The Billionaire’s Dream: How to Win Under Extreme Pressure

Second question Out of all your years in tennis, who's the best player you've ever seen play on tour and why? I mean, I think I would have to answer this generationally because it in every era, you have a standout player who is amazing and and you can't really compare eras because my honest belief is a champion in one era would be a champion in another because by their nature, they adapt and what whatever environment they're in, they would find a way to be a champion. Welcome back, Nick, and this is the fun time.

It's your your chance to put me in the hot seat. And you've been very kind to give me forewarning of some of the questions, which is great. So go ahead and and fire away. Well, I thought it'd be a bit cruel you, you sent my questions ahead so I thought it was, it was only fair that I'd do the same. But OK. So here we go. Here's my 4 questions to you Dave. So first of all, and again aligning it with business and sport, what methods do you use to prepare players for high pressure moments and which apply to business executives before big presentations or negotiations?

Yeah, I think the the first thing is a little story I want to tell you called the billionaire's Dream. And I remember Samantha Murray, also from Manchester, who had to play Sharapova on Court 1 and taking a walkie on the on on Court 1, you know, early in the morning before the match, no crowd there. And that just to soak in the atmosphere. She hadn't played on a court that big before. And just saying to her, because she was very, very nervous, listen, you know, you've earned the right to be here.

And what you're about to do is something that, you know, billionaires would gladly pay millions and millions to experience, but they can't. You have to earn the right to be here, you know, on merit. And the only thing they can do is pay a lot of money to simulate something like this. But they can never experience the, the real thing. So what you're about to do is the privilege. And you've worked hard all your career to, to get to this place. The last thing you want to do is walk off of that court and not remember it.

Because from my own experience playing on a big court for the first time, I froze and, and I, I, I really played a match in a daze and I hardly remember other than wanting the court to swallow me up. So I didn't enjoy any of it And, and, but I had no one advising me beforehand. But I, you know, I said, whatever you do, soak it all in and, and enjoy it. So I think that that's the first thing is that, you know, you, you get to big moments because you've earned it. And you know, and then you need to, you know, enjoy it.

And generally when people enjoy things, they play better, you know, and I think the same would go into business. If you, if you get to a pressure moment, the reason you're there is because you're doing things right, not because you're doing things wrong. Otherwise you wouldn't have that pressure moment to to decide on. And so just remember you're doing thing right, things right. The second thing is, if you're doing a big presentation or whatever it is, the people out there actually want you to succeed.

They want to hear good stuff that you know you're there because you have something to give. Now, you know, this is kind of a little different, but I say don't be selfish and not give them the of your experience and the benefit of your expertise because you're so nervous and, and think that, you know, you have to do something special. You just need to go out there and give them what they want, which is to see what you've got and to learn from you. And, and I think that's also the same. You know, in sport, at the end of the day, the crowd are there to be entertained and therefore they want to see you express yourself that don't want to see you inhibited because then they don't get to see the best of you and, and that's what they're there for.

So those are sort of ways that I'd, I'd prepare people for that. And the other thing I've, I think you've alluded to is the habits that got them there is you've got here because you've consistently done the work. Now is a big moment for you to truly trust that work and find out you know that it has been worthwhile. And the fact that you are ready for this moment. This moment is not here because you're not ready. This moment is here because you are ready. So yeah, I think that's at the end of the day, you know, as a coach, you can only try and influence thinking.

You know, the person will do what they're what they're going to do. But if you can just change perspectives that often is a big, big help. I remember Alvin Parler before he he went on and he had qualified beautifully for Wimbledon, 3 very, very good matches, beat Max Manly in the last round of qualities and had a player, Albert Costa, who was seeded 16 at the time and went on to win the French Open. You know, walking to the court, I literally saw blood drain from his face and I and I took him by the shoulders and I said, Alvin, listen to me.

Five sets is a long time. If you start terrible, don't panic. I promise you at some point you'll find your game and you will play. Remember 5 sets is a long time anyway. So he goes out there. Didn't anticipate how bad, but I mean it's left three love down in 45 minutes. I mean, it went so fast it was ridiculous. And then suddenly at love 15, he hit a great backhand return and he just sort of like that. And from that moment, he played unbelievable and and one in four sets. And when he came off, he said all I was thinking during that horrible start is five sets is a long time.

I'm going to play, I'm going to play. But you know, I think you know that that was one of the best piece of coaching I've done, which is was really under pressure at the last minute. We were literally walking to the court. Yeah. And I noticed suddenly how he's feeling, but he was playing so well that if he could just relax and play, I knew that he had a had a very good child. I. Mean it's it very wise words and I, I totally agree with everything you said there, David. It shows the importance of the mind, doesn't it?

And you know, you've done all the hard work, as you say, whether it's in business, whether it's in sport and, and I I can totally relate to like in my early career and as a business exec, you know, I'm, I'm, I was putting these companies on pedestals, you know, that these shells of this world or Coca Cola's and I we'd won the work in I was doing it, but we were a small team. And so it was just in some of those instances, it was just me travelling down to London to present to sometimes the board of these companies.

And I remember my dad saying to you're going in that room and they want you to win. You know, you're speaking human to human just because she's dealing with a big brand here. You know, these are just people that want to understand. And also for the fact that, you know, you're going in that room and no one knows more about this project or this subject than you do. You are the Oracle because you've done all the hard work. And and then as it started to dissipate that fear, you know, the fact that I was going to this global organization, speaking to boards of these companies, directing them on decisions they were going to make based on the research they commissioned.

But I was confident with it because I knew, you know, not only did we have quality data, but I, you know, I'd done the legwork and and therefore knew it. So and they wanted to know that they wanted the yes, yeah, they they didn't want me to fail on the on my feet there. So very wise advice, right? Well, you know, I'm a tennis nut. They. So some of my questions had to be specifically tennis. So out of second question, out of all your years in tennis, who's the best player you've ever seen play on tour and why?

I mean, I think I would have to answer this generationally because it in every era you have a standout player who is amazing and and you can't really compare pair eras, because my honest belief is a champion in one era would be a champion in another because by their nature, they adapt and that what whatever environment they in, they would find a way to be a champion. You know, I think certainly certain players stand out who I think, you know, out of all those generations of champions, there would be champions of the Champions if you could do that, what a fabulous little if you could have a tournament of, you know, everybody trained at the same era.

But anyway, but if I, if I go back, I think I mean, you know, starts back with John Newcomb, somebody who played a, a style that that I kind of copied. And obviously it was a totally different area, a lot of serving volley and stuff. But just the way he conducted himself on court and and he was not the most talented player, but he was still able to, you know, win I think 6 Grand Slams, 2 or 3 Wimbledon's just with, you know, great determination and, you know, a good, obviously a very, very good game.

But I think, you know, for somebody to become number one who wasn't the most gifted was something I really admired. Film Borg was the first real, you know, superstar of tennis in terms of globally attracting, you know, the the mania that, you know, like The Beatles in her in a way. And mentally, you know, the admiration that I have for that. And maybe it's why he quit at 2026 because, I mean, at 26, he had 11 slams. Who knows what he could have gone on for. But he never said a word on court and he never expressed himself positively or negatively on court.

They called him the Iceman for that reason. But having played and been in tennis for so long, the fact that he never expressed himself positively was as big a achievement as not ever expressing himself negatively. Roger Federer, you know, Sampras, guys that were modelled on the kind of Borg thing could not help themselves. But, you know, get the big fist pump and stuff like that at certain moments. And he never did any of that. You know, that was something that I, I really thought was phenomenal control, I mean, of and management of, of, of nerves and, and, and emotions.

It's never been seen before and I don't think it'll ever be seen again. That just pure expressionless play from beginning to end. You can sometimes see in the eyes when you got pissed, you know, but and then, you know, I think Sampras and Federer on grass were just both beautiful tennis players to watch. You know, I love to gain Agassi for his kind of street fighting and the fact that he won the French Open without sliding. It's it's quite amazing. He commanded the court so well from the center.

You know, he would have been a great squash player. Just hold the T. Yeah, yeah. But I think then we came to this unbelievable era of, you know, the Nadal, Djokovic and and Federer, you know, and, and obviously Andy Murray did what he did for, for British tennis. But the player that I think is redefining things now is Alcaraz, all caught. But he is bringing a joy to the game, showing a joy of the game. Nadal, you could see the enthusiasm and all the big, but not the smiling and laughing and and just pure joy of playing.

And I think that's it's like, I think so many players have felt like if they let their enjoyment show so much that it would affect their their focus. But I think he's showing that no actually can really help him play even better tennis. Yeah, yeah. It's way that isn't it because I know when I played my squash not for that leveled, but any sport, I bring humor into it and I love you know it's an enjoyment to play this. So I've always played with any sport with a smile on my face and it's. Yeah, and I think it, I think it's meant to be, but the stakes are very high.

And of course, you know, everybody's looking for focus and, and I think, you know, when people lose a few points and they're smiling and, and they're having a good time, they probably think, oh, I'm, I'm not, you know, there enough. Come on, focus. Yeah. Yeah, and I think he's breaking that that myth that you have to be locked in and and kind of, you know, poker faced and and that you can't actually really, really, really enjoy yourself. You'd always see moments with great players, but but there were moments and he's seems to just be open and express himself like that.

And I mean, obviously what Djokovic has done is just, you know, phenomenal and continues to do. I mean, I did not see him beating Sinner or Alcaraz in a slam. And the fact that he beat one at, you know, at his time of career is is a phenomenal achievement. And, you know, it'll be interesting to see if if that record can be broken. Obviously Alcaraz on track at the moment, but there's a lot of winning to be done to get to 24. The crazy thing, Alcaraz has seven, you know, at the age where Novak only had one.

So Novak, Novak was a pretty slow starter. He didn't have Federer Nadal to contend with and and Andy Murray. So it it it wasn't and and stand by wrinkle as well. So, you know, it it it was a slightly slower start, but then obviously he became very prolific. But favorite player of all time for me. I think I'd probably have to go Borg. Right. Yeah, I never got to see Borg. I've seen a fair number of those players you you've mentioned there. Obviously Alcaraz at the moment, I've been looking to see him live and, and Sam Preston and Federer back in the day as well.

Well, here we are speaking on the Monday after the Australian Open finals, aren't we? And yeah, those two, it was, I felt he was quite boring. I, I watched, I normally watch mainly men's tennis, yeah. But actually there weren't that many good games until we got to the semis. And. And I think that's a lot's to be said as Barev, isn't it? You know, a lot of people don't realize that he's diabetic and how he does what he does. Yeah, I really don't know it. So that that was a hell of a game. Alcaraz Zverev in the semis.

Yeah, I mean, I think, yeah, gut wrenching for for Zverev. I mean, he's been close many times and you know, it's tough to serve for a match and and lose it, especially after 5 1/2 hours. But I mean, he's shown he didn't. Believe it, did he? You could see it in his eyes when he stepped up. Yeah, well, it's a it's a very big moment. And I think, you know, it's in that moment where it it comes down to total belief because the guy on the other side is actually waiting for you to crack. You know, in that moment, Alcaraz was waiting to see if he was going to crack.

And the moment he, you know, couldn't put in a first serve and showed those signs that really fuels the fires, like, OK, you know, whereas if he cracks down an ace first point, you know, and looks like he, you know, is going to win the game, to love that changes things. But, you know, it's easy. It's easy to sit in an armchair and and say wise and he got his head together in that moment, but there's a lot of scar tissue there. There's all things to contend with. It was easy. They wouldn't get played.

Millions and millions of dollars to do it. It's very, very tough. Well, building on the answer, Dave, I mean it's we have been blessed as you said, Rafa, Roger Nova, Murray in the mix there. But now we've got this ultra, our Sinner battle going on, and they really are dominating. I mean, I think it is it. There's Verev's number three in the world and he's nearer to #100 in terms of points than he is to to Senna, who's number 2. So what? What's your thoughts around the good of the game between these two?

Dominating really. When we had the 3 or 4, you know it was there was always others in the mix, whereas these two were just meeting in the final every time it seems apart from the Australian. Yeah, I, I don't, I mean, tennis survives it. And yeah, you can have a period where they dominate and it seems like there's nothing there and, and it might get a little bit a little bit boring. I mean, the same happened with Michael Schumacher and motor racing and you know, Lewis Hamilton and and Zhang here, Khan in squash, You remember him?

I do, yeah. But then The thing is came afterwards, you'd have people that totally dominate the sport and it seems like it's it's boring, but always someone else comes along and we don't know who that is yet. There are don't forget Federer, Nadal, Novak and Andy dominated for a long time and it was like, it's like Dimitrov and and a few others showed kind of signs song, you know, Monfisa and that Verdasco are where they're going to step up and and challenge those guys and, and weren't able to. And so for a long time, you know, a couple of generations tried to catch them and couldn't.

And there was some talk even then that it's, you know, maybe a little bit boring that, you know, those guys always winning. The fact that there was, you know, four and Stan Vavrenko, don't forget him, you know, 3 finals, one or three in slams were there. And I think because there's more of them and not just two, but somebody will come along, you know, and we might have to wait four or five years for them to develop, but somebody will come out on and challenge. And, and it's interesting because while they dominate, it's boring in one sense, but it's also very admirable in another because Federer had a period.

Federer had a period where he was unbeatable, you know, and, and, and until Nadal kind of really, you know, apart from the French, until Nadal started beating him on other surfaces, he was indomitable. And then obviously Novak started to come, but there's a little period of about three years or so where Federer was unbeatable and, and, and people said, oh, this is going to get boring, but somebody came along. So I mean, there might be, you know, we've had two years, kind of Novak shook it up a little bit.

This, this torment. I I would say we probably got another at least 18 months, two years of those guys totally dominating. And then and then we'll see. But somebody will come along and and the sport always survives any kind of era. You know, I remember, you know, when you've had drug scandals and cycling Tour de France, it'll be finished. You know, nobody will, but it's still going strong, you know? I mean, iconic events, iconic sports, they always survive what happens. Yeah. And my final question, I've been involved in tennis for a long time now with my sons, but why do you think British tennis, you know, when you're looking well, when I've looked at the juniors and then you're looking at you know what the likes of who's dominating, you know, Alcaraz, Spain, Sinner, Italy.

Why do you think British tennis likes so far behind the likes of France, Spain, Italy? You know the States has got six times the population, but you know those those countries that here on our doorstep that have got similar or less. I think first and foremost, I think the club structure in Europe, clubs are often the, the center of the social hub of smaller towns, whether it's, you know, hockey or tennis or whatever sport, they'll have maybe two or three or four hubs in a town of which, you know, tennis often is, is a pretty big hub where it is kind of like a social center.

So people go down there, play tennis, They, they eat at the club. They, you know they. Shower then they go out from the club and I think, you know, there are some clubs in Britain. I mean, you've got one in the northern. Yeah, you know, which is, you know, more of a social thing and stuff. And, and if they have some kind of performance program, it's easy for kids to play and be around tennis a lot because it's a family thing. You know, I, I played and and work for Dutch club, the Metzlis and the Hey, I mean the weekends just all day families coming going, but or staying there all day and having lunch, having dinner.

I mean, it was just like a big, big social center and the kids would be hit against the wall. Then they go play, then they play a bit of tennis. Then they go on on their bikes around and then they come back and play a bit more tennis. There are there are thousands of social hubs. So I think that's one thing where kids are just around tennis a lot. I think the second thing is tournament structure. You know, Italy, France, you know, Germany, Holland, there are so many tournaments and money tournaments for players to play.

So you get a lot of players in those countries that are very good that actually don't play ATP tournaments, you know, but they're a good 400 counter level if if they were playing. But they can make money playing for their clubs, playing money tournaments. And for young players, they have to battle through those guys. And if they can start winning local money tournaments, they know then that they're good enough to be doing pretty well on futures and have a very good start. And if I was looking at tennis as a business, how's it possible that you do not have a regional hub in all the main population centers?

A regional hub that makes it easy for players to get decent coaching for a reasonable price and have a a center that's really based around performance and that the best players can come and practice near to home. Yeah. You know, I mean, if you say it just doesn't exist and when you do have little hubs that that you know, are are doing some decent stuff in performance, they're so cash starved they can't do a really good job. They do an amazing job with no resources. And I, I would say that without, and we've been down that road before and it's not these, you know, super duper, in my opinion, academies where you know, you're suddenly spending 80 grand a kid and you know, you, you're narrowing it down to 8 kids or whatever.

It's, it's very difficult to, to pick who's going to come through and if you had regional hubs, you know Manchester, Liverpool, how can they not have a regional hub? You know Newcastle, you know Bristol. Yeah, yeah. Birmingham, you know, where there is a central hub that has some finance behind it, where where the better players can play together and they're going to be, you know, got some good coaches there and to do that take some money. But in the big scheme of the money that the LTA has, it's not a lot.

It's not a lot, but it's all centralized into the one Academy at, at Loughborough and the the PSP program. And I'm not saying that those aren't good programs, but at the same time, there should be hubs all around the country and main congivations. What are they doing? You know, Glasgow, Edinburgh, I mean, you know it it you have to travel so far all the time to get the right kind of practice. Yeah. And also, and when you have things localized a little more, players should have the choice that they don't have to go to London or they don't have to go, you know, and can still have a chance to, to play.

So my, my thing is, you know, when we had the high performance centers, so that was going down the right Rd. Just need to get the right people and that's where you just got to pay a little bit more money to get the right person in charge of each centre to make sure that the culture's right and everything like that. But it, it, you know, it's not huge money in the big scheme of things where it would just allow because we don't have the club structure as in Europe to, to kind of fall back on somewhat.

I think I think regional hubs would be, would be a big way. And of course, the tournament structure, which is getting better in the UK again with the, you know, pro Series and all these other things. But they almost, some of them are, you know, private ventures which have spotted a a gap in the market, which is great and certainly help players during COVID, you know, the, the whole pro series stuff and that that really helped, you know, players in in COVID. So yeah, those are those are the reasons in my opinion.

Well, I mean, I've travelled a lot in Europe and seen these small clubs that you talk about and there's some fantastic places out there wherever you go in mainland Europe. So I definitely understand that side. Dave, I'm, I've lived, I've lived through, through my son's career, you know, the, the whole career of, of dealing with the LTA. And we've gone from, you know, like you say that the regional development hubs and how can we not have those in these major conurbations that we've gotten? And again, like you say that the fact that they pick 8 to 12 people at the age of 12, how can they, you know, it's a numbers game.

How can they cherry pick the best players, throw 60 to 80 grand for them and stick with them, even if they're not performing all the way through. You know, it's it's but I think. It's such a long journey. I mean, it would be also a disservice to those players if they didn't stick with them because, you know, players could go through terrible patches and can't struggle. So, you know, and I think, you know, if, if, if you want to play that game and think that you can choose the best players and, and, and they'll come through fine.

But it should not only be that there, there's enough money in the pot to have have something going on regionally. One thing with the clubs in the defense of the LTA is in Europe, a lot of these clubs are on, you know, municipal property and the upkeep is done by the the town. They're not all private clubs. And that obviously allows those clubs to be cheaper and, and, and, you know, and have more and, and better facilities and stuff, which the UK doesn't have that. But still you know the answer to that to me would be regional hubs.

Yeah. Well, we could fill another hour's worth of discussion on this, David, Maybe that's something. But with your tennis and my business and, you know, we'll try and change the LCA moving forward, I don't think, yeah, I think that's an impossible job. But I've, I've loved, loved interviewing you, Dave. I love being on your podcast. So thanks for the questions and thanks for inviting me on. Thank you very much, and I wish you luck with everything that you're doing. I appreciate your time and I'm sure that your podcast will keep going from strength to strength.

Thanks, Dave. Cheers for watching Locker Room Power with David Samuel. If you enjoyed the episode, hit subscribe and leave a comment on your favorite platform. See you in the next one.

The Billionaire’s Dream: How to Win Under Extreme Pressure | Nick Hague

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