# Christopher Clarey

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{{short description|American sports journalist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Christopher Clarey
| image         = Christopher Clarey (Roland Garros 2023) 01 (cropped).jpg
| alt           = 
| caption       = Clarey at the [2023 French Open](/source/2023_French_Open)
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    = {{birth year and age|1964}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.so-tennis.fr/christopher-clarey-jai-chasse-linfo-pendant-trente-deux-ans/|title=Christopher Clarey: «J'ai chassé l'info pendant trente-deux ans»|language=fr|trans-title=Christopher Clarey: "I chased the news for thirty-two years"|type=interview|website=so-tennis.fr|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref> <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [WP:DOB](/source/WP%3ADOB). For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
| birth_place   = [Newport, Rhode Island](/source/Newport%2C_Rhode_Island), U.S.
| death_date    = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->
| death_place   = 
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = {{hlist|Journalist|writer}}
| years_active  = 1991–present
| alma_mater    = [Williams College](/source/Williams_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = 
}}
'''Christopher Clarey''' (born 1964) is an American sports journalist and author who mostly writes about [tennis](/source/tennis). He reported for ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' from 1991 to 2023. His biography of [Roger Federer](/source/Roger_Federer), ''The Master'', was published in 2021 and was a New York Times bestseller. 

== Early life and education ==
Clarey was born in [Newport, Rhode Island](/source/Newport%2C_Rhode_Island), to Bonnie Clarey and [US Navy Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)) [Stephen Clarey](/source/Stephen_Clarey).<ref name="CEJ1">{{cite news|url=http://www.coronadonewsca.com/news/coronado_island_news/chs-grad-christopher-clarey-covers-the-game-of-tennis/article_bc517f1e-435a-11ec-81db-73b2a6246818.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112144148/http://www.coronadonewsca.com/news/coronado_island_news/chs-grad-christopher-clarey-covers-the-game-of-tennis/article_bc517f1e-435a-11ec-81db-73b2a6246818.html|archive-date=November 12, 2021|url-status=live|title=CHS Grad Christopher Clarey Covers The Game Of Tennis|last=Johnson|first=Christine|date=November 11, 2021|work=Coronado Eagle & Journal|access-date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> His grandfather was [Admiral](/source/Admiral_(United_States)) [Bernard "Chick" Clarey](/source/Bernard_A._Clarey).<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1193926465047449602|title=Love and respect on Veterans Day to my family|date=November 11, 2019|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|user=christophclarey}}</ref> Being in a military family, he moved often in his youth.<ref name="CEJ1"/> He attended [Punahou School](/source/Punahou_School) in Honolulu from seventh to ninth grade at the same time that [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) went to the school.<ref name="EPH1"/> He graduated from [Coronado High School](/source/Coronado_High_School_(California)) in California, where he played tennis and soccer and wrote for the student newspaper.<ref name="CEJ1"/> He went to [Williams College](/source/Williams_College) in Massachusetts, where he played tennis, soccer, and volleyball, and received his [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) (BA) in English and history in 1986.<ref name="CEJ1"/><ref name="EPH1">{{Cite web|url=https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/mten/2011-12/releases/201207087as44l|title=Catching Up With Chris Clarey '86 Is No Easy Task|date=July 8, 2012|website=eph.williams.edu|publisher=[Williams College](/source/Williams_College)|access-date=2019-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021521/https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/mten/2011-12/releases/201207087as44l|archive-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

== Career ==

Clarey started his journalism career as an intern at ''[The San Diego Union-Tribune](/source/The_San_Diego_Union-Tribune)'', where he covered local sports, including the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL)'s [Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers).<ref name="CEJ1"/><ref name="EPH1"/> In 1991, he moved to Paris to work as a freelance reporter.<ref name="EPH1"/><ref name="NYT20"/>

Later that year, he secured his first byline in ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)''—a profile of the French ice dance siblings [Paul](/source/Paul_Duchesnay) and [Isabelle Duchesnay](/source/Isabelle_Duchesnay)—after his former editor at the ''Union-Tribune'' recommended him to the ''Times'' sports editor.<ref name="EPH1"/>{{efn|label=note|In Clarey's first ''Times'' byline – {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/26/sports/albertville-profile-ice-dancing-for-a-medal-and-for-france.html|title=Albertville Profile; Ice Dancing for a Medal, and for France|last=Clary<!--sic-->|first=Chris|work=The New York Times |date=December 26, 1991|postscript=none}} – his surname was misspelled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/11/insider/thousands-of-bylines-to-his-name-and-one-thats-not.html|title=Thousands of Bylines to His Name, and One That's Not|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|date=June 11, 2023|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref>}} He continued to write for the ''Times'' and, in 1998, became the chief sports correspondent for its sister publication, the ''[International Herald Tribune](/source/International_Herald_Tribune)''.<ref name="EPH1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/by/christopher-clarey|title=Christopher Clarey|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref> ''[The London Times](/source/The_Times)'' said in 2021 that Clarey "has a claim to be the doyen of English-language tennis journalism".<ref name="LT1">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/the-master-the-brilliant-career-of-roger-federer-by-christopher-clarey-review-wx8glbg0c|title=The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey review — the charming champion|last=Skidelsky|first=William|date=August 28, 2021|work=[The Times](/source/The_Times)|location=London|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref>

''The Master'', a biography of [Roger Federer](/source/Roger_Federer) by Clarey, was published on August 24, 2021, as Federer's tennis career came to an end.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/08/18/roger-federer-tennis-book|title=Reflections On 'The Long Run And Beautiful Game' Of Roger Federer|last1=Young|first1=Robin|last2=Beiner|first2=Camila|date=August 18, 2021|publisher=[WBUR-FM](/source/WBUR-FM)|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://williamsrecord.com/458344/sports/christopher-clarey-86-discusses-writing-definitive-biography-of-federer-the-future-of-tennis-post-big-three/|title=Christopher Clarey '86 discusses writing definitive biography of Federer, the future of tennis post–Big Three|last=Wang|first=Lindsay|date=November 10, 2021|work=The Williams Record|type=student newspaper|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref> Clarey had followed Federer closely for the entirety of his career and reportedly interviewed Federer more than any other journalist.<ref name="CEJ1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/roger-federer-may-be-out-with-an-injury-but-hes-present--and-forthcoming--in-a-new-book/2021/08/24/b471bf9e-042f-11ec-a654-900a78538242_story.html|title=Roger Federer may be out with an injury, but he's present — and forthcoming — in a new book|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=August 30, 2021|newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref> Contemporary reviews in ''The London Times'' called ''The Master'' the best book on Federer written so far.<ref name="LT1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/the-master-by-christopher-clarey-review-roger-federers-journey-from-teenage-brat-to-tennis-immortal-ktpr7t9dn|title=The Master by Christopher Clarey review — Roger Federer's journey from teenage brat to tennis immortal|last=Syed|first=Matthew|date=August 22, 2021|work=[The Times](/source/The_Times)|location=London|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref>

In May 2023, Clarey announced that he was leaving the ''Times'' to focus on writing books and to launch a newsletter, ''Christopher Clarey's Tennis & Beyond''. His second book, "The Warrior, [Rafael Nadal](/source/Rafael_Nadal) and His Kingdom of Clay" the story behind the fourteen Roland Garros championships won by Rafael Nadal and the history of the tennis venue Roland Garros was published in May 2025 and has already been translated into fourteen languages.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tennistourtalk.com/99154/christopher-clarey-leaves-new-york-times-tennis-correspondent-post-to-become-full-time-book-author|title=Christopher Clarey Leaves New York Times Tennis Correspondent Post To Become Full-Time Book Author|last=Dickens|first=Michael|date=May 17, 2023|website=tennistourtalk.com|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1658486922367606785|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|user=christophclarey|title=Big news for me: ...|date=May 16, 2023}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Clarey married his wife, Virginie, in Paris in 1991.<ref name="NYT20">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/sports/tennis/21iht-SRFOHISTORY21.html|title=20 Years of Memories at the French Open|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|date=May 20, 2011|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref>

== Awards ==

*Alan Trengove Award for Excellence in Tennis Journalism (2017)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2017/01/25/australian-open-announces-award-honouring-trengove|title=Australian Open announces award honouring Trengove|newspaper=Tennis Australia|date=January 25, 2017|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>
* Eugene L. Scott Award, [International Tennis Hall of Fame](/source/International_Tennis_Hall_of_Fame) (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://whatsupnewp.com/2018/09/ny-times-journalist-christopher-clarey-and-wilson-sporting-goods-honored-by-international-tennis-hall-of-fame/|title=NY Times Journalist Christopher Clarey and Wilson Sporting Goods honored by International Tennis Hall of Fame|last=Belmore|first=Ryan|date=2018-09-18|website=whatsupnewp.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>
* David A. Benjamin Achievement Award, [Intercollegiate Tennis Association](/source/Intercollegiate_Tennis_Association) (2024)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wearecollegetennis.com/2024/08/20/williams-college-alum-christopher-clarey-named-2024-ita-david-a-benjamin-achievement-award-winner/|title=Williams College Alum Christopher Clarey Named 2024 ITA David A Benjamin Achievement Award Winner |date=2024-08-20|publisher=[Intercollegiate Tennis Association](/source/Intercollegiate_Tennis_Association)|access-date=2024-09-14}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{substack handle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarey, Christopher}}
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from Newport, Rhode Island
Category:Williams College alumni
Category:The New York Times journalists
Category:American newspaper journalists
Category:21st-century American biographers
Category:American male biographers
Category:Tennis writers
Category:Sportswriters from Rhode Island

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christopher Clarey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Clarey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Clarey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.