David Shaftel

David Shaftel is an American journalist, essayist, and editor known for his sophisticated writing on culture, sports, and international affairs. Based in New York and Europe throughout his career, he has contributed extensively to major publications such as The New York Times and the Financial Times.

He is best known as the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Racquet, an acclaimed quarterly magazine and media company celebrating tennis culture, art, and literature. He also edited the anthology The Racquet Anthology: The Best Writing on Tennis.

Shaftel’s work has brought a literary depth and cultural perspective to sports journalism. He continues to produce compelling commentary that bridges athletics, art, and long-form narrative prose.