Federer and Me: A Story of Obsession

Skidelsky, formerly literary editor of the Observer and the New Statesman, wants to be the chief Fed-head, the most loyal fan of Roger Federer, whom he considers to be the greatest tennis player of all time. In this slightly frantic memoir and love letter to Federer, the British writer says he first fell in love with tennis as a child, with his father later joining him to play doubles at a local club. Skidelsky manages to toss in a few personal details about his family, love life, bouts of depression at college, and therapy sessions, but mostly he writes confidently of Federer the man and myth: his peak years of 2004 to 2006; his rivalry with Rafael Nadal in 2008–2009; his 2009 Australian win; his 2011 comeback; and his 2014 Wimbledon resurgence. In one revealing section, the often hilarious Skidelsky tries to decipher the difference between being a super fan and being completely obsessed. With his careful attention to the evolving talent of Federer and the debates around surface, rackets, strategy matches, and celebrity, Skidelsky scores. Agent: David Godwin, David Godwin Assoc. (May)