a sensitive way as much as that it didn’t flow at all with the rest of his writing. Why would you transcribe an entire potential thought in English and just randomly put hombre in Spanish? That's like me saying I am not completely sure what to think of this livre. I'm not sure if it's weird or try-hard or what.
Moreover, the descriptions of Federer versus Nadal really suggested that Wertheim had no love lost for the latter. I will admit firsthand that, when Nadal crashed onto the scene, interrupting Federer’s blatant place as number one with his aggressive playing style, I was among those who were hesitant to root for him. And Wertheim does detail how Federer’s over the top traditionalism was favored back then.
But Nadal won his first major title in 2005, and this book came out four years later. His seemingly brash style was not news anymore, and, as even Federer notes, he is known to be a relative homebody who remains politely soft-spoken much of the time. It’s not as if he was stirring up actual trouble and making enemies.
(There was another young player on the scene doing just that, which Wertheim mentions, but I won’t waste time including him here.)
Beyond just the seeming dispassion for Nadal - one of the book’s main two subjects - the author also gives off a general sense of ennui.
Strokes of Genius is a just over 200 page work about what is often referred to as the Greatest Match Ever Played. There should not be time for the Wertheim to interject anything other than technical analysis, important background, and awe at the drawn-out championship. Yet somehow he manages to write about this stunning moment in tennis history as if he’s frankly not that impressed and maybe just too smart for all of it. No one picks up a book about a historic moment to read irrelevant, snobbish remarks about two of the most lauded tennis players of all time. But it doesn’t seem Wertheim got the memo.
Circling back to the positives of this book, Wertheim did do a great job including stories and information to help contextualize where both men were in their careers and lives at the time of the match. This was probably the work’s greatest strength.
It’s important to note that, while it was a spectacular tennis match, the main reason the 2008 Wimbledon men’s singles final goes down in history is because it was an apex of an astounding rivalry. And a key to any rivalry is the mentality of each competitor.
Federer, who Wertheim aptly notes is not typically a violent fighter in the way many top athletes are, had a lot on the line and was reaching a tense moment in terms of keeping his top spot and maintaining dominance. By contrast, Nadal had already proven himself on clay, but dreamed of winning at this elite venue - which had for years been the kingdom of the man across the net.
Their playing styles, their family lives, their national allegiances, and their rises to the top were all factors, and the author wove those into descriptions of each game.
I also appreciated that Mirka Federer was given credit for her role on her now-husband’s team. The sports press is often weird about recognizing the major part she plays in managing his entire image, instead focusing on her jewelry or some other nonsense, but fortunately Wertheim gives her the relevance she’s due.
All of this is to say that Strokes of Genius is strong as a technical work, but unfortunately the technical side is the least interesting item to read. The author gives great background on Federer and Nadal, which enriches the story. However, he unfortunately also comes across as snippy and better than at times, which led me to question if he even likes Nadal - or the sport of tennis as a whole. Ultimately, while it’s an interesting (and short) book, I would recommend watching the documentary based on this, which was released for the 10-year anniversary of the match and offers both visual aids and a great deal more insight.
As an aside, I did watch the documentary version of this several years ago. I thought that was insightful and was definitely far superior to the book. The documentary features interviews with Federer, Nadal, their coaches, and other prominent figures to this story, which added a great deal of nuance and depth.
The simpler knock I have against Strokes of Genius is that tennis matches are really not very interesting when described point by point in written form. I absolutely love tennis and could watch and learn about it for hours, but it’s a weirdly stilted thing to lay out in prose.
My larger complaint is the author is somewhat insufferable and comes across as not actually liking his subject matter at times. L. Jon Wertheim is a longstanding Sports Illustrated reporter who has a lot of experience with sports commentary and analysis. Yet I came away from reading this with the impression he doesn’t like Nadal very much, which is a completely unprofessional thing allow the reader to observe, whether true or not. (And if it’s not correct, then I’m extra baffled at the choices he made here.)
I don’t know if this book is just a subject of its time, but the amount of instances where Wertheim used hombre when imagining Nadal’s thoughts was a little alarming. I don’t even mean that in a sensitive way as much as that it didn’t flow at all with the rest of his writing. Why would you transcribe an entire potential thought in English and just randomly put hombre in Spanish? That's like me saying I am not completely sure what to think of this livre. I'm not sure if it's weird or try-hard or what.
Moreover, the descriptions of Federer versus Nadal really suggested that Wertheim had no love lost for the latter. I will admit firsthand that, when Nadal crashed onto the scene, interrupting Federer’s blatant place as number one with his aggressive playing style, I was among those who were hesitant to root for him. And Wertheim does detail how Federer’s over the top traditionalism was favored back then.
But Nadal won his first major title in 2005, and this book came out four years later. His seemingly brash style was not news anymore, and, as even Federer notes, he is known to be a relative homebody who remains politely soft-spoken much of the time. It’s not as if he was stirring up actual trouble and making enemies.
(There was another young player on the scene doing just that, which Wertheim mentions, but I won’t waste time including him here.)
Beyond just the seeming dispassion for Nadal - one of the book’s main two subjects - the author also gives off a general sense of ennui.
Strokes of Genius is a just over 200 page work about what is often referred to as the Greatest Match Ever Played. There should not be time for the Wertheim to interject anything other than technical analysis, important background, and awe at the drawn-out championship. Yet somehow he manages to write about this stunning moment in tennis history as if he’s frankly not that impressed and maybe just too smart for all of it. No one picks up a book about a historic moment to read irrelevant, snobbish remarks about two of the most lauded tennis players of all time. But it doesn’t seem Wertheim got the memo.
Circling back to the positives of this book, Wertheim did do a great job including stories and information to help contextualize where both men were in their careers and lives at the time of the match. This was probably the work’s greatest strength.
It’s important to note that, while it was a spectacular tennis match, the main reason the 2008 Wimbledon men’s singles final goes down in history is because it was an apex of an astounding rivalry. And a key to any rivalry is the mentality of each competitor.
Federer, who Wertheim aptly notes is not typically a violent fighter in the way many top athletes are, had a lot on the line and was reaching a tense moment in terms of keeping his top spot and maintaining dominance. By contrast, Nadal had already proven himself on clay, but dreamed of winning at this elite venue - which had for years been the kingdom of the man across the net.
Their playing styles, their family lives, their national allegiances, and their rises to the top were all factors, and the author wove those into descriptions of each game.
I also appreciated that Mirka Federer was given credit for her role on her now-husband’s team. The sports press is often weird about recognizing the major part she plays in managing his entire image, instead focusing on her jewelry or some other nonsense, but fortunately Wertheim gives her the relevance she’s due.
All of this is to say that Strokes of Genius is strong as a technical work, but unfortunately the technical side is the least interesting item to read. The author gives great background on Federer and Nadal, which enriches the story. However, he unfortunately also comes across as snippy and better than at times, which led me to question if he even likes Nadal - or the sport of tennis as a whole. Ultimately, while it’s an interesting (and short) book, I would recommend watching the documentary based on this, which was released for the 10-year anniversary of the match and offers both visual aids and a great deal more insight.
January 16, 2023
I was a bit skeptical about reading a full book about one match (even if the greatest match ever played) - like many other books, I thought I’d prob finish and wish it was an article. But, the author proved me wrong. This was an excellent recounting of a pivotal moment in tennis and really made you feel like you were there. It brought me back to that Irish pub in Madrid where Krishna and I watched this full match in 2008. Good backstory on both players and the game that was a nice complement to “The Master”. If you love Fed or Rafa or just sports history, it’s a short and worthwhile read.
June 20, 2009
The best sports writing I've read since George Plimpton's "Paper Lion." This book not only tells the dramatic story of the greatest tennis match ever played (the book's subtitle isn't hyperbole, in my opinion), but also takes you inside the most compelling rivalry in sports. Forget Yankees-Red Sox. Forget Duke-UNC. Two men, different styles, different paths, one the greatest tennis player ever, the other the one man he can't quite shake. I loved this book.
January 1, 2011
I confess up front that I am a devoted Roger Federer fan. This book is the chronicle of one tennis match from the first point to the last: the gentlemen's Wimbledon final 2008 between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain. In between, there are diversions into the lives and the psyches of each man. Despite my lamenting the eventual Federer loss, this is an utterly compelling and intriguing read.
March 7, 2011
The writing was okay, but it had a bunch of lovely little facts about Roger and Rafa. I was borderline 4 stars for it, because it let me relive some of that emotionally draining 2008 Wimbledon final...so good.
May 14, 2009
If you watched last year's Wimbledon final or are even a casual fan of tennis, then you will love this book. You kind of wish Feds and Rafa could have both won by the end of the book!
June 29, 2018
Ten years later, I still remember sitting on my red couch in my first and only rental apartment watching this glorious match. I've been an avid tennis fan since I was a little girl listening to my dad talk tales of Borg, McEnroe, Lendl, Martina and more. After 30 years of watching tennis, I, too, consider this the Greatest Match Ever Played. It's not because my guy won, it's because of the players, the quality and the drama this match brought. Federer, the graceful gazelle-like genius, versus Nadal, the intense, play-every-point-like-its-the-last dirt baller. Rafa, beating down Federer on clay at the French Open Finals three straight years. Federer, beating Rafa at Wimby finals the past two years. Add on their opposing styles of play. The two rain delays. Their absolute mutual respect for each other. Hands down the Greatest of all time.
The backstories of the two players was fun to read about. Federer's upbringing in Basel, Switzerland, and Rafa's in Manacor, Majorca, Spain.
The writer did a great job relaying the emotions the fans and viewers felt. The match transcended to casual and non-fans. How could it not? It was tennis artistry and guts on full display with the two greatest players of all time. 🐐🐐
Ten years later, these two men are still the top two ranked players with many more major victories on their shelves. Let's hope they can rekindle that magic from a decade ago and get another Rafa/Fed Wimby final. I can't wait to watch the documentary this weekend.
The backstories of the two players was fun to read about. Federer's upbringing in Basel, Switzerland, and Rafa's in Manacor, Majorca, Spain.
The writer did a great job relaying the emotions the fans and viewers felt. The match transcended to casual and non-fans. How could it not? It was tennis artistry and guts on full display with the two greatest players of all time. 🐐🐐
Ten years later, these two men are still the top two ranked players with many more major victories on their shelves. Let's hope they can rekindle that magic from a decade ago and get another Rafa/Fed Wimby final. I can't wait to watch the documentary this weekend.
April 15, 2025
A rare bit of non-fiction on the feed. Prompted by my roommate, my greater friend circle's growing fixation on tennis, and a sports article entitled the "100 Greatest Sporting Moments of the 2000s", I popped open Strokes of Genius. It was great! It was snappy, contextual, clean sports writing. A book outlining like 500 points of tennis has to walk a tightrope of banal description and opinionated fandom and this book walks that tightrope in OnCloud tennis shoes while kicking up chalk. Wertheim does a great job of drone-shot-orbiting Wimbeldon, zooming out Indiana-Jones-map style to Federer and Nadal's childhoods, and zooming in to the nanometers of difference in gameplay in what seems to me to be the greatest tennis match ever played. He knows when to bob and weave as a writer and knows how to write small during a tense moment and let the story (and it is an incredible story) tell itself. TLDR, the game was actually neck and neck. In points it was like 251-250. I gained a great appreciation for the uniqueness of the sport, Wimbledon (highyieldsavingsJesusmakeithappen), and these two titans of tennis. This weekend I am going to watch the final and I am very excited about it (shoutout Youtube). Don't have too much more to say because I am notoriously chaste around non-fiction, but if anyone has any follow-up tennis content or wants to suffer the wrath of my 6'4 boom cannon of a serve, say hi.
April 3, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Wertheim's writing evinced the beauty, class and artistry of the game of tennis; he does an excellent job of using creative verbs and analogies to invest the reader into the match. I think any sports book is a success when it makes you want to go back and watch the original sporting event it covers, especially when it's a four-hour tennis match. He also fleshes out the background, rivalry, and class of both Federer and Nadal, and praises them both without revealing much bias. The book falls short in two ways, however, but only one is Wertheim's fault. The first is the relatively innocuous upbringing of both Nadal and Federer. Two athletes who grew up in middle-to-upper-class homes doesn't make for an engaging story of redemption and perseverance through adversity. This, obviously, is not something Wertheim can change, and he covers their past in a candid and fairly bland manner, which is as much as can be expected. The part where I feel he did fail is when he would lose focus. He spent multiple pages talking about sports betting, stringing racquets, and TV coverage, and I didn't feel like this pertained to the match or the players, and thus didn't belong. All in all, I would certainly recommend it to tennis fans, and I would also recommend it to those who desire to like tennis more.
Wertheim's writing evinced the beauty, class and artistry of the game of tennis; he does an excellent job of using creative verbs and analogies to invest the reader into the match. I think any sports book is a success when it makes you want to go back and watch the original sporting event it covers, especially when it's a four-hour tennis match. He also fleshes out the background, rivalry, and class of both Federer and Nadal, and praises them both without revealing much bias. The book falls short in two ways, however, but only one is Wertheim's fault. The first is the relatively innocuous upbringing of both Nadal and Federer. Two athletes who grew up in middle-to-upper-class homes doesn't make for an engaging story of redemption and perseverance through adversity. This, obviously, is not something Wertheim can change, and he covers their past in a candid and fairly bland manner, which is as much as can be expected. The part where I feel he did fail is when he would lose focus. He spent multiple pages talking about sports betting, stringing racquets, and TV coverage, and I didn't feel like this pertained to the match or the players, and thus didn't belong. All in all, I would certainly recommend it to tennis fans, and I would also recommend it to those who desire to like tennis more.
July 5, 2020
2020 might be the end of the world but if you think I’m not going to get some tennis in one form or another over the Wimbledon fortnight, then oh boy you’re in for a shocker. This play by play of the greatest match of all time for the bill. Obviously this must be one of the most discussed, written about and reminisced over sporting events in history, but that’s for a good reason and it doesn’t diminish any joy of watching it at the time, nor the shameless nostalgia of reliving it. (Especially when the guy you were cheering for was the victor).
Ultimately I think for play by play of the match itself I would recommend Rafa’s autobiography over this, however this does give you the sense of the crowds amazement of watching these two all time greats elevate the game to undreamt of levels. It also provides some interesting back story for both players, as well as some Wimbledon history. A very enjoyable read and one I would recommend to anyone interested in either player. I do think we are due an updated book on the Fedal saga though - for my money this is one of the most interesting and unusual rivalries in the whole of sport, not least because it is clearly also now a friendship. So Vamos Rafa and Allez Roger - and more importantly viva Fedal!
Ultimately I think for play by play of the match itself I would recommend Rafa’s autobiography over this, however this does give you the sense of the crowds amazement of watching these two all time greats elevate the game to undreamt of levels. It also provides some interesting back story for both players, as well as some Wimbledon history. A very enjoyable read and one I would recommend to anyone interested in either player. I do think we are due an updated book on the Fedal saga though - for my money this is one of the most interesting and unusual rivalries in the whole of sport, not least because it is clearly also now a friendship. So Vamos Rafa and Allez Roger - and more importantly viva Fedal!
November 7, 2020
The book amounts to an extended long-form magazine article, like Sports Illustrated used to do back in the day. Wertheim's prose is breezy and insightful. He knows tennis and the tour, overlapping but distinct domains. He begins Strokes of Genius with a shot-by-shot description of this unforgettable match, now 12 (!) years old. Even then, Federer was being described as the GOAT, for he blended accomplishment with elegance. To wit: He made it to at least the semifinals of 23 straight major tournaments--from Wimbledon 2004 to the 2010 Australian Open, winning 16. And barely seemed to sweat while doing so.
Before long, Wertheim abandons the stroke-for-stroke approach and adds color through a series of diversions. Some of these are welcome, like visits to the players' hometowns, analyzing racquet and string technology, comparing the combatants' personalities; other cutaways are less interesting, such as the look at how betting impact (or doesn't) professional tennis. Or PEDs. And the talk of the players' fans, from Anna Wintour to Rafa's online supporters, was a double fault. These give the book a padded feeling, even at just over 200 pages.
Still, this is a minor quibble. Wertheim is a splendid guide, engaging and knowledgeable.
Before long, Wertheim abandons the stroke-for-stroke approach and adds color through a series of diversions. Some of these are welcome, like visits to the players' hometowns, analyzing racquet and string technology, comparing the combatants' personalities; other cutaways are less interesting, such as the look at how betting impact (or doesn't) professional tennis. Or PEDs. And the talk of the players' fans, from Anna Wintour to Rafa's online supporters, was a double fault. These give the book a padded feeling, even at just over 200 pages.
Still, this is a minor quibble. Wertheim is a splendid guide, engaging and knowledgeable.
October 7, 2020
Brilliant recap of perhaps the greatest tennis match of all time in 2008 between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal -- both still going strong today 12 years later. I'd like someone like L. Jon to write a "Big 3" book and ponder why tennis is the only sport in the history of modern day sports where 3 men dominated for 15 years. But on to the book ...
It's one thing to capture an entire season, as John Feinstein does wonderfully, particularly with college basketball. It's another to encapsulate one event in a book. The next best and greatest example is Bob Ryan's fabulous "48 Minutes" about one NBA basketball game.
Wertheim keeps the suspense going with fine shot-by-shot coverage in certain parts of sets. Better are the side topics which keep the book going: the players' upbringings, improving racquet and string technology, even a short bio on the head linesman of the Wimbledon match.
After reading long books of late, this was a nice break, the author didn't need more space, finished this just right in about 200 pages. Wertheim flexes his vocabulary muscles a bit much when simpler words would do, but other than that, the book is tremendous from first serve to final point.
It's one thing to capture an entire season, as John Feinstein does wonderfully, particularly with college basketball. It's another to encapsulate one event in a book. The next best and greatest example is Bob Ryan's fabulous "48 Minutes" about one NBA basketball game.
Wertheim keeps the suspense going with fine shot-by-shot coverage in certain parts of sets. Better are the side topics which keep the book going: the players' upbringings, improving racquet and string technology, even a short bio on the head linesman of the Wimbledon match.
After reading long books of late, this was a nice break, the author didn't need more space, finished this just right in about 200 pages. Wertheim flexes his vocabulary muscles a bit much when simpler words would do, but other than that, the book is tremendous from first serve to final point.
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