'Writing a book is tough but being a pro is harder': Conor Niland on tennis's periphery and reframing success

Author of William Hill award-winning book The Racket does not miss life on tour as world No 129 but holds no bitterness towards the game Conor Niland laughs and, without hesitating, rejects the idea that he misses the intensity of competition which shaped and sometimes deformed his life as a professional tennis player who reached a high of No 129 in the world. "No," he exclaims. "I found myself waking up with butterflies in my stomach on the morning of the William Hill [Sports Book of the Year a...