Adam Maddock | The Focus Mistake Almost Every Player Makes

0:00 I think our legacies are, are more about the fact that however many people you influence and help to do something, maybe that they didn't believe they could do or help them achieve something that they did believe they could do but weren't able to put it together. Maybe that lives on in them. And then and from that, it just sort of goes on forever because you've changed their life and their life changing has changed many other people's lives, you know, whether it's their parents, their brothers, it's just, as, you know, whatever it is.

0:32 Adam, good to see you again. And this time it's your chance to put me in the hot seat and and ask me a few questions. So you're bushwhacking me here. And. Yeah. So I look forward to it. And and also a recommendation of who you think I should have on the show next at the end. Yeah, yeah. So it's it's always a good opportunity. I always enjoy when I get to ask you questions usually the to benefit myself. But this one is is a great opportunity to hopefully learn a little bit more about you as well.

1:05 So I think my first question was was kind of relaying off one that you asked me. But you know, what is a myth that you've seen about the pro level that you would like to dispel for the recreational player? Is there something that they believe pros are doing that they're not? Or is there something about the pro level that is, you know, you've heard and you're like, well, you know, I've been at that level for 30 years and it's not true. Yeah, I think think most club players would be very surprised at how simple top players keep things.

1:38 And what they're so good at is what we spoke about is doing the fundamentals and getting better and better and better at them. In other words, they think too many players and even at at a lower level of of pros is they they're very interested in their best level. You know, what can I do? Who can I be? And that level is too far apart from their worst tennis. And to understand that you build a really good tennis career by lifting the floor and closing this gap. Because if you look at the best players, the difference between their worst day and their best day is is much narrower than somebody who's maybe playing futures level.

2:21 And they allow the the floor to get close enough to the ceiling to push the ceiling. And of course, the higher you get, the harder it is to to improve because there's less and less to improve and it becomes more and more subtle. And I think at any level really and truthfully really work hard to improve your base level. It's not always who you can beat, it's who you can lose to. And if you, if you can narrow that gap and lose to less and less people, I promise you, you'll, you'll be doing a lot, lot better in tournaments and in your ranking, whatever you're chasing.

3:02 And it doesn't matter what the level is. And so, so that's the first thing is, you know, be less concerned about your best tennis because whatever your baseline is, the higher that gets that gets, I promise you your higher level will will be better. Yeah, it's interesting. The second thing is it's it's it's also more on on the simplicity is in drills and in what top players practice. They, they bring the higher you get, the more zoned in the focus is and, and that's also what helps them bring the floor up is because they don't go away and just their mind away with the fairies for 3456 games.

3:46 And then they don't even realize that that they weren't really there. So, you know, we, we hear a lot about play in the present, but what does that really mean? I think it's, it's important to understand that if your mind's in the future and this is kind of what can happen to players is, you know, they're 41 up and then they start thinking about, Oh, you know, if I win this match and then I win the next one and then I, if I can make the semis or better on this tour, and then my rating or my rankings going to get higher.

4:13 And if I win this tournament and, and their mind is in the future. And while they're there, the next moment, it's 4 all. And then they're like, Oh my God, I can't believe we have blown this. You know, I was so far ahead and I threw it away and I, you know, and now they're in the past. And while they're in the past, they've, they were 41 up and they've lost the set 64 because for five games they've either been in the future or in the past. They've not actually played one point in time, they're not actively brought themselves back to the present.

4:47 And it's easier said than done, but, you know, I think if people have ever tried meditating and, you know, focus on breath, well, it's the same kind of thing is you'll be doing really well. Breath, breath in and out, you know, breath, breath, breath. And suddenly you don't know how many minutes have gone by and you go, I'm, I'm being away. And yeah, I got to bring it back to breath. And the tennis is very much like that is, is the more you can bring yourself back to the present, the better you get at staying there for longer and longer periods.

5:17 You know, nobody stays in the present the whole time. It's impossible as humans. But you, you need to get better at that if you're going to progress because it's too easy to, you know, not focus on breath and then just, you know, in a way tank and say, oh, well, I haven't focused on my breath for the last 5 minutes. So I'll, I'll just stop now. Yeah, yeah. So it's, and I think you know, it's at every level you see players that have what people call better concentration and better concentration actually just means that they are able to stay in the present better.

5:53 And, and it's practice. It's not some mythical magical, some have it, some don't. You literally practice it and get better at it. But whenever your mind goes, even if in the same set, you got to bring yourself back 50 times, bring yourself back 50 times because you know in a few weeks you'll only be bringing yourself back 35 times. And already that makes you your focus a lot better. Yeah, it's, it's using that longer journey as well. Like you said, going 50 to 35 is it's impressive. Even if it takes six months, it's, you know, where will you be in another six months if you're down to 20, that's a great year.

6:31 That's a great year of development, so. I mean, I, I have this a lot with like juniors, they'll be like up a break and then they, you know, they, they hit a couple of double faults and they're like, Oh my God, my serve is just, I can't serve today. What's wrong with my serve? Like, well, there's nothing wrong with your serve because you've been holding serve and that's the reason why you're up a break. Why are you getting involved with this? Like I can't serve today. No, you can't serve today. You've just served 2 double faults.

6:56 Now come on, focus and just serve again and, and, and be back there because it's not that you're serving so badly. Otherwise you wouldn't be up a break. And it's again, you know, you talked about that short term and then panic after 2 double faults and don't just say hold on a second, I'm up a break. I've not lost serve yet. It's love 30. Yes, it's a little difficult, but work hard again and see if I can salvage this. Yeah, I remember something you told me once and it was about that kind of mental reset and whether it's, if you can't just do it mentally, have a physical switch really whether it's tapping the racket on the floor or touching something.

7:34 And I think I think that way is great to bring yourself back to it and give yourself that physical. Yeah, yeah, I call that that physical reset point, you know, where there's, yeah, touching the fans or toweling off. But it's like, and turn around, it's like, OK, now it's the next point and everything past is gone. It's about this moment right here. But again, all of this takes practice. It's not, it's not something that comes maybe a little more naturally to some people. But at the end of the day, every single player, Novak has said it many times, you know, I don't have less problems that other players that just manage them better.

8:08 Yeah. And and that management of them has come from years and years of working really hard to manage them. Yeah, and it's, I think one of the things that's great about, you know, I'm not a social media is a very powerful thing and it's I don't really use it, but it's interesting that now you see players get to really talk about that stuff on it. And I think hopefully these juniors listen and see that, you know, even the best players in the world having these issues and they're learning and, and fighting their way through them.

8:36 Hopefully as a a junior you take that in and you understand that, oh, it's part of my development. Yes, and that probably brings me to the a big myth, which is that somehow so many players think, you know, my problems are worse than anybody else. If people had my problems, you know, they'd also be, you know, not very good or whatever. But at the end of the day, you know, that's a myth. Every tennis player struggles with similar problems and they have to learn how to manage them. That's that's it.

9:06 You know, there's there is no other magic to it. You just work hard to manage your problems better. And it's. How that saying same shit different level? Yeah. And it's interesting because I always find it, I look at it in the other way, I always hear place. Well, that player has it so much better than I do. And I think what you're both on the same tennis court right now. You're in the exact same place right now. Whether they took this journey there and you took this journey, you're in the exact same place right now.

9:35 You know, this is their journey ended up the same way yours did. So don't worry about, don't worry about it. And how do you know what's going on in their head? You don't. You know, so it's but no, that's really interesting about the myths. Those are some some really good ones. Thank you. It's I think my next one because obviously something I've spoke to you quite a lot about is in coach education. And obviously I interview a lot of coaches for potential jobs at the club. But what is something, whether it's not just your coaches, tennis coaches you work with, but coaches and other sports and business, what are some the key characteristics that you look for that across the board in successful coaches?

10:14 First one, enthusiasm. We spoke about Nick Bollett. Terry, if somebody's not enthusiastic about what they're doing, for me that's a red flag because you know, if you're doing something that you enjoy, you know, my only caveat to that is some people's faces and that don't reflect the enthusiasm that they have. But once they get talking about something, you can feel it. And if you don't feel enthusiastic the yasm, then you know, there's a guy on Instagram and actually he seems to have disappeared.

10:44 But he loved trains and and. He. I think I know what you mean. Yeah, he was, Yeah. Yeah. He saw steam train. It was the greatest day of his life. Yeah, I mean, and he's like every train. I mean, but the guy built an unbelievable following and, and maybe he's retired a, a multi millionaire from this or whatever, but you know, enthusiasm for it was off the scale and, and that made it interesting, you know. So enthusiasm #1 #2 for me, a sense of humor, I think, you know, it's very difficult to. And I don't believe that life is meant to be serious.

11:16 It can be serious fun, you know, and, and I think when you push yourself to the limit, you know, it's like sweet suffering underneath it. There's, there's some kind of fun that you're getting out is like, you know, I've done the workout, I've done whatever it is. There's a satisfaction and maybe it's not always fun, but there's a sense of satisfaction for, for doing the work. And what always helps, I think is a sense of humor that, you know, sometimes in real pressure moments, it's a little bit of sense of humor that breaks the ice or breaks someone's brain from from being really tight, you know.

11:53 And, you know, I remember Miles being Miles Mclagen being very tight before he, you know, had to play Boris Becker at Wimbledon and and the practices were not going well. And then he was really awful in a practice. And maybe it was about two days or out from the match, three days maybe. And Jess Green just said to him, you know, I was front, front grass court there, said, you know, Miles, you're such a pretty boy sometimes I don't know whether to train you or to ask you out on a date. And in that moment when he was, it like released all his pressure.

12:27 And, you know, the timing of it was just perfect where, you know, we all had a really good laugh. And that opened him up to being more relaxed. And then suddenly we could get through to him and get him ready for that match, you know, and I was convinced he was going to beat Boris. I mean, absolutely convinced. And, you know, unfortunately, he had too much points and hit a back end pass that landed like an inch wide. And he was that close to knocking out Boris Becker at Wimbledon. But yeah. I mean, it's funny because you had obviously being from the North, the, the big one for me was obviously Barry Cowan, who you were involved with as well.

13:08 And he was on your podcast not long ago. But that's another, you know, player who was just that close as well. And it's. Yeah. Yeah, and came back against Sampras, which was Ross, unbelievable. 2 sets to love down to come back, phenomenal achievement. And he he almost, he almost pulled it off. So yeah, yeah. So there's been some, but, but I'd say through all of that, and I think all the players that I've worked with will say that humor was a big part of everything that we did. Hard work, but fun.

13:36 Yeah, and I always say to some of the people around me and when I was doing coach education and stuff, the good thing about enthusiasm is it's. Yes, yeah. And it's a great source of energy. And I always wonder this, if you stand at the back of the court or whatever and you clock watching, everything goes so slow and it feels so heavy and so yeah, get enthusiastic and and get stuck in and .2 hours just goes like that. Enthusiasm is an energy give up. Yeah, it's infectious. It's the best energy source that we have.

14:08 So, yeah, you know, And that's why I think if you don't have enthusiasm, you basically don't have energy and you don't have energy, people feel it, and it's going to be very hard to succeed. Yeah. No, that's those are great characteristics and enthusiasm for me is. Yeah, I mean, that's not the crying, all the other things that come with it. You know, you got to have a knowledge of what you're doing and, and, and a competency and, and other things as well. But enthusiasm and humor can take you a hell of a long way.

14:36 And, you know, even if you don't have that much knowledge, you can gain it on the way. And, you know, I know some, you know, kids that started out on tour or whatever as coaches who weren't very good, but great enthusiasm for the game. And, you know, 10 years on, you know, they've gained all the knowledge that they needed. But the enthusiasm and everything kept them in the sport. And, you know, and some of them became, you know, very, very well known coaches. And I'd say their key again was the enthusiasm to learn as well.

15:07 It's, it is important just to be hungry and enthusiastic to learn because, and I say this to my coaches, you don't know what you don't know when you you know. And I, I, I look back at where I am as a coach today and think I thought I was good at 19 to an hour. I've just come from Voltaire Sanchez. I've seen this, I've seen this. I didn't know how to talk about it and or use it or what exactly they were saying until I've I've paid my dues and hopefully the man should stay enthusiastic along the way.

15:37 And it's hopefully, you know, never said. Your clubs crying, that says it all. Enthusiasm. It wouldn't be happening if there was an enthusiasm there. Perfect. So this, the next question I had is more for my dad than me because he he's a, he's a big fan of British tennis. Obviously you've seen in every aspect. And something that's always bugged him for years is did we or have we not done it yet? Or, you know, I'll get your opinion on it. The legacy of Andy Murray. How have we messed it up? Is it not even really started yet?

16:09 We're going to get it in another day. Has it gone wrong? Is there something we shouldn't have we should have done? Is there something we shouldn't have done? But what that man did for British tennis and and really putting getting great eyes to it. And I feel we didn't capitalize on it enough. And I know Judy tried and stuff, but from your perspective for being deep in British tennis coaching and where do you see that Andy Murray's legacy? I mean, it's, it's a very good question that I think the one part of his legacy that is underestimated is in doing what he did, he broke so many barriers.

16:47 So those who are following don't have what he had to breakthrough, which is winning Wimbledon and becoming number one in the world, that these things are basically impossible for British players. Yeah, you want it, but somebody has to go out and really get it. And he got it. And so now I think a player like Jack Draper is not afraid of winning a Grand Slam or afraid of becoming a number one in the world. Whether you can do it or not is another question. Think I think all British players now don't have this fear that it can't happen for British players.

17:22 And then, of course, Emma then doing it on the woman's side to win a Slam again, you know, being so long, these are things that break, you know, these these ceilings that allow people to believe, you know, like you, you, you just said, you know, ball of Terry's and ING Academy at that time, you know, he instilled the belief that, you know, people can really achieve things. And because those who came before had done it, it it just it makes that path so much easier. And I think beyond Borg did that for the Swedes, you know, and suddenly it opened up and Swedes like Mats V Land and and Ed Berg and that all these guys in East Room and all that broke through behind that because they had a fundamental belief that it was possible.

18:05 So that part of the legacy I think exists. And, you know, unless nobody else takes that mantle for another, you know, 50 years or whatever, you know, I mean, Tim almost did it, you know, I think, I think that's that part of the legacy, you know, will will be there for quite a long time. And if others follow through, he started it. Yeah, The second part in terms of participation. And I mean, I, I do have a fundamental problem that there are not enough clubs or academies or performance programs in the UK supported with some funding to allow them to grow and help younger players develop.

18:49 So if you're not at the cream with PSP or get into an LTA Academy, you know, in, in the under 14 regional program, which is quite wide the, the under 14 program, I don't really have any beef about. I think it's pretty good. But then for all those players who are not selected for the Academy, and let's be honest, there's, you know, maybe 8 players, it's, it's a very narrow group. What happens to them? And, you know, if I look at British tennis now, there are so few places that you can go and train as a player and get any kind of support other than, you know, parental and performance programs in the UK really do struggle.

19:32 And there's not the same disposable income in the UK as there is in the US. And also for the the people who do have the money, there's nowhere really in the in the UK privately that they can look at hardly. I mean, you know, Bath has a pretty good program and and, you know, and there's some stuff going on Dukes Meadow and there'll be little pockets of people really trying to produce players, but without any kind of support. Those players that don't have, you know, a lot of finance behind them, you know, really struggle to get the number of hours and the number of good coaching, everything like that.

20:08 If the program can't support some performance, coaches to. Do the job. So I think I think that has hurt Andys legacy because to grow the performance out of the sport it in the UK it does need some support in my opinion. Let me let me ask you as a kind of a Part 2 of that question with us juniors, Britain's always done pretty, pretty well, you know, in like the Orange Bowl and stuff. I feel like we've had a lot of people go and do well and the follow through has just not been there to the adults.

20:42 Obviously, you know, you were with Liam for a long time who did pretty well, very good junior and then, you know, great adult career. Heather Watson won the US Open and then had a really good adult career as well, but there's a lot who have done really well as juniors and have never really pushed through. Is that something, did you see a gap there within England or is it I think? The gap is what I've been talking about is if you're not in that very top echelon, I mean, we're talking about, you know, Heather Watson and and all these players were in the very top tier and they did get support.

21:19 It's the second tier that's not getting the support and you know, obviously the tournament program is getting better and you got the pro series and stuff like that that helps the second tier, you know, to keep playing and everything like that. But it's still not not enough because the training base where you talked about environment, the environment where they can train if it's got zero money and it's running on a shoestring is not conducive to pro tennis or trying to become pro tennis players. And really and truthfully in some ways, you know, and, and maybe it's by by design or accident is I would say that the UK has farmed out a lot of its development of players to the US college system.

22:05 Yeah, yeah. So. And you know, there's a number of players who went to US college that were not rated at all, you know, but they come out and, and, and have shown that with a little bit of help and some finance behind them, what they can do. And then I just wonder, well, how many more could there be if, you know, we used to have the high performance program, high performance club program and that and those 8 clubs or whatever got some money towards performance. And, and I think that that was incredibly helpful to, to build a, a base of performance.

22:40 So from that way, I'd say it's a missed opportunity for sure. But it's not lost yet. Things can still change. I mean, the, the interesting will be Andy himself. What? Because Andy is in a position where he can start to almost force his own legacy in tennis if she if he if he chooses to. Yeah. I mean, he's, he's earned the right to do whatever he likes in life, you know, and, and, and I know first hand from, you know, Jess Green, you know, the sacrifices that he made to achieve what he achieved. So he's earned that right to do whatever he wants to do in life.

23:19 But if he decides that he wants a legacy for his tennis, he would have a very, very powerful voice. Yeah, You know, but maybe he needs a few years just to enjoy life and everything like that. And maybe, you know, at some point you'll decide to say, you know what? I can do something for British Tennessee and start. Making you. Know it's it would be his choice, but I think the main thing of his legacy is I think he he's taken away the fear of success for British. Players, which is incredible for all this upcoming generation and yes, it's hopefully going to I'm a big fan of Draper, so hopefully he's inspired him and you know, he seems very accessible to help in these players as well, which is a great thing.

24:02 You know, he always seems to be to be there. I imagine for those British players that's that's incredible to be able to speak to him and it's hopefully going to inspire him. But then my last question is, obviously you've done and achieved a lot in tennis and now you're kind of doing something different in a bit more mentoring side mentoring coaches and obviously coaches like myself. And then you've got business mentoring as well and still working with athletes. But you know, 50 years from now, what do you want the the legacy of Dave Samuels to be within the tennis or coaching world?

24:40 I think it's a little bit like I feel about I have one daughter and I've got grandsons. I know that I've had an influence on several people's lives and that influence changed their lives, which effectively changes the lives of, you know, the people around them and their kids. And and so I think our legacies are, are more about the fact that however many people you influence and, and help to do something, maybe that they didn't believe they could do or help them achieve something that they did believe they could do, but weren't able to put it together.

25:20 Maybe that lives on in them. And, and from that, it just sort of goes on forever because you've changed their life and their life changing has changed many other people's lives, You know, whether it's their parents, their brothers, their sisters, you know, whatever it is and their, you know, whatever happens off them. So I think think I'm, I'm pretty content with, with that as a legacy that people within them know that you helped. And, you know, whether they say it publicly or not is irrelevant.

25:52 They know. And I would like, you know, my, my legacy that if people do speak of how what I've done is that, you know, it was fun working with Dave. Yeah. You know, and, and we did pretty well together because at the end of the day, tennis is just a game, you know, and I think, you know, it's a game. It's just like serious fun. I mean, you know, business is a game. You know, how do you win a business? It's a game. But of course it has serious implications because it affects livelihoods and everything like that.

26:22 So I'm not, I'm not saying it's just all ha ha, ha. And life is just fun because it it isn't just fun, but whatever adversity you face, if you keep your sense of humor, I think ultimately that is that is very, very helpful. And, and I think if people take anything from me that, you know, you can work hard, you can even, you know, have some tough things happen to you. But if you can hold on to your enthusiasm and sense of humor, it'll be better than it could, you know, could have been. And, and I think you alluded to that a little bit with your dad.

26:59 Get up the next day and, and just go again and, and enjoy it. It's amazing. You think you have so much time. And we and we do, I mean, it is quite a long life if you're lucky, but it's not a lot of time either. And nobody can help you enjoy what you do other than yourself. And I hope that in showing people that you can work hard and have fun and be successful, I think that's, that's part of whatever I've brought to, to Yeah, I would like people to hopefully recognise that. That's what I try to do.

27:31 Yeah, I can say I've, I've never walked away from a conversation with you feeling worse off. I always feel like I've learnt something and I feel, you know, excited to get back out and call and do what I've talked to you about. And I feel, you know, that the environment and the energy that we've talked about earlier, that's that's something I feel when we have our conversations and it's a very powerful thing. And I imagine you have that with everybody, and that's a lasting effect. I've coached a lot of players to their highest rankings, to top 200 and beyond, and the volume is being, you know, arguably higher than anybody else in British tennis.

28:13 And therefore there are not many. You know, obviously there's younger generations coming now that I'm not touching, but there are a lot of people that I've touched and coached and that that are working with, you know, players. I mean, I coached Jamie Delgada for, you know, to his first Davis Cup appearance and with Andrew Richardson. And, you know, he he worked with Andy, you know, and he's he's working with, you know, Draper now, you know, you know, obviously Miles who worked with Andy and, you know, Jazz Green, I coached and, and then we worked together and helped him, you know, forge himself into the physical trainer that he became, which is one of the very best in the world.

28:55 And he's touched, you know, you know, obviously Andy, and it was a very big influence there. So, you know, there are so many people working in British tennis that I coached that the legacy is, you know, kind of living on through through them and what they can impart. Because certainly whatever they do in tennis, you know, Andrew Richardson coached Emma to U.S. Open. Yeah, I coached Andy, you know, to, you know, to his highest rankings and third round of Wimbledon and, and that Davis Cup win against Byron Black and, you know, and and so, you know, whatever he took from me, some of it would have filtered through elsewhere as well.

29:37 I think that's the world's a very big place. And you know, when people say they're famous, I mean, you got to be pretty damn famous to, to be known around the world. And, and tennis can be a little bit insular that way where people think, oh, I'm, I'm famous. But now you're famous in tennis. And that's a very small part of the big, the big wide world. So I think it's it's important for people to have that kind of perception. I often say to players, you know, if I'm ill, I don't want Roger Federer walking in as my doctor.

30:08 I want a good doctor. If my drains are blocked, I want a good plumber. I don't want Rafa or, you know, or Sabalenka showing up because I don't know anything about, you know, and celebrity chefs is something that, you know, I bring up a lot is until they go on TV. There wasn't a thing called a celebrity chef, but now they are, you know, if you put something on TV it it suddenly makes it very attractive and, you know, elevates people to to some kind of status. But the reality is they just normal people doing something really, really well.

30:41 And doing something really, really well is very admirable. But it doesn't mean suddenly you're a special human being. You're special in that you were able to do something so extraordinary well as to be a pro tennis player or whatever it is, and that it is special to have that resilience and go through everything you needed to do that. But there's other people who are doing it in science and medical and fantastic butchers who are masters at their craft. But just because it's not on TV, nobody knows about it.

31:13 Yeah, it's fascinating. I'm. Sorry, that was a very long answer to. Probably. I love it. I love it, I love it. But yeah, that was that was a great answer. Thank you very much. And, and you can tell me later on or now who, who, who would you like to see on on the show? You know the person who's fascinated me the most at the minute because it's something I know nothing about, but my youngest sister is talking about just being famous. She's a pretty large content creator in in TikTok and and Instagram.

31:47 And she was having at the TikTok awards, she works with Disney Universal, she's taken all around the world making videos for people. And I think in it's interesting how these a lot of the lessons she's learnt came from her tennis background. And now she's being flown around by all the biggest companies and making some of the, these amazing videos that are getting, I think one of her videos had 80 million views or something like that. It was a it's a it's a fascinating side to see how and this all started during COVID, which was just a passion of posting videos for 10 people is now being seen by, you know, millions of people when she posts a video And, and it's working with the biggest brands.

32:35 And obviously as somebody who interviews business people, not just not just athletes, I think it's an interesting time for younger people to learn the business of content creator and it's do. You think you could get me an introduction? If she ever answers the phone to me, if she ever answers the phone to me. But that's the problem with being a relative. You know, she's a she's a great girl, but unless I can change that caller ID to say it's Mr. Disney caller it's I sometimes get hung up on. But I will.

33:05 I'll try my best. And obviously that was a girl who came up through tennis and with the LTA. Yeah, no. It'd be it'd be fascinating to talk to her. So yeah, please make the introduction and tell her locker room pals call it. I will tell her, I'm sure she'll, I'm sure with you. She'll, she'll, she'll be up for it. But thank you so much for today, David. Fascinating. Thanks. For being on the show, Appreciate it, Take care. For watching Locker Room Power with David Samuel, if you enjoyed the episode, hit subscribe and leave a comment on your favorite platform.

33:34 See you in the next one.