Conor Niland scoops prestigious Sports Book of the Year award

'The Racket' by former Irish tennis professional player Conor Niland has scooped the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, the first Irish winner since Paul Kimmage's 'Rough Ride' in 1990.

The book, written with Irish sports journalist Gavin Cooney, charts the story of pro tennis's 99%: the players who roam the globe in hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments.

On the shortlist of six for the award, it marks the first time a tennis book has claimed world’s longest established literary sports-writing prize.

"I accept this award with a lot of humility," Niland said.

"The other shortlisted books are incredible stories so I feel very fortunate to have won and so grateful."

In addition to the prestigious trophy, Niland also claims more than €30,000 in prize money.

Niland retired from the professional ranks in 2012 due to a persistent hip injury.

The Limerick native, who in December 2010 reached a career high ranking of 129, began his professional career in 2005 after completing a tennis scholarship at the University of California in Berkeley.

He had a distinguished career for the Irish Davis Cup team winning 17 of the 29 matches he played since making his debut in 2000 and won three events on the ATP Challenger Tour, the most recent being the Salzburg Indoor Championships in November 2010 and won five ITF Futures events.

In 2011 he made history by becoming the first Irishman in more than a quarter of a century to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon