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Hitting Back: The Autobiography
The sensational autobiography of Britain’s new tennis superstar. In his own words for the first time, Andy Murray will talk about the long, testing and sometimes difficult path to superstardom. Temperamental, gifted, passionate, and fiery, Murray is the new face of tennis and a role model to a whole generation.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2008
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Andy Murray
3 books5 followersAndy Murray is a British tennis player.
After turning pro in 2005, Andy won his first ATP title, the SAP open in San Jose, a year later. Fast forward two years and seven more tour titles, Andy reached his first grand slam final, the 2008 US Open. However in 2012, having lost in three subsequent grand slam final appearances, Andy became the US Open Champion. This was hot on the heels of an illustrious Gold Medal victory at Wimbledon during the London 2012 Olympics. Andy then ended years of British heartbreak on the same turf just a year later by becoming the first British male in 77 years to win the highly coveted Wimbledon Championships in London in July 2013.
After turning pro in 2005, Andy won his first ATP title, the SAP open in San Jose, a year later. Fast forward two years and seven more tour titles, Andy reached his first grand slam final, the 2008 US Open. However in 2012, having lost in three subsequent grand slam final appearances, Andy became the US Open Champion. This was hot on the heels of an illustrious Gold Medal victory at Wimbledon during the London 2012 Olympics. Andy then ended years of British heartbreak on the same turf just a year later by becoming the first British male in 77 years to win the highly coveted Wimbledon Championships in London in July 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 24, 2023
As many will know, tennis is my game, I love playing tennis, I coached in Jersey, Channel Islands, for many years, I played for the island for many years and still play 2-3 times a week, with all my other sports I play in retirement. I grew up boxing for eleven years and have that's sports mind, determination to win.
There are great things about this book, some things not so good. First one is my fault, I have had this autobiography for a long time, but I still was shocked to find this book about Andy's life was finished when he was 21 years old. Yes 21 years old, not much of a life filled at 21.
Plus knowing his life story now, and want he has gone through, now there is a life story, but of course there are new autobiographies and more stories to be told. Grand Slams, new hips, comebacks and lots more injuries and battles.
But his story does start at Wimbledon in 2005, a young, brash Andy Murray came out of nowhere and thrashed star pros Georges Bastl and Radek Stepanek. He took a two-set lead against former finalist David Nalbandian before his dramatic winning run came to a end on the Centre Court. But a legend was born, and Britain had a new sporting hero.
Henman Hill was renamed Murray Mound, and Henmania became Andymania. In 2006, Murray went stellar. Aged just 18 he won his first ATP title at San Jose, California, beating former world no. 1s Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt on the way. In the same month, he beat his friend Tim Henman to become the British No. 1. By the end of a wonderful year in which he was one of only two players to beat Roger Federer, Murray was no. 17 in the world. But Murray is much more than a truly gifted tennis player and potential grand slam champion. He has changed the face of the British game, blowing away the cobwebs of the All England Club, and dividing opinion with his brash, straight-talking style, anti-establishment rhetoric and on-court anger and passion. A whole new generation of kids are becoming tennis fans. Andy has made tennis cool again, like the days of McEnroe, Borg and Nastase. Here, for the first time, Andy Murray talks in his own words about the long, testing, and often difficult path to superstardom.
The boy from Dunblane opens up about dealing with the constant limelight and attention from a media and a general public desperate for a genuine British tennis star, and gives the exclusive lowdown on Wimbledon 2008 as he prepares to launch his bid for grass-court glory. Temperamental, gifted, passionate, fiery: Murray is the dazzling new face of British tennis, and a role model to a whole generation. Andy's story will enthral and excite the entire country.
I am Andy's Murray's number one fan, well throughout his career I have watched everyone of his matches, watched him at Wimbledon, watched him play Davis Cup, watched him with the end of year championships, become number one, win the Olympics gold medal, met him 2-3 times.
Just now, today watch him play and reach the final of the Doha tournament, for a fifth final, saving five match points against one of the new up and coming players Jiri Lahecka, who had just beat the number one see Andre Rublev in the quarter final.
So a great book, explains some of his decisions when he was younger, his frustration with injuries in his earlier career, frustrations with press, comments in the British press especially.
But his story, autobiography stopped fourteen years ago makes this story a little dated, but understand so much about decisions.
Plus one pet hate, also uses a ghost writer. Five chapters by Tim Henman, Jamie Murray, Mark Petchey, Judy Murray, so not just his book.
So four stars. So difficult to review fairly this book.
There are great things about this book, some things not so good. First one is my fault, I have had this autobiography for a long time, but I still was shocked to find this book about Andy's life was finished when he was 21 years old. Yes 21 years old, not much of a life filled at 21.
Plus knowing his life story now, and want he has gone through, now there is a life story, but of course there are new autobiographies and more stories to be told. Grand Slams, new hips, comebacks and lots more injuries and battles.
But his story does start at Wimbledon in 2005, a young, brash Andy Murray came out of nowhere and thrashed star pros Georges Bastl and Radek Stepanek. He took a two-set lead against former finalist David Nalbandian before his dramatic winning run came to a end on the Centre Court. But a legend was born, and Britain had a new sporting hero.
Henman Hill was renamed Murray Mound, and Henmania became Andymania. In 2006, Murray went stellar. Aged just 18 he won his first ATP title at San Jose, California, beating former world no. 1s Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt on the way. In the same month, he beat his friend Tim Henman to become the British No. 1. By the end of a wonderful year in which he was one of only two players to beat Roger Federer, Murray was no. 17 in the world. But Murray is much more than a truly gifted tennis player and potential grand slam champion. He has changed the face of the British game, blowing away the cobwebs of the All England Club, and dividing opinion with his brash, straight-talking style, anti-establishment rhetoric and on-court anger and passion. A whole new generation of kids are becoming tennis fans. Andy has made tennis cool again, like the days of McEnroe, Borg and Nastase. Here, for the first time, Andy Murray talks in his own words about the long, testing, and often difficult path to superstardom.
The boy from Dunblane opens up about dealing with the constant limelight and attention from a media and a general public desperate for a genuine British tennis star, and gives the exclusive lowdown on Wimbledon 2008 as he prepares to launch his bid for grass-court glory. Temperamental, gifted, passionate, fiery: Murray is the dazzling new face of British tennis, and a role model to a whole generation. Andy's story will enthral and excite the entire country.
I am Andy's Murray's number one fan, well throughout his career I have watched everyone of his matches, watched him at Wimbledon, watched him play Davis Cup, watched him with the end of year championships, become number one, win the Olympics gold medal, met him 2-3 times.
Just now, today watch him play and reach the final of the Doha tournament, for a fifth final, saving five match points against one of the new up and coming players Jiri Lahecka, who had just beat the number one see Andre Rublev in the quarter final.
So a great book, explains some of his decisions when he was younger, his frustration with injuries in his earlier career, frustrations with press, comments in the British press especially.
But his story, autobiography stopped fourteen years ago makes this story a little dated, but understand so much about decisions.
Plus one pet hate, also uses a ghost writer. Five chapters by Tim Henman, Jamie Murray, Mark Petchey, Judy Murray, so not just his book.
So four stars. So difficult to review fairly this book.
August 12, 2011
Well he's not exactly Andre Agassi in more ways than one. Incoherent and rambling. I've never really thought he was a spoilt brat - until I read his book, which just seemed to be one long whinge about how misunderstood he is, with no real insight into himself or the world of tennis.
February 27, 2012
Murray is fastly becoming one of my favorite players on tour!
January 3, 2020
The most underrated autobiography from the tennis world at least, I enjoyed his journey, he may not be the greatest storyteller but I felt like I was in the tennis tournaments with him all the years and he kept his promise at the end of the book!
October 3, 2013
I am enjoying this much more than I imagined. I've always enjoyed good autobiographies, but since Andy has just won Wimbledon I thought this would be fun. It's well written and is giving a real insight into the man - it's comic too (he has a dry sense of humor) and I find myself with a smile on my face as I read.....................I've always found it fascinating to delve into what makes up the character of a man who is a real champion..............strong stuff..........
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews