In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado sits down with one of his oldest friends in the sport, James "Trotters" Trotman. James is a former Wimbledon Junior Doubles Champion who transitioned into a world-class coach, working with the likes of Kyle Edmund, Cameron Norrie, and most recently, guiding Jack Draper to the US Open semifinals and a world No. 4 ranking.

James pulls back the curtain on the mental and physical architecture required for elite success. He shares a legendary "secret" about coaching he learned in the Wimbledon Long Bar, explains why the complexity of tennis lies in the delivery rather than the theory, and dives into his "beyond tennis" passion for contemporary British art.

Episode Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Johnny introduces James Trotman, a standout of his generation and elite ATP coach.
• [00:06:45] The National Tennis Center: Life at Bisham Abbey as a 12-year-old and the intensity of the British tennis "Who's Who".
• [00:10:42] Junior Grand Slam Success: Reaching three major finals and the injury struggles that shifted his path to coaching.
• [00:20:49] The College Route: Why James pushed Cameron Norrie toward the US College system and how it redefined the British pathway.
• [00:28:52] Developing Jack Draper: The 4.5-year journey from the Challenger circuit to the top 5 in the world.
• [00:32:04] The "Secret" to Coaching: A viral lesson from Ray Ruffles about what truly makes a great coach.
• [00:35:12] Building Trust: Why integrity and "showing you have their best interest at heart" is the only way to connect with a player.
• [00:43:01] Beyond Tennis: British Art: James discusses running an art gallery and the fascinating link between artists and athletes.
• [00:52:38] Match Tie-Break: James answers quick-fire questions on the G.O.A.T., his favorite shots, and his five-aside Ipswich Town team.

In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado sits down with Marcus Willis, the man behind the greatest fairytale run in Wimbledon history, to explore the reality of life on the edge of professional tennis.

Marcus provides an honest, no-nonsense look at the "dark times" before his 2016 breakthrough, including having only $300 in his bank account and nearly walking away from the sport for a coaching job in Philadelphia. The conversation dives deep into the mental grit required for the pre-qualifying grind, the surreal experience of playing Roger Federer on Centre Court, and why professional tennis in 2026 still requires a "never say die" approach to survival.

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Johnny introduces the man who went from world number 772 to playing the G.O.A.T. on Centre Court.

[00:01:21] The "Cartman" Years: Marcus opens up about his reputation as a junior and the weight of early expectations.

[00:03:02] The $300 Crisis: A raw look at the financial breaking point that almost led Marcus to retire at age 25.

[00:08:44] 2016: The Fairytale: Walking through the seven matches that led from pre-qualifying to Roger Federer.

[00:14:52] Centre Court Reality: What it actually feels like to lob the greatest player of all time in front of a global audience.

[00:22:15] The Comeback: Marcus discusses his return to the tour in doubles and his current drive to reach the top 50.

[00:30:10] Quick Fire Section: Marcus reveals his favorite beverage, his dream doubles partner, and why he’d choose James Corden to play him in a movie.

In this episode of The Beyond Tennis Podcast, host Johnny Delgado sits down with Greg Rusedski, former World No. 4 and US Open Finalist, to explore the unfiltered reality of life on the professional circuit.Greg provides a no-nonsense look at the extreme financial and personal sacrifices required to reach the top. The conversation dives deep into the "dark horse" mentality of succeeding outside the federation system, the challenges of transitioning from juniors to the pro tour, and why competing in the 90s required a level of grit that defined a generation.Episode

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Johnny introduces Greg Rusedski and highlights his career milestones from a 149mph serve to winning the Paris Masters.

[00:02:28] Starting in the Parks: Greg recounts his early obsession with tennis and his father’s visionary approach to his training.

[00:07:01] The Financial Reality: A raw look at mortgaging the family home and why the federation system isn't for everyone.

[00:11:36] The Haifa Turning Point: Staying in underground youth hostels during the Gulf War and the match that saved Greg's career.

[00:17:52] Changing Nationality: The truth behind representing Great Britain and dealing with the intensity of the UK media.

[00:28:44] Controversy & Resiliency: Greg discusses being cleared of doping allegations and the fight to resurrect his ranking.

[00:42:45] Quick Fire Section: Greg reveals his G.O.A.T. pick, his dream doubles partner, and which Hollywood star should play him in a movie.