Episode #7 | Rallying with Jamie Murray on Lifelong Tennis Excellence and Partnership Perks

Welcome to Harry’s Gym Chat, we’re in my gym and we’re going to chat! This is a podcast powered by USN; we’ve got some exclusive offers for you that we are going to be giving away a little bit later in the episode. At the same time we are on YouTube so make sure you subscribe, we’re going to be talking about all things health and wealth and fitness. But, also all things positive because I’m a positive guy and we like to keep it fun and friendly.

Join us for a high-energy tennis talk with Jamie Murray (https://www.instagram.com/jamie__murray/), where the doubles maestro serves up an insider's look at the professional tennis circuit. Jamie, a seven-time Grand Slam winner and four-time Olympian, brings the heat discussing how the sport's evolving athlete physique impacts play style and competition. We volley over topics ranging from rigorous training regimens to the mental fortitude required for tour life, diving into what it takes to maintain peak performance amidst the diverse physicality of top players like Djokovic, Nadal, and his brother Andy Murray.

Ever wonder what it's like to travel the world chasing points, dealing with the pressure cooker of prestigious tournaments, or the strategy behind clinching a Grand Slam title? Jamie shares the raw emotions and psychological battles that come with the territory, not just in the limelight of victory, but in the crucial middle-ground matches that define a season. We also get personal, tackling the challenges of balancing parenthood with professional sports, the thrill of family support, and the shifting landscape of athlete careers, as players are increasingly smashing the traditional retirement age thanks to better self-care and recovery practices.

Wrap up your laces and get ready to run down every shot in this candid conversation that stretches beyond the baseline. As Jamie reflects on the evolution of coaching from parental beginnings to seeking expert guidance, we also have a bit of fun considering the quirks of doubles partnerships and the unique dynamic when playing with a sibling. Closing out, we chat casually about our own tennis experiences, the importance of genuinely promoting the sport, and the delightful prospect of facing down a professional serve. This episode isn't just a backhand slice into the world of tennis; it's an ace of insights from one of the game's most respected figures.

Harry Aikines Aryeetey is an Olympian having represented Great Britain in the Rio Olympics as well as the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and European Championships earning him medals, including 5 gold medals, in 4x100m relay and 100m events. Harry is also a well-known fitness influencer where he shares his passion for sport and fitness with his audiences on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

For more from Harry visit:

Instagram: @aikines https://www.instagram.com/aikines/

TikTok: @harryaikines https://www.tiktok.com/@harryaikines

YouTube: @aikines1 https://www.youtube.com/@aikines1

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Harry's Gym Chat. We're in my gym and we're gonna chat. Now. It's a podcast powered by USN. We've got some exclusive offers for you that we are gonna be giving away a little later in the video, but at the same time we are on YouTube, so make sure you subscribe. We're gonna be talking about everything health and wealth and fitness, but also all things positive, because I'm a positive guy, I'm a big guy. We're keeping it fun and friendly, so look, jump in, turn the volume up, let's do this. What's happening? People, harry double a here back again with another podcast, and joining me is a seven-time grand slam winner, four-time olympian, a proud scotsman, jamie murray. What we saying?

Speaker 2: 0:49

how's it going? How was that?

Speaker 1: 0:53

for an intro that was solid. Yeah, yeah, a lot of energy. Yeah, I'm working on it. I'm working on it. So, dude, look, thank you for coming, appreciate you being here. You're a busy man with a busy schedule. Every time I chat to you, you're either here, there or everywhere. So how does it feel to be grounded right now? Because we're chilling right now. We've got a little bit of a chill moment, haven't we?

Speaker 2: 1:14

yeah, yeah, we're good. Yeah, I mean, this season was like probably the longest I've had in my career. A few events have been kind of like extended so there's more time away from home, but I finished my season like november three or four, get like seven weeks or so and then I'm off to australia on boxing day.

Speaker 1: 1:31

So I'm enjoying being home, man mate, you're enjoying being home. So look, obviously, the world of tennis, the big, wide world of tennis. My dad absolutely loves tennis, right? So I wasn't tall enough to be a tennis player? I don't think, because every time I look, I look at you guys, you seem to be, especially the men. You seem to be six foot plus.

Speaker 2: 1:46

Yeah, a few giants yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:47

And you look like you should be high jumpers.

Speaker 2: 1:50

Is that just?

Speaker 1: 1:51

if you were to like scout the country, is that what you know most coaches would look for?

Speaker 2: 1:55

I don't know man, it's just, I guess it who just got taller and taller. And you know, you see Eastern European guys that are, you know, 6'4", 6'5" and now there's guys that are like 6'8", 6'9" and it's yeah, it's pretty wild. But then you know, you'll see guys like Kena Shikori, who did well for so long, was kind of top five player. He was like 5'8". Dan Evans, british guy. Evans, british guys five, nine maybe, um, but when they're coming up against guys like this high, you know, long levers and power that they can generate, like it's incredible to see what they, what they can do. Their skill set is, like, I would say, so much higher to be able to survive in this kind of world of giants that we, that we play in, you know, and I'm 6'3, which you know is definitely above average walking down the street but on the tour, you know, I'm kind of like this all the time.

Speaker 1: 2:47

When I see you guys. Obviously you know if you don't know me and Jamie, we connected at Rio Olympics. You know I've got a nice little picture of you, but I remember seeing yourself and some of the tennis players just walking around. I'm just like it's like you've been pulled out like literally, you're just stretched but like, compared to our sprinters, like I'm what?

Speaker 1: 3:06

I'm 181, which I think is 511. But then I look up and I'm like well, you, you, you're sort of what most sprinters. If I could get an extra inch or two on my stride length, that would be great, you know. So when you're thinking about your progression through the sport, have you always been sort of in that giant bracket?

Speaker 2: 3:24

no, no, I was pretty, um, I was pretty slight, I would say, until I was maybe, kind of, maybe like 18, 19, I think. Um, I think I definitely kind of growth spurt around that that age that got me to my height. But I was very, you know, I was skinny, kind of lanky, lanky kid yeah um, kind of filled out a little bit more.

Speaker 1: 3:49

Now not loads, but mate, we're in the gym if you want to go some see these, yeah the dumbbells yeah, yeah, and those protein things ready to go. We'll touch on the protein later, so what? On that note, though, in terms of training, right, so what? What are the fundamental elements of um?

Speaker 2: 4:10

you know, training to be a professional tennis player well, I think with, like with tennis, like you need a bit of everything right, like you need endurance, you need to be fast. Uh, you need to be agile. Um, you need to have strength. I wouldn't. I would say like for you, if I was as big as you, I'd be too big for tennis, especially upper body.

Speaker 1: 4:32

Yeah, don't be too strong. My shoulder mobility is terrible yeah, because you don't need it right. Really, for what?

Speaker 2: 4:38

for what you do, it's like footballers the same, like no shoulder stability or, you know, flexibility, whatever, um, yeah, so we needed like a bit of everything and I think, like, if you get, you know guys are strong, but I wouldn't say like they're heavy and if you.

Speaker 2: 4:54

I mean I would say like djokovic. If you compare like djokovic to andy or nadal, he's, you know, he's obviously a strong guy but he's very, he's very light on his feet and he's limber and he'll move. But then Andy and Rafa were like kind of heavier, stronger guys, moved in different ways but you know they've obviously had a lot of injury issues through their career, especially at the late end of their career, whereas Jocko's kind of always Steady, steady and it's maybe like his kind of genetics, the way he's, you know, his body type and stuff is just is built to kind of last or withstand the rigors of playing tennis more than than the other guys so would you say that if you're obviously you're drilling on the court yeah, a lot of things that you do, a drill based right?

Speaker 1: 5:41

yeah, um, how how much of the time is spent in the gym conditioning? I assume that you're doing more conditioning than fundamental lifting I mean I'm doing.

Speaker 2: 5:52

Let's say, if I'm home like monday to friday, I'm probably doing tennis like three or four days, let's say like hour and a half, two hours, and then I'm probably, maybe I'm doing in the gym like three days and maybe I'm doing a couple of days running. Yeah, but I can't, yeah, yeah but I just got into it, like during COVID, I kind of nothing else to do.

Speaker 2: 6:11

You know when we got a one a day yeah, yeah, and I just I just kept, I just kept going with it and yeah, I feel good doing it and stuff like I, I do, I do, I do enjoy it, but like I think also, as I got older, would kind of drop the tennis a bit when I'm at home, just because, like the year's so long as well, like I don't want to I want to look forward to going to tournaments.

Speaker 2: 6:31

I don't want to get there and feel like stale yeah so I'd rather like make sure when I'm on the court, like I'm excited to be there, and you know I want to train because I want to get better, that sort of stuff so when you're training, like what would you say is like your particular, what's your strengths and what's your weaknesses?

Speaker 2: 6:45

being honest, my weakness is is definitely like in the gym, is kind of like doing the same stuff yeah, yeah and it's like, but it's poor planning, right, because like I'll get into the gym and I'm like, okay, what am I gonna do? And then I like kind of, look at like previous stuff, I'm like, okay, I feel comfortable doing that, I'll just, I'll just do that, you know. Uh, but I do like, you know, like compoundy stuff. So maybe I'll do like a sort of like a squat or something or a trap bar deadlift into like some jumps and then back into maybe like some weighted jumps you're training.

Speaker 2: 7:19

Like me, I'm not looking like you.

Speaker 1: 7:21

Yeah, so like, if you're talking about those types of is transferable, it's transfer of energy, right? That's obviously what you're looking. If you're talking about those types of is transferable, is transfer of energy right, that's obviously what you're looking at. You're looking at power production and efficiency within that movement. How, how well have you seen that translate onto the court? Not sure, I love that he's like let me think about that.

Speaker 2: 7:40

That was a long pause.

Speaker 1: 7:41

I'm like because it's like. I do find it funny though, because when I see you guys, especially someone like nadal, and they're sliding like, literally sliding across, obviously the the core and their knees are inverted and I think myself, your adductors or your tendons or science, got to be really strong to be going through them like that motion. That, to me, is that strength, and I don't think people appreciate how well conditioned you guys are to be going through them like that motion.

Speaker 2: 8:08

That to me, is that strength, and I don't think people appreciate how well conditioned you guys are, to be fair, yeah, I mean, yeah, like those guys, they took the game to a new level with their physicality and their, their movement, their durability, like their ability to kind of play for five, six hours and then, you know, maybe come back the next day and have to do it again, which was kind of unheard of. And I think that raised the bar for, like you know, conditioning and stuff on the tour, because a lot of players realize like, okay, if I want to like win grand slams, get to the top, like I need to be at that level or or close to it. But I think also, you know we've been doing it since we're sort of four, five, six years old, so your body kind of gets used to it and obviously, like all the training helps. But you know, on court you're still it's a lot of repetitive stuff you're doing.

Speaker 2: 8:52

I think your body kind of gets used to doing those certain movements and stuff is that when you started?

Speaker 1: 8:57

yeah, like when you're at four five yeah, I start, yeah, we started.

Speaker 2: 9:01

I was four, andy was four and he was three. Um, and yeah, I mean, if you, if you looked at like the bios of the top hundred players in the world, I would say the latest someone would start would be six. Okay, any later than that.

Speaker 1: 9:14

So my, my, daughter's three, so I've only got like another three.

Speaker 2: 9:16

She's on track now.

Speaker 1: 9:19

She don't listen to me right now mate, she ain't listening to me right now because it's like I do find it is such an unknown. You know, I see it like there's an academy over at bisham, right, yeah, yeah, um, and at the same time, like you see these academies but you don't actually know what or how or whatever goes into it, because it is a massive sport, but then it's sort of I don't know, it's just not known how to get into it.

Speaker 2: 9:41

As well, I think that's that's a big problem for a lot of people in the country is one is knowing how to get into sports. Also, you know, sadly it's an expensive sport to get into because you know you need to buy equipment, you need to pay for courts and stuff like it's not, like you know you go to your running track oh, yeah, you put your shoes on and off you go.

Speaker 1: 10:00

You know athletics is a poor man's sport. I'll tell you that you don't even need to. Sometimes my sisters were winning races barefoot. Yeah, mate, no, I hear that, but so. So, within that, though, obviously, talking about the finances, like you said, it can be quite rewarding at the end of the day. Yeah, so a little bit of investment. So, when we talk about tours and stuff, do you target, like certain competitions, or is it, you know, the big grand slams? Is that like the focus?

Speaker 2: 10:32

well, I think, like when you're, when you're starting out, let's, let's say you're starting out on the professional circuits, which I did when I was like 18, 19 was that scary, by the way, um 18, 19. Was that scary by the way, no, it wasn't scary. Maybe I was apprehensive in the fact that, like, okay, if it doesn't work out for me, you know what on earth am I going to do? Because you know, I played tennis all my life.

Speaker 1: 10:55

Okay, I completed high school, but for me it was like it's tennis you know I hate that question when people ask what are you going to do when you finish tennis.

Speaker 2: 11:02

Well, I get asked that all the time now, which means I'm just getting old, or people think, bloody hell, you need to give it up and you sort of take it on the chin with your shoulder.

Speaker 1: 11:10

You're like what are you trying to say exactly?

Speaker 2: 11:12

exactly, yeah, but I think, I think what were we saying oh, you're 18 like how you felt about that. So, like you would, I mean you would, because ultimately you, your goal is to gain ranking points in order to get to the next level of on the circuit. So you know you would choose tournaments that you think that you would do well, whether that was like surface dependent or, I don't know, weather conditions or something. Maybe you like playing where it's hot and the conditions are quick as a true scotsman.

Speaker 1: 11:45

Do you like playing where it's hot? I don't mind it, you know honestly, I don't mind.

Speaker 2: 11:49

I don't mind a bit of heat I've. I've only got myself into bother once with that in australia when it was like it was like 44, we're playing in melbourne mental yeah, and the thing was after the after I finished the match, they they called the tournament off for a few hours because the heat rule came into effect. But that morning I had like a blackberry in those days and mine was a bit temperamental.

Speaker 1: 12:13

I can tell you the year maybe 2011?

Speaker 2: 12:14

Yeah, something like that. Yeah, it was. Do you know what year it was? It was 2013. 2013,. Yeah, so I was my black battery shut down in the night, so obviously my alarm didn't go off and I got a call in my room. We were playing at 11 o'clock first match of the day and I'm like answer the phone and they're like your driver's downstairs waiting for you to take you to court. I'm like buddy, what's happened, Anyway? So I'm like panicking. I'm rushed downstairs. No breakfast, nothing anyway. So I'm like panicking. I'm rushed downstairs. No breakfast, nothing like get to the court. It's like my adrenaline is like, just, you know, a thousand miles an hour. My heart's like going. I'm like bloody I've totally messed this up and you know we're playing a grand slam cup.

Speaker 2: 12:54

Couldn't eat anything because of yeah all that like like trying to eat, you know, a bit of fruit, whatever. Anyway like rush to practice, hit a few balls, you know, for practice, come back on the court. It's 40 odd degrees and towards the end of the match I'm starting to get like dizzy and stuff. And we managed to win the match two sets and if we hadn't won the second set it was a tie break I would have been goosed.

Speaker 2: 13:17

And I got back to the locker rooms lay down on the ground, which is probably the worst thing to do. You know, like started to cram, yeah, and I've never, I've never cramped.

Speaker 2: 13:26

But I was starting to go and I was like help, help, help physio doctors, like come rushing, whatever, and I'm like it's never happened to me, so I was just panicking, you know, but the best, the worst thing you can do is like literally do nothing and lie down and actually eventually the physio's like come on, you've got to get up. Once I got up I was actually better because you need like, I think like oxygen.

Speaker 1: 13:46

Yeah, they usually chuck you in like an ice bath or something. Yeah, it's not good news. Yeah, it's not good news, was it like? The thing is? I find with those scenarios it is like fight or flight, right, like, yeah, you've got into survival mode and then you just go to hell.

Speaker 2: 13:59

Yeah, yeah, yeah oh man, such a feeble shout as well.

Speaker 1: 14:05

I do like that, though, because there's a lot of things that a lot of us won't recognise that's happening in the foreground, in the background, so, like you know when you're talking about the cars getting picked up and that process of you know when you watch. Let's talk about Wimbledon, for example. Yeah, so shout, jamie got me a couple tickets a few times, you know what I mean came through, came through um.

Speaker 2: 14:33

I'm a local lad, so it's nice to get invited onto the party this payback, this is yeah, so, like, is it as posh as it seems? I think Wimbledon is. Yeah, I think, like you know you're there, like you're walking around everyone, you know they're dressing up for the occasion, you know they're not turning up in their jogging bottoms or whatever, like everyone's making an effort, and and then the process through that.

Speaker 1: 14:47

So, like you know, obviously I see the land rovers picking everyone because obviously if you're local to the area, you see the land rovers popping out of wimbledon. Um, you get so, like is that the case all the way through? So, like everything has to be on time, obviously you're wearing white the officials is it just politeness? All the way through?

Speaker 2: 15:04

It's a different feel to other tournaments, I think, which you know. Some people love it, some people don't.

Speaker 1: 15:14

They think it's you know, a little bit too much, yeah, but I mean.

Speaker 2: 15:18

I think, like the players enjoy it for those two weeks that they're there. It's just, yeah, it's different and you know it's traditions and all that stuff, um, and yeah, you kind of embrace it for that time. I think if tennis was like that for 50 weeks of the year it would be a bit too much, yeah so then obviously, everyone talks about people going to wimbledon.

Speaker 1: 15:37

They rent their houses or whatever else, and they say they like to pop into the village and eat. And this isn't that what happens. When, like you see other tennis players and, like I don't know, you might be playing someone or in your category or you know. I mean, like, do you acknowledge them? Do you just ignore them because you're going to be in a closer proximity than normal, right?

Speaker 2: 15:55

yeah, so that's a weird one. Like normally at tournaments like grand slams they'll give you like a per diem. So they'll give you like a per diem, so they'll give you like, let's, at Wimbledon, it's maybe like 300 quid for you to go and spend on your hotel et cetera, so you can stay where you want. Other tournaments around the year there's like an official hotel, but obviously at Grand Slams there's so many more players and everything to organise. Yeah, so you, I like to kind of stay away from, like, let's say, like, the centre of town. I'm not going to stay in Wimbledon village whatever, because you just seeing people all the time and I'm seeing them during the day. Yeah, I don't want to see them at night. Like I want that time to myself.

Speaker 2: 16:32

but yeah, again, you walk past people in the street or in the rest of it you just kind of Give them a little like 20 years almost, but I'm not that close with like many guys really I guess because you're it is like you're going toe-to-toe with a lot of these people right.

Speaker 1: 16:49

So there's because I'm assuming that you wouldn't have tried. You don't have to train with many tennis players, do you? So in my world, obviously, I will train with groups of sprinters. So therefore you do kind of find a way to get closer to people. You find you play computer with each other and obviously you run relays with each other as well. So you know there is a way that you're forced to be closer together. So I guess in your world you don't have to be. You know, I mean your brother, for example. How often would you see him? Just in general.

Speaker 2: 17:19

Yeah, I mean like we might obviously do a lot of the same tournaments but you're still on your own schedule at those events. So you know I might be having a match at 11 o'clock and he's playing at 7 o'clock.

Speaker 2: 17:31

So, you know, I'm maybe at the courts from like 8 o'clock till 2.30 and that's when he's kind of arriving to do his stuff and then like, yeah, I mean, you you're seeing people, you're seeing them all the time, but you're not, like you're not necessarily spending time, quality time but also like the thing is now like in the old days, like people didn't have their own coach and stuff, like people kind of travel by themselves, so if you didn't talk to other players you probably didn't talk to anyone right. But now, like you know, andy will travel with his coach and his physio and his trainer, and you know they've got these like it's a group.

Speaker 2: 18:11

Yeah, they've got their team. So they kind of they're insulated in that their own little Bubble, Bubble, yeah, so they'll tend to interact within that bubble. It's not like they're spending loads of time like he's hanging out chatting with Rafa for hours a day or whatever.

Speaker 1: 18:27

But yeah, it's, it's definitely the tour's definitely changed in in that regard, I think yeah, well, what's it like with them in that retrospect then playing like are there many mind games that go on behind the scenes or can you? You know, like the thing that makes me laugh, for tennis especially is when you know that that fist that comes off and everyone's like, it's like they're shouting into the pizza like come on it's like whoever can do the loudest one, like come on, yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:52

And it's sort of like they look to their box and they're like come on at the person, but then it's secretly to that other person. Right, that is sending a message to the other person?

Speaker 2: 18:59

no, yeah at times yeah, at times, obviously, people you know they might do it in their direction or they'll do it to kind of let them know like they're fired up or try to kind of change the energy of the match a little bit, or yeah, stuff like that I mean juniors.

Speaker 1: 19:14

you'll see some ridiculous stuff.

Speaker 2: 19:17

I don't know, man, I mean it's I don't know, sometimes like I'll get like shouting stuff in a match, like more to kind of yeah, like just change the energy and stuff like maybe because there's always like momentum changes in matches and stuff. Like you can feel it. You know, because can?

Speaker 1: 19:34

you sense weakness.

Speaker 2: 19:35

Sometimes you're like oh yeah, I've got a bit of blood here yeah, definitely, yeah, definitely, like in, I would say in doubles especially like, if you can, you can, you can feel the team energy going down or going up. You have that feeling like if one guy is struggling, he's not feeling it and he's a bit anxious or he's not quite himself. You try to take advantage of that, because with doubles we're only playing between anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, so it's not like the matches are super long. So and the scoring we we have and stuff is very it can be a bit of a lottery how things turn out and things can change very fast. So we kind of uh, you need to take advantage of that, because it's not like you, because the guy also he didn't have like three hours to find his rhythm or find his way back into the match like, if you can, you know, stamp on their head quickly. Yeah, you know, you get that, that match can be done. They don't have time to get back into.

Speaker 1: 20:29

So that's, that's important, yeah, a little bit efficient. There got a bit of a stamp on them. Quickly get them out, snuff them out. I love that. So when you talk about obviously snuffing out the opponents, you've, you've won seven grand slam titles. Do you have a favorite in terms? Because I I get asked that question like what's your, what's your best medal, what's your best like race, what's your? But it's hard because everything means something different. Right, given the circumstances, like your first, your last, you were injured. You weren't injured, but like if you were to sort of group them together, where would they sort of sit?

Speaker 2: 21:03

I think, um, like when I've won my first men's doubles in australia, um, I'd lost in the final the previous year in wimbledon and then us open. And you know, it's not like I'm federer and I'm like, okay, we'll be another grand slam final around the corner. I didn't know if I'll ever make another grand slam final. And of course, when you get there you're like desperate to win. And you know I'd done two finals in a row where I'd lost and I was like you know, shit, is this gonna?

Speaker 1: 21:30

what does that feel like, though? Like, obviously, because a lot of people will be like oh yeah, well, you made a final, you got a nice payday, like all of that sort of stuff, but then, equally, you know, you're still sort of feeling some type of way, right?

Speaker 2: 21:41

yeah, definitely. I mean. I mean like when I lost the final win would, and like I was really disappointed because I didn't feel like we played our best or close to it, and it was like what's when we're in? You know, it's like the tournament I want to win more than any other in my career and again, like I didn't know if I ever get a chance to to be back in the final. So when you're there, you want to like max out on that opportunity, you know, and we and we didn't, um, and then when I won in australia, I was like okay, like it was relief that I'd won, but yeah, just that excitement of having like being able to call yourself a grand slam champion, you know, and no one can take that away, and blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1: 22:21

And we managed to win like it's nothing.

Speaker 2: 22:22

No, no, but like you know what it's like and again like I was, like that could be my last chance, you know I don't know, and I mean I won a few and I won five in mixed doubles and was fortunate, like I played with some great players and my skill set kind of lended itself to to mixed doubles and had a good record over the years doing that um, but, like I said, like fortunate to play some with some great players there and even the men's as well, like played some some brilliant players. And yeah, it's for me like when I look back on my career, like you think about those moments and like you said, circumstances are are different and you know, maybe you're carrying an injury going into the event or maybe you've lost like five first rounds going in. Confidence is low and you're, it's kind of unexpected and then you're there and you you kind of want to max out on that chance or I don't know, maybe you've been building, so like it's all, it's all different, isn't it?

Speaker 1: 23:15

which one's been like the most enjoyable. Final then like the process, would you say, like obviously we have no idea again, you're getting picked up, you're going through this, you're going through that. And then which was like the process, where everything sort of came easy, like you know, when there's certain days that I can talk from my perspective, where you know I wake up, my body feels good, I'm not late, I get to the warmup, everything feels fine, I step on the line, I feel confident. Next, thing.

Speaker 2: 23:49

You know, there's certain times where you've had to look and deep down in yourself, you know, is there are there two light versions of that. Well, I think, like across the season, for example, like people will say like okay, you might play like five unbelievable matches and you might play like five awful matches, and then it's all the matches in between where things are kind of like this that you, that's where you'll make your season good or bad. It's like how many of those performances or those matches can you actually win? You know, um, and for us, like that's the that, that's that, that's the challenge. I think, um, you know specific tournaments, like again, sometimes you just like it's just your week, you know You're feeling it and for whatever reason, whether that's you've just prepared well or you're liking the conditions that week, you're like I'm going to have a good week and everything's kind of relaxed and you're just playing.

Speaker 2: 24:38

And then the next week you pick up the racket and you're like bloody hell, I feel like I never picked up a racket before. Like what's this? You know just like that's sport, isn't it? Like that's it. It's like you know you today could go out and do a great training session, but it doesn't mean that you're going to run a great race tomorrow, you know. But equally, you could do an awful training session today, feel your technique terrible, whatever, feeling crap, but you could still go out the next day and freaking run. You know a pb or whatever. You know like it's. It's so much of it's mental, it's in your, it's in your head and trust in yourself as well. It's huge right mate, trust is.

Speaker 1: 25:13

Trust is like that word in sport is never exists sometimes. Yeah, it comes, it goes, because when you truly trust yourself is when you truly get an idea of your identity, who you are, how you've gone about yourself, and it gives you some form of feedback that you can build from or gives you some form of you know way of establishing yourself. Right, yeah, no, trust. Trust definitely isn't used enough. The moment that was promised. Obviously we're talking about that exclusive offer from usm. So head over to the website, fill up your basket and put in hgc jamie, sort yourself out, make yourself happy, supplement yourself, let's go.

Speaker 1: 25:56

So, on that note, this is um for you. Is that it's a decent size box? Feel free to have a, feel free to have a little look inside. Um, so, yeah, it's a decent. Flap on just in front of you, just in front, just on that side. Yeah, it's like a puzzle box this. So, yeah, like, obviously we got, we got some supplements from usn in there. Is there anything in there that you've taken before? We got some apple cider vinegar from the live smart range and there's some b4 bomb. A little pre-workout, because how do you supplement yourself on the on the, on the circuit?

Speaker 2: 26:25

it's hard yeah I mean we get stuff from the nutrition stuff at the lta which obviously they, you know it goes through all its processes and I've checked out so batch tested.

Speaker 1: 26:36

Yeah, all that info. Sport approved. Yeah, that sort of stuff, that monopoly, it's key. I can't take any chances.

Speaker 2: 26:41

Yeah um, and I actually I travel a lot of bars and stuff from Veloforte. I don't know if you know them. They originally started as like a sort of cycling brand, but they're really good stuff. Actually I do like their products.

Speaker 1: 26:55

But that's so you can chat down the floor. And now I'm USN. Now he's joining the gang.

Speaker 2: 26:59

You hear that.

Speaker 1: 26:59

Yeah, I've become that. He's joining the gang. So when you?

Speaker 2: 27:06

I've never drunk a cup of coffee in my life. What yeah? As if I know, yeah, it's wild. I mean, my dad drank a lot growing up and I just never liked the smell of it, so I had no urge to ever try it or anything. Some of the gels that I have on court. They've got a bit of caffeine in them.

Speaker 1: 27:23

Yeah. Does it give you the shakes then?

Speaker 2: 27:25

like I was about to say, yeah if I take like too much, or sometimes, like, if I take like too close to playing and you know I'm edgy or whatever, then I yeah, I've been on court and I'm like serving. Yeah, I feel my hand like this. You know, which is not great.

Speaker 1: 27:39

Mate, that's funny, so I got to be careful. Yeah, so then when I serve, this is unreal. What's been your fastest serve?

Speaker 2: 27:54

fastest serve um fastest serve that I have hit is was 212 kilometers, which is probably like 131, 132, but me I don't have a big serve mine's more on like spin and stuff I wish I had a bigger serve. I make things a lot easier.

Speaker 1: 28:04

Yeah, it's probably my elbows trying to hit it hard these elbows, man, because tennis elbows are real thing thing, right, yeah, yeah, it's funny.

Speaker 2: 28:12

For professional players it's not really a thing. They might get a golfer's elbow. And vice versa for golfers. They tend to get more tennis elbows.

Speaker 1: 28:19

It's weird, so that's funny because I've got a couple of stress fractures in my back. The first one I got was when I was 17. I'd years and they're like, yeah, the the type of stress fracture you have is what most fast bowlers would get okay in cricket, and I'll just like I definitely can't bowl.

Speaker 2: 28:36

We've already touched on my shoulder mobility, which is terrible but you get the stress fractures just from what like impact yeah, I mean, look we, I hadn't started lifting weights until I was about 21, 22, um, and yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:49

So when you actually recognize how young and how sensitive your bones and muscles are, when you're like 16 years old you've only been on the planet for 16 years I mean like careers have been longer um, yeah, my muscles grew faster, my bones, and I'm running quite fast speeds and you gotta think about the, the force and the production of power that's going through my body. So, yeah, I got my first stress fracture when I was uh in 2006, but I still went on to win the world juniors. And then it was in 2007, when I tried to compete, that I had a double pass, I was in a back brace and then that was that and then um, but I still managed to make the olympic team the following year.

Speaker 2: 29:25

So yeah, mate, why did you not do like gym, like training? Just didn't need to, I'll just you know, just general conditioning.

Speaker 1: 29:34

So the way most people start in our sport, you're only really training two, two or three times a week, maximum. Um, you start from like club level. You know everyone goes. I went to saturn arena on a tuesday and thursday night 6, 30 till 8, training with your club coach and um, it was only when I got to about 15, 16, that I, you know, recognised I was like the fastest fortune of all time in Europe. I was like British champion for my age group when I was 15. And in 16, I joined a new coach and things got a little more serious because the sponsorships start to come in and whatnot. So yeah, that's when's when you know the development changes. I did three days a week as opposed to two, and then you add an extra day. By the time I was 19 I was training more four or five days a week uh, mainly five and then going off the back of that, I'm pretty sure you've got a similar sort of similar stuff, like we yeah, I mean we probably of course.

Speaker 2: 30:30

Like we touched on, we started when we were like four, of course, that's just kind of learning how to play whatever. Probably when we were sort of eight or nine we were maybe playing like, let's say, three times a week and then obviously, as we got older, kind of gradually increase mum, stop coaching you boys um. Has she stopped coaching I? Love that I love that she's involved.

Speaker 1: 30:55

Man, she, yeah, like that must be so tough, though, because, especially like how she's been able to, she's done it well, clearly being able to split her time between the two of you and going back and forth between whatever, but equally helping you from such an early age till now, you know.

Speaker 2: 31:12

Salute her I mean yeah. So obviously we started playing young and she was the local coach at our club. We lived like one minute walk from the tennis courts and the golf club and she was the club coach there. So we would go over when she was coaching the older kids and kind of run around the back of the court and pick up balls, whatever. And then we started playing. Yeah, and then she I mean she probably taught us through to we're sort of like 12, 13, 14, and then she started to kind of bring in other people to help us and stuff. I think I think maybe because it was just hard for her to keep coaching her, her sons, and she maybe just wanted different inputs and stuff like that. But that's a wise coach.

Speaker 1: 31:55

That happened to me. There's a guy, great guy, called Matt Fabio. If you're listening out there, matt shout out to you. He, he recognized. He even said to me at a certain point he was like look, harry, I'm only going so far. Um, you know, what we're doing right now is great, but for you to, you know, realize your potential. You know other people. There's better coaches out there and there's other people that you're going to potentially have to go on to. I didn't, I never wanted to leave him as a coach, um, and he actually wasn't a sprints coach, he was just like it was like a teacher reading the textbook a week before the kids, you know, I mean, and he was taking me to, um, I remember him taking me to go train with a few, like Tim Benjamin, who was coached by Tony Lester, and then we went to America to go train with Justin Gatlin's coach at the time and he was actually learning on all these jobs as well as me coaching, I think, like the journey for tennis, it's so long.

Speaker 2: 32:48

Like I said, I started when I was four. I'm 38, now I'm still playing, you know. And at that time my mom, okay, she was an amazing coach, especially for young kids and developments of developing skills and learning how to play the game. She was incredible. I mean she still is, but you know she hadn't taken kids before from scotland, you know, through to kind of competing in europe, for example, asolds 14 or whatever, not even thinking about professionals. So you know she didn't know that journey. Not many parents would know that journey. Why would you? You know, like it's not part of parenting. So she had to find out from other people. She had to seek out, you know, experts or whatever and try to learn and figure out, like what's the right decision that we have to take for the next stage of our development, which you know it's not, it's not easy that you know, and you have to decide which yeah, you're sort of like relinquishing control to some degree as well, but then, equally, she's your mom, so like she ain't going anywhere, is she?

Speaker 2: 33:48

yeah, you're stuck with her more than anything. Exactly, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:52

So when you talk about you being, you know, nearly 38 right now. Yeah, ageism in sport is a thing, isn't it?

Speaker 2: 34:00

I think so. Yeah, Is a thing I think so.

Speaker 1: 34:02

Me personally. I'm 35 now and it was like the moment I sort of turned 27, 28, within my sport, I'd be, you know, being like, oh, sir, you know, sponsors started being funny and conversations start coming into play about oh you know what's next and and I'm like, wait, hang on. You know, I've been able to stay on board and I'm still 35 now. I'm still going all right, but I just find people try to limit, put limits on you, just because of a number which I can't seem to get my head around, because I feel as good as I did when I was 26. So, you know, I think, do you not think that, like we're taking care of ourselves more, or we've got more understanding of things that we can do to, you know, give ourselves a bit more longevity, because that's exactly what you've done, right?

Speaker 2: 34:48

yeah, I mean I'm, yeah, I mean in tennis, definitely players are playing longer. Like, the financial rewards are there obviously to do that, but I think just people have so much more awareness of, you know, recovery and options that are available to them, like the knowledge base is much is much bigger, um, and, like I said, the rewards are there to kind of eke out, you know, an extra year, two years, three years of your of your career, um, and you know even, like you know, you watch the football on tv and people like you know he's 32, you know he's getting a one-year contract.

Speaker 2: 35:20

I'm like, I'm like 38, I feel great like. I can run around a tennis court three, four hours if I want like so why can't that guy play for another four or five years? It's like they're're getting capped, I mean look at Ryan Giggs.

Speaker 1: 35:31

He went on for some time and I think you know there's certain other athletes like Paul Scholes. Obviously I'm talking about man United, because they're both man United fans. Pick up man United. That Garnaccio bicycle kick the other day went in. Yeah, I'm not sure I'm doing that, mate. Do you know what I, mate? I'm? Do you know what? I'm gonna learn some new skills at 35 and I'm gonna surprise some people. Do you know? I mean, I'm gonna do something. I'm you're gonna see me doing a bicycle kick now or something.

Speaker 1: 35:59

Yeah, get me on the hurdles. I'm a failed hurdler if people didn't know. Um, but yeah, I think, um, it's one of those things. I sit there, I'm really passionate about it. So to see someone else who might be a little bit older than me or a little bit younger than me, but still going at a good level, I'm like, let's go. Like I've got you, bro. Like do you know what I mean? Everyone else is trying to say that you know, if you turn 30, like 30 is a number that people are scared of, and I'm like why, like your man, strength comes in. Like I'm stronger, I'm more explosive.

Speaker 2: 36:31

And you know more about yourself as well. Like what works for you, you know your body well, more experience, how to prepare all that stuff. I think that plays a big part in it. But it's just, it's generational, isn't it? Because athletes didn't go beyond 30 before and now? Then it's like okay, 32, 33. You know, like Federer, he's playing at 40. I think he won a Grand Slam at 37 or 38.

Speaker 2: 36:55

He's still playing incredible tennis and, of course, like I see that, so I'm like, okay, well, I can still play at that age. So then the people before me, younger than me, they'll think the same thing. I mean the one thing that does slow us down.

Speaker 1: 37:09

I think you can vouch for me on this. One is having a child, yeah.

Speaker 2: 37:14

What's that?

Speaker 1: 37:14

journey been like.

Speaker 2: 37:16

It's been fun, it's been a lot of fun. It's been hard, like when I travel and they're, they're not with me. That's definitely hard. I mean you, you realize, like your time management has got to be like on point, spot on. And you know, we, my daughter's uh, 17 months, so you know we were kind of light parents, let's say we were, you know, used to kind of doing our own thing when we want, whenever we wanted, and now that's not.

Speaker 1: 37:43

Yeah it's not the case. I'm really mad. I've got a three-year-old and I think there's certain things. It's one of them. It's is a thankless job to some degree, but the most rewarding job at the same time. You know those little small moments where you know that time and effort that you've put into them and they start to give back and you can see the progression. And you know, I find that it's all of a sudden. I was fine with traveling, like you're saying, and then I remember when I was going on one of my first training camps and I didn't want to go because I didn't want to stop being involved in helping, and that's the thing it's like. The development of this child is all on you and I didn't realize how much I have to teach this person. I had to teach how to jump. I was like surely you can just jump.

Speaker 1: 38:24

No, she was jumping some funky way and I was like, no, I've got to teach you how to, how to put two feet together and jump, or you know. And then the potty training, all of this stuff. You're just like, wow, this is crazy, but it's, it's just life in it it's just life. But I do find training wise. There are aspects where where, like, my motivation will waver, where I'm like I want to get back to help yeah, because it is a tough job. Or I want to sort of be in a position where, you know, I want to solely focus on track, but you can't fully focus and I think it makes you a better athlete in one aspect, because you have to be more efficient with your time, but then it can sort of be at some detriment, because they're the most important thing now yeah, yeah, of course, I think.

Speaker 2: 39:09

Can you relate to that? Yeah, yeah, I mean, I unfortunately, like my job involves a lot of travel, so unless I like quit playing, I'm gonna have to keep traveling and have to sacrifice that. And you know ava's at an age where you know she's learning stuff all the time, like the difference from monday to sunday with her is like it's, it's incredible yeah and you don't want to.

Speaker 2: 39:34

You don't want to miss that like I did after wimbledon, I did a seven week trip to the states. I came back for like two weeks and I went to asia for five weeks. So I missed like three months of our life just about. And that's not a time that you'll you'll get back, you know, and I don't know if we'll have, if we'll have another kid, if we'll be fortunate to have another kid or not, and you're like, okay, well, I might only get one go at this. Like I want to again like maximize that, yeah, experience and just like, yeah, just enjoy it for what it, for what it is. And yeah, she's incredible like it is. It is so rewarding. I mean, look, I'm, I'm doing probably 10 of what my wife's doing 10.

Speaker 1: 40:16

You'll take all the credit later on, though. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. Question is will you put her down the tennis park?

Speaker 2: 40:23

she will learn to play tennis. I think, yeah, I'll yeah put a racket in her hand yeah, and I think that might be, that might be granny's duties I might get.

Speaker 1: 40:34

Oh yeah do you know what I mean? Can my child get in on that?

Speaker 2: 40:37

exactly, yeah, it could be doubles team. Oh, mate, that would be epic Wimbledon 24.

Speaker 1: 40:43

My child is tall, so she's not she's not like me like my 5'11 self. My child is tall, let her just get in on that. Yeah, but that's the thing. Like financials in tennis, you know, are there. You know a lot of people sit there and they say, well, Wimbledon is, you know, in the men's singles, I think. What's the price? What is it? Close to 2 million now.

Speaker 1: 41:03

I think so, yeah, so you know it's life changing money to some degree, but then obviously the investment that comes with it, you know, and not everyone. Everyone looks at the Grand Slams. I do it every year. I look at the Wimbledon prize structure and I'm like, right, if you get knocked out in the second round, this is what you get. Track and field is not that way inclined, but it's not like I'm going to guess, I'm going to say, it's not like that across the whole board. Right, Because this is just, you know, regularly, like on the main atp tour.

Speaker 2: 41:37

You know if you're 75 in the world or whatever. You know you're making a good living. You're not making a crazy living, yeah, but you're making a good living. I think the problem in tennis is that for such a global sport with a lot of money invested into it, there's very few players that make a good living and outside of a hundred for a long time it was like. You know you're breaking even at best.

Speaker 2: 42:00

You know you you if you finish your career, you've not got savings, or you know you. You can keep going from one week to the next, but you're not.

Speaker 2: 42:07

Yeah, so I think that's yeah, I think that's that's definitely changing, certainly the last kind of I would say five to seven, seven years. That's starting to change and more money has been filtered into kind of lower, um, lower levels, but then still the very beginning, or the, of the professional ranks. Future circuit is called $15,000 or $25,000 tournaments total prize money, but that was the same when I was starting in 2006 so you know, these guys are worse off and expenses are still a lot, like you know.

Speaker 2: 42:43

Okay, I'm playing the main tour but I've, you know, and let's say you're playing the challenger tour, the level below, but we're still flying to, like all similar places and stuff, so our expenses are the same, similar, yeah, I'm just. I'm making more money because I'm on a higher level.

Speaker 1: 42:58

So the tour doesn't pay as in, like if a competition invites you out somewhere. So in track and field for example, when you're on the circuit, let's say you got the way you rank it, you got the diamond league at the top, you got um, you know, uh, world um like, sort of like one tier below that. You've got the world challenge sort of. And then you've got the european sort of like one tier below that. You've got the world challenge sort of. And then you've got the european sort of stage to the eap meets or so all of those meets, the, the, the meat sort of coordinator will invite you out through your agent you don't enter.

Speaker 2: 43:30

You don't enter any event not necessarily.

Speaker 1: 43:31

We don't enter. Your agent will get you into those races and then, off the back of that, the agent will be given some form of budget to get you across, so your travel will be covered and then, once you get there, the hotel's covered. So you're not actually paying for anything whilst you're on this circuit, but you could randomly be sharing a room with someone that you don't even know. You could be on a flight. That's terrible when you're in the EasyJet flight, at the back of the plane for like oh God knows what, not casting EasyJet, but it's not first class flying anywhere, as some people might think.

Speaker 1: 44:04

So, if anything. But the problem is that the prize money isn't a lot in these races. So you go to a race, not win any prize money and actually be, like you said, breaking even because you just paid for the car park and you've actually driven to the, to the airport. So you know things are sort of taking out your hands in one aspect. But you know you are heavenly the you. You're dependent a lot on sponsorship, your shoe contract. Who are you sure your contract with, whereas I'm guessing you guys that's not so much of a focus because you're focusing on prize money in the actual meets yeah.

Speaker 2: 44:32

So okay, let's say I'm going to paris tomorrow for a tournament, I'm yeah, I'm paying for all my expenses my flight, my I don't know taxi to the airport, all that stuff, my food. The tournament will cover your hotel from for a minimum of three days. So let's say I arrive on saturday, tournament starts monday, I get a minimum three days and then for as long as I'm in the tournament. So if I go to the end of the tournament, they cover all my, my hotel. Um, lunch, like you get money on your badge to use at the player restaurant, player dining, whatever that's cool which will cover, should cover your coach, really. Um, sometimes it doesn't, but um, it'll cover your coach.

Speaker 2: 45:16

You know I'm paying for, like my racket restring, physio massage, all that stuff is free there yeah it's all covered by the, by the tour or the tournament, um, but yeah, I'm paying like my coach's salary. I normally share room with my coach just because it's cheaper and quite like the company yeah, um makes sense, keeps you in the zone as well.

Speaker 1: 45:35

Yeah, so what's it like when you come to? Obviously you've been to um, you're an olympian. Yeah, shout out you um four times. What, what? What was your favorite olympics actually, and how would you compare it in terms of your general circuit? Because is it quite a nice? It's a multi-sport event. You know where you're seeing other sports and is that. How do you view an olympics in comparison to the rest of the season?

Speaker 2: 45:58

it's very well. It's very different, very different experience in terms of you know, you're a small part of something that's much, much bigger, because obviously, when we go to tennis, it's just all about the tennis, but here you're, like say you're with athletes from all over the world yeah all different shapes and sizes, literally yeah so many. You know different, different sports like, so you know everyone's excited to be in the village and go to the dining hall and see, see, everyone like that's not seeing the mcdonald's.

Speaker 2: 46:27

There is the worst though right, yeah, it's true, it's true. And when we went in london, that was like that was the first thing, especially the moment you finish your competition, you've been waiting for this McDonald's.

Speaker 1: 46:39

Or even if you snuck before, I remember in Rio, where our block was, we overlooked the McDonald's so we could see if any athletes were sneaking there and we'd be calling them out. We'd be like, oh we've seen you in a McDonald's, I want you to. And the crazy thing is I remember when I was younger I actually had like a mcdonald's platinum card so I used to get free mcdonald's all the time. Yeah, I went and won my world juniors with a mcdonald's platinum card. I was eating mcdonald's every week. It meant to end it. So I mean, look, using bolt, eight chicken nuggets, he ran a world record. So you know if you eat the right things, but literally. But back on the point of like how that differs.

Speaker 2: 47:19

It's different like in terms of just, I would say like the overall. I mean it sounds, it sounds bad what I'm about to say, but just like the, the quality of, like everything that you're used to in tennis it's kind of it makes sense.

Speaker 2: 47:35

You know it's yeah, let's say it's kind of five star and it's luxury and you, you kind of got everything you need. You know, you've got tennis balls coming out your ears, you've got towels, I all that stuff, ice baths, all this like kind of stuff that you're used to having at the olympics. Like none of that is really guaranteed. It's much more like a lower level of is that?

Speaker 2: 47:56

because it's just like well I think it's just amateur, like it's at heart, isn't it? Like it's not? You know they don't. I guess they wouldn't have the budget.

Speaker 1: 48:05

Yeah, you know, do a wimbledon yeah, exactly, yeah exactly so when you're going in, like you, you're aware like that things won't necessarily be the standards that yeah, that you're used to and this is what's crazy, because flip the script for us, the olympics and world champs in 100 meter sprint, that's the best you'll ever get treated. Um, diamond leagues you can get treated. Obviously it's a bit more, you know if you are using, but you'll get picked up in your own car and, yeah, this, this and that. But in the general field of athletes, in terms of what's put in, it's one of your best experiences, provided. I mean, rio was my last Olympics and half the buildings weren't finished, so that goes to show what sort of goes behind it. I think we were one of the lucky ones. I think we were like block number three out of I don't know like 30 or so. If you went to block 28 or something, they didn't have a toilet but that's also like it's.

Speaker 2: 49:02

It's kind of it's sort of I don't know if it's sad or whatever, but you know like okay, you turn up and the block is unfinished, whatever. But you know that, like team gb's got loads of staff, they're going to have budget to like make the best of the situation. Dfs came through with all the furniture. We've got the forest bikes to get around, yeah, this sort of stuff. You know other countries, you know they just yeah, they just sleep in on the floor. I feel for them.

Speaker 1: 49:28

And like they still get medals, they probably get more medals than us in some events, which is crazy, events which is crazy, but hopefully, look looking forward to paris, hopefully see you there. That'll be, uh, that'll be what your fifth olympics.

Speaker 2: 49:40

If you can make it, maybe in the vets category mate, I'm a vet.

Speaker 1: 49:43

Now the moment I think in athletics is v35.

Speaker 2: 49:46

Technically I'm a veteran tennis like that, yeah, when you used to be yeah, over 35, you can start playing like vets comps yeah is it?

Speaker 1: 49:53

is it as sort of um you know, when we're talking about the star of hotel? What is that? Does it stay at the same level, or nah?

Speaker 2: 50:01

yeah, there's a drop off.

Speaker 1: 50:02

Yeah, yeah, that makes sense, so we won't be seeing you there anytime soon stick to the leafy.

Speaker 1: 50:08

Sorry, oh, mate, I like that so I've always had a question yeah, so, um, when it comes, because your class is a double specialist, right, you know, how do you go about picking your partner, because I was just like, hang on, how did these people come across each other? So you've touched on the fact that you, you know you may not even talk to some people too much. So how do you go? Do you know? What do you want to do? You want to buddy up? Yeah, like, do you fancy me? Like?

Speaker 2: 50:32

yeah, it's like that man, it's like that, it's like you know, take them out to dinner is it that simple, but that's what I say to people. It's just like you know.

Speaker 1: 50:42

It's like you could ask a girl or guy out on a date you just gotta, you know try and gel on the line and do it right yeah maybe they want to, maybe they don't has there been any like awkward moments? Are you like yo, bro, like I like your serve man yeah but that's it.

Speaker 2: 50:56

It's like oh you know, I think we could play well together you know our styles match good, like it's always the same nonsense and everyone enters with, like, the best intentions, and then two months later, you've split up because you've got back.

Speaker 1: 51:08

I can't remember his name. Um, you've been on and off with your same-sex. Um, what's his name? Bruno?

Speaker 2: 51:14

bruno Suarez, yeah, so I played with Bruno for like three and a half years.

Speaker 1: 51:18

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 51:19

And then we stopped for like a year and a half, kind of like when COVID was in, and then we got back together and we played basically two seasons and then he retired in September last year after.

Speaker 1: 51:31

US.

Speaker 2: 51:31

Open. He was a couple of years older than me but he was my longest partner and before that that I played with a guy, john pierce, for like three seasons, which it I mean. Obviously it definitely helps to have a long-term partner because you can kind of build that relationship and the team you'd hope would kind of get stronger over time. Yeah, um, you know, a lot of times that just doesn't work out. People don't like each other and it's hard because you spend so much time with that person. You know it's not just on the court for the match, you know you're. You know you're on the same schedule the whole day practice, warm-ups, lunches, dinners, all that stuff, breakfast, you know.

Speaker 1: 52:05

So if you don't, it's intense if you don't like that guy yeah, you're not going to enjoy. Can't pull out the playstation, get like eafc on no no, no, because is there their language barrier at any point?

Speaker 2: 52:16

most, not really. I would say, most guys pretty much speak yeah good english? I think yeah. And thing is with doubles like you, obviously it's your partner, so it's a more sociable side of the tour because you have to obviously interact with your partner. But also, you know, I might play with you next week or I might play cam in a month's time so you kind of you're talking, there's more kind of reason to be kind of friendly with yeah, with your peers, if you like oh, that's fair.

Speaker 1: 52:44

But then like, obviously everyone would ask the question like, why wouldn't you or why haven't you done more doubles with your brother?

Speaker 2: 52:50

yeah, I mean basically just because for him, like singles is a huge commitment, like the physical effort of doing that and then also playing the doubles like it.

Speaker 2: 52:59

Yeah, it's too much and like I wouldn't, I wouldn't want to, I couldn't, yeah, so he wouldn't never play grand slams with me because it's five set singles and it's just, it's, it's hard, yeah, and for me, like I want to play with someone who I can play with the full year, okay, if he's like dipping in and out and stuff, like okay, it's great for me to play my brother, it's fun and yeah you know we play good together, but ideally I need to or want to be trying to play the same person regularly that makes sense.

Speaker 1: 53:24

That makes sense. Yeah, I mean, I'd love to see it personally you know, I'm just I'm, I'm a Murray fan.

Speaker 2: 53:29

I mean, we played I mean, we stuffed it up at the Olympics. We played three Olympics together. We never did well, which was a shame. And in Rio, like he won the gold, london won the gold. We played doubles. We lost first round both times, like yeah, it just wasn't meant to be for us.

Speaker 1: 53:46

I mean, well, look, let's talk about the future. Where are we going? Where can we see you? What's the plans?

Speaker 2: 53:59

I mean the plan is to keep playing for maybe another two, three seasons. I think um 40 feels like a good number to stop yeah I don't know like if again. If I'm feeling good, I'm playing. Well, I keep playing, and my wife's, like she's, she wants me to play as long as I, as I'm happy to to play for, which is which is good. Um, I mean, maybe just don't want me around she likes you in a way.

Speaker 1: 54:19

No, keep traveling but, then, once that's done, are we gonna see you another marion, strictly, something like that, are you gonna? Are you just gonna go out quietly? We're not gonna see you doing much else. No, don't fancy the jungle or anything like that. No, no, sas I didn't watch. I didn't watch that but yeah maybe something like yeah, I don't know, push yourself in one capacity.

Speaker 2: 54:42

I quite like that. I mean you think it's like you're used to, I don't know, doing stuff. You used to like preparing for something and you know I've almost got challenges every day like on the court, like stuff, like once I finish and it's gone, like I feel, like it's tough to kind of recreate that that fight, that feeling, yeah, you know, like, yeah, like getting on the start line and you know, everything it's like that scares me.

Speaker 1: 55:05

Yeah, I'm scared. Don't talk about that. It's true, right?

Speaker 2: 55:08

yeah for a lot for a lot of athletes like it's not, it's not easy and I don't know what I'll do. Honestly, I don't know, and I think timing is important as well like when you start. What opportunities might be available in that?

Speaker 1: 55:21

would you want to stay in the sport in when you think about in the grand scheme like commentary or anything like that?

Speaker 2: 55:27

maybe I don't think I'd want to coach and go back on the tour and just travel. I don't think I could do that commentary maybe. But I don't get that enthused about like watching tennis, like I've watched obviously Andy play loads of matches, yeah and obviously I've got a vested interest and that's like exciting to me.

Speaker 2: 55:44

But to kind of watch and talk about two guys that don't really care about, I'm just like I love the honesty, though, for me and also like if you're doing it, you're trying to sell the sport, so you need to be enthusiastic and stuff, and I think that would maybe show.

Speaker 1: 55:58

Yeah, just a bit like whatever guys, well done to him.

Speaker 2: 56:02

Yeah, exactly yeah could this match be over quick?

Speaker 1: 56:04

like somebody go oh dude, but look, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on, um, obviously, you know, I think, uh, we're gonna be in touch because we're going to get on a court, aren't?

Speaker 2: 56:15

we, we're going to get on a court.

Speaker 1: 56:16

You're going to see how bad my serve is.

Speaker 2: 56:19

I just want to see you running in multiple directions.

Speaker 1: 56:23

I reckon I've got it in the locker. I might be able to. I don't know what my return's going to be like, but I think we've got to do a challenge where I just try and return a serve. I think that would be pretty epic, I think, if I could get it back on the other side. But look, I wish you all the best and obviously, part of the father gang, part of the 30s club, I'm always supporting you, mate. Let's go get it. Yeah, but thanks for coming on, dude. Hope it was alright. Thank you for having me. Cheers and to anyone out there look, go jump on his socials, give him a shout out. Support Jamie, we're.