Three Kings: The inside story of how Federer, Nadal and Djokovic came to dominate men's tennis
About this ebook
In The Big Three, award-winning author Mark Hodgkinson delivers the first definitive account of the most intense rivalry in sporting history - an era shaped not just by talent, but by three radically different minds.
Drawing on revealing interviews with coaches, former players, and those closest to the trio, Hodgkinson explores what made Federer so effortless yet ruthless, how Nadal turned pain into power, and why Djokovic created men's tennis's golden era.
From playing styles and psychological warfare to training, tension and turning points, this is a deep dive into the forces - personal, mental and physical - that pushed each man to the edge. Hodgkinson revisits the era's defining matches, capturing what it felt like to face a Federer pass, a Nadal forehand, or a Djokovic return - and asks the question the sport struggles to answer: who was the greatest of all time?
About the author
Mark Hodgkinson is known for his compelling biographies of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Serena Williams. His biography of Djokovic - Searching for Novak - won the International Sports Book of the Year prize at the 2025 Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards and was a Times Sports Book of the Year. A former Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent, he has ghostwritten columns for Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, and also collaborated on a book with boxer Lawrence Okolie and on a golf project with singer Robbie Williams. Mark worked on two fitness books with Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston and their trainer Simon Waterson. Additionally, he authored a bestselling book for Naomi Osaka's former coach, Sascha Bajin, and has collaborated with Olympic gold medallists, psychologist Charlie Unwin and former Marine Nick Goldsmith. Mark consults for international sports brands in Europe, the United States and Japan.
