Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My LifeHarper Collins, 2009 M03 17 - 288 pages James Blake's life was getting better every day. A rising tennis star and People magazine's Sexiest Male Athlete of 2002, he was leading a charmed life and loving every minute of it. But all that ended in May 2004, when Blake fractured his neck in an on-court freak accident. As he recovered, his father—who had been the inspiration for his tennis career—lost his battle with stomach cancer. Shortly after his father's death, Blake was dealt a third blow when he contracted zoster, a rare virus that paralyzed half of his face and threatened to end his already jeopardized career. In Breaking Back, Blake provides a remarkable account of how he came back from this terrible heartbreak and self-doubt to become one of the top tennis players in the world. A story of strength, passion, courage, and the unbreakable bonds between a father and son, Breaking Back is a celebration of one extraordinary athlete's indomitable spirit and his inspiring ability to find hope in the bleakest of times. |
From inside the book
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... tennis fan, but it is his honest and humble story of his personal highs and lows that reveals why he is such a great player. Blake is a champion—in every sense of the word.” —Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue “An inspirational ...
... and Won Back My Life James Blake. This book is because of, and for, my father, Tom. I can't even imagine where I would be without him and the lessons he has taught me. AUTHOR'S NOTE If you don't play or watch tennis, I've.
... play or watch tennis, I've included a short glossary of important words, terms, and information at the end. I hope these make the story equally approachable to tennis fans and not-yet-fans as well. Thanks for reading. PROLOGUE During ...
... tennis player, and I had put my career on hold to spend the rest of the year recuperating. The only catch was that the doctors told me that it could take years to recover, and so the question of whether or not I would ever play again ...
... tennis career in a matter of months, or I could have hung up my racket for good. I could have pursued a totally ... Play tennis long enough, you realize—much as I did—that your relationship with the ball is your relationship with life. 4 ...
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
It Could Be Worse | 35 |
Requiem for a Superman | 63 |
Five Minutes of Hitting | 115 |
Plan B | 147 |
If You Can Win One Set | 175 |
You Can Win Two 175 7 Fire It Up One Time Bam 203 8 Getting Better 241 Epilogue 257 Glossary | 265 |