The Beyond Tennis Podcast

James Ward: The Grind, Davis Cup Glory (Isner Comeback) & Life After the Tour - Ep.10

In this episode of Beyond Tennis, Johnny sits down with British tennis legend and 2015 Davis Cup champion James Ward to trace his career from picking up a racket at 9/10 in North London to training at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy in Spain, grinding through Futures and Challengers, and eventually cracking the ATP top 100 around age 28/29. Ward shares what the lonely lower-level tour is really like, why Davis Cup team environments brought out his best tennis, and relives his biggest moments—beating Sam Querrey away in the USA and coming back from two sets down to beat John Isner 15–13 in the fifth in Glasgow. He also discusses his Ted Baker match shirts, a Queen’s Club semifinal run, knee surgery, COVID’s impact on his late career, and his post-retirement coaching work abroad, plus plenty of Arsenal talk and quickfire Q&A. 00:00 Lonely Tour Grind 00:48 Meet James Ward 01:17 Arsenal Nerves 02:02 Picking Up Tennis Late 03:03 Training Routine And Costs 05:13 Spain Academy Leap 08:20 First ATP Points Grind 13:19 Back To London NTC 15:31 Breaking Top 100 17:00 Davis Cup Rise 20:06 USA Tie Upset Win 24:18 Glasgow Isner Epic 26:22 Iconic Match Shirts 27:21 Queens Club Breakthrough 28:53 Ranking Rise and ATP Qualies 29:12 Retirement Decision and COVID 30:53 Coaching Abroad and LTA Gap 33:22 Arsenal Talk and Title Pressure 35:43 Dream Arsenal Five-a-Side 37:57 Run-In Predictions and Transfers 42:13 Match Tie Break QandA 49:22 Coaching Rule Debate 51:03 Biopic Casting and Farewell

Matthew Little: Inside Andy Murray’s 17-Year Fitness Journey & Davis Cup Glory - Ep.9

Johnny interviews renowned tennis strength & conditioning coach Matthew Little, who recounts starting tennis as an enthusiastic but average junior at Sutton before committing at 16 to S&C and spending a decade grinding through academy and LTA roles, including Loughborough and the NTC, to reach the pro level. Little describes mentoring influences, the importance of on-court learning for trainers, and the “soft skills” needed to build trust and avoid undermining team members, lessons central to his long stint with Andy Murray (from 2007), initially assisting Jez Green before leading S&C from around 2014. He details Murray’s brutal preseasons, meticulous fueling (including 6,000-calorie days), match-week routines, the 2016 run to year-end world No.1, and the later injury years culminating in hip resurfacing and a remarkable comeback. They also cover Great Britain’s Davis Cup journey under Leon Smith, current work with Katie Boulter, and Little’s Tortoise Performance program and book. 00:00 Exhausted Match Moment 00:16 Meet Matthew Little 01:05 Late Start Tennis Love 02:11 Choosing S&C Path 02:51 First Coaching Roles 03:55 Mentors And Influences 04:59 Into The Pro Ranks 06:04 Junior Training Philosophy 07:41 NTC Grind And Tough Lessons 09:48 Advice For Young S&C Coaches 12:33 Ten Years To Team Murray 13:02 Joining Team Murray 14:57 Trust And Soft Skills 19:14 Taking Over Lead Role 21:28 Brutal Miami Preseasons 26:49 From Peak To Rehab Years 28:42 Training Week Vs Slam Week 31:50 Matchday Arrival Routine 32:09 Warmup Shots Ritual 32:54 Wimbledon Corridor Chaos 33:44 Postmatch Recovery Marathon 34:03 2016 Chase to Number One 35:47 Managing the Winning Streak 36:30 Lendl Locker Room Message 37:55 Hip Injury Breaking Point 40:02 Resurfacing Documentary Reality 41:28 Metal Hip Comeback Wins 44:23 Davis Cup Team Culture 49:21 Pressure Moments and Mindset 52:16 Working with Katie Boulter 55:03 Rapid Fire Match Tiebreak 58:14 Tautus Performance and Book 01:00:39 Final Wrap and Signoff

David Lloyd: The LTA Feud, Building an Empire & Producing Wimbledon Champions - Ep. 8

In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado sits down with the man who revolutionized British tennis, David Lloyd. David provides a candid look at his "colorful" history with the LTA, his obsession with changing the grassroots system, and the creation of the legendary Slater Squad that produced stars like Tim Henman. David opens up about the business of tennis, the importance of university sports, and the relentless drive it took to build his global leisure empire. He also shares a masterclass in entrepreneurship, detailing how he turned a dream into reality and why he believes tennis is currently missing a trick in schools. Episode Timestamps * [00:00:00] Intro & The Mission: David discusses his desire to make tennis the most popular game in schools. * [00:05:42] The LTA Conflict: A raw look at David’s outspoken and "anti-LTA" stance during his early years. * [00:12:15] Building the Slater Squad: How David hand-picked 10 boys, including Tim Henman, to become future champions. * [00:22:30] The Business of Sport: Transitioning from the court to building the David Lloyd Leisure empire. * [00:35:10] Grassroots & University: Why British tennis needs to look at the American collegiate model for success. * [00:48:55] Entrepreneurial Advice: David’s formula for business: adding 20% to expenditure and taking 20% off income. * [00:54:40] Final Words: "Don't let anyone in the world persuade you not to do it."

Jamie Delgado: Coaching Andy Murray to World No. 1 & The "Talent Trap" - Ep. 7

In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado is joined by his brother, Jamie Delgado, a record-breaking figure in British tennis. Jamie shares the raw reality of his journey from being a world-champion junior to navigating the "humiliation" of high-pressure Davis Cup matches and transitioning into one of the most successful coaching careers on the ATP tour. Jamie provides an exclusive look at his years coaching Andy Murray, breaking down the intense 2016 race to become world number one and the mental architecture required to stay at the very top of the sport. He also discusses his current work with Jack Draper and his "Beyond Tennis" life, including his deep love for football and Real Madrid. Episode Timestamps: * [00:00:28] Intro & Welcome: Johnny welcomes his brother to discuss his 23-year record at Wimbledon and life on tour. * [00:01:37] The Early Days in Tenerife: How Jamie’s tennis journey began at age six before moving to the UK. * [00:08:44] Junior World Champion: The pressure of being the "best in the world" at 14 and having Ladbrokes take bets on his future. * [00:13:32] The "Talent Trap": Why being a naturally gifted junior made Jamie subconsciously stop working physically. * [00:21:11] Davis Cup Humiliation: A raw look at the matches that shook Jamie's confidence and affected his mindset for years. * [00:25:44] Transitioning to Coaching: How an injury to Gilles Muller led Jamie to become the ATP Coach of the Year. * [00:28:56] Coaching Andy Murray: Behind the scenes of the 2016 season and the "marginal gains" that led to World No. 1. * [00:34:28] Beyond Tennis: Football & Real Madrid: Why Jamie believes tennis is "missing a trick" regarding coaching and media. * [00:40:11] Match Tie-Break: Quick-fire questions on the G.O.A.T., Vin Diesel, and the one rule Jamie would change in tennis. * [00:43:00] The Beyond Tennis Quiz: Jamie puts his memory to the test regarding his 1992 Wimbledon debut.

Jamie Murray: World No. 1, Grand Slam Glory & Life in the Murray Shadow - Episode 6

In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado sits down with former doubles world No. 1 and 7-time Grand Slam champion Jamie Murray. Jamie opens up about his journey from a young talent in Dunblane to reaching the pinnacle of the sport, discussing the mental resilience required to carve out his own legendary career alongside his brother, Andy. From the high-pressure atmosphere of Davis Cup triumphs to the reality of life on the doubles tour, Jamie provides an unfiltered look at the professional game. He also dives into his "beyond tennis" interests, including his passion for golf and his transition into tournament organization with the Battle of the Brits. Episode Timestamps * [00:00:10] Intro & Welcome: Johnny introduces a true legend of British tennis and a former world No. 1. * [00:04:22] Carving a Path: Jamie discusses growing up in Dunblane and the early transition to focusing on doubles. * [00:15:40] Reaching World No. 1: The mindset and consistency required to reach the top spot in the world rankings. * [00:25:15] Davis Cup Heroics: Breaking down the 2015 victory and the unique pressure of playing for your country. * [00:38:50] The Murray Legacy: An honest look at navigating a professional career in the same era as his brother. * [00:48:12] Beyond Tennis: Golf & Business: Jamie discusses his obsession with golf and his move into event promotion. * [00:58:30] Match Tie-Break: Quick-fire questions on his favorite partner, his G.O.A.T. pick, and his dream golf course.