Adam Jones: Inside Life as a Hitting Partner to the World’s Best

DISCLAIMER: Please note we use a transcription service, so there may be some errors in the following transcript for the episode. If you can, refer to the audio for the exact quotations.

Episode 278: Adam Jones: Inside Life as a Hitting Partner to the World’s Best

 

DISCLAIMER: Please note we use a transcription service, so there may be some errors in the following transcript for the episode. If you can, refer to the audio for the exact quotations.

 

Dan Kiernan (00:01)

Welcome to episode 278 of Control the Controllables. And today we've got someone who has become an internet sensation or more to it, an Instagram sensation over the last few months as he started talking about coffee and flat whites. Now this is a relatively young British guy called Adam Jones. Now, Adam Jones he'd actually won his first professional doubles title…

 

only a couple of weeks ago and that was in between being the hitting partner for Carlos Alcaraz, Alina Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova out in Australia and then also then did the same in Palm Springs Indian Wells. He's someone who is really trying his hand at many different things and will be coming in your algorithm for anyone that's on social media. He's fantastic tennis player. He's obviously a great hitting partner…

 

because he's got the respect of the top players in the world and he's an all-around great guy. And if you like hearing about coffee and coffee shops and flat whites, then he's also a good guy to listen to as well. been trying to get this one on for a while. He's been traveling the world, not always easy to tie people down, but I'm sure it's going to be worth the wait. I'm going to pass you over to Jonesy.

 

Dan Kiernan (01:23)

So Adam Jones, a big welcome to Control the Controlables. How you doing?

 

Adam Jones (01:28)

I'm doing good, I'm doing good. Better for seeing your face on the camera, of course.

 

Dan Kiernan (01:32)

I mean, look at this. This is, I mean, for those listening, I've had Sir Andy Murray on this podcast. We've had Iga Swiatek. We had the late great Nick Bollettieri. We've had so many people and I've spoken to so many people over the years and you are by far the hardest person to get on Jonesy. You know, like you, you are the biggest diva of the lot. So I don't know what you've got to say about that. Just as being, it's been a busy 2026.

 

Adam Jones (01:52)

Ugh. It has, it's been a busy year, sorry for the... Yeah, it's been tough. Tough to schedule. I nearly pushed this one back, I need a haircut. But I cancelled the haircut and I'm ready. I'm pumped. I'm pumped.

 

Dan Kiernan (02:11)

Yeah.

 

And we're going to jump into all sorts of stuff will be calling you Jonesy because that's what we know you. That's your brand now, you know, and that's, that's very much, I guess the starting point I want to, I want to jump into your story. want to understand a little bit more boy from Birkenhead. How does he get involved in tennis? You know, I know we've got the Skupski’s, but we're going to get there, but I'm going to start with 2026 and feels like the brand Jonesy.

 

Adam Jones (02:18)

Yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (02:36)

the flat whites and four hands, you know, has taken off and the tennis world has taken you along for that ride as well. You've been the hit and partner for many players, but in Australia, Rybakina, she won the title. Carlos Alcaraz, you know, I've seen you out there with Anisimova. So we've seen pictures of you there with Djokovic walking on the court. We've seen, it feels like you've just been absolutely in the middle, in the core, the center of everything tennis has had to offer in 2026 and tell us about that experience.

 

Adam Jones (03:09)

Yeah, mean, wow. Yeah, great. Great start to the year for Yeah, I mean, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. was, yeah, Australia was amazing. I'd only ever been once when I was a kid to Sydney and then, yeah, I'd never been to Melbourne. I've watched it, you know, watched the Oz Open since I was, you know, a kid with my mum. yeah, always loved the tournament, always wanted to try and go. Yeah, I got the opportunity to go as a hitting partner. I got asked to go by the said yes in a got out there. 

 

Dan Kiernan (03:44)

But it feels like hitting partners, they're always there, but often, you know, we don't notice the hitting partners so much. They're there, they maybe do their job, but it feels like, you know, and I mean this in a really nice possible way, you know that I think very highly of you. You've become a little bit of a celebrity hitting partner in some ways, obviously with your Instagram and, you know, your kind of fantastic personality coming out, but also…

 

it's I think rare that so many top players have taken to one person, you know, to be hitting with the winner of the women's event and the men's event. And is that because of your hitting? Are you that good of a hitter? Is that because of your personality? Is that, you know, is that because they love flat whites as well? What's been the attraction, do you think, to give those opportunities with those top players?

 

Adam Jones (04:39)

I think firstly, I think I hit a good ball. I think I hit a good ball. yeah, I think ⁓ it's a tough question, but I think number one is I hit a good ball. And I think I'm good at kind of whatever they want to do. If they want a certain ball, then I can do that. I can change my game as to who they're playing. Let's say like I've had that quite a lot. They've asked.

 

I mean, I can so many, so many different hits and sessions where, you know, they've played different players and different, you know, spins, different pace, the height of the ball, et cetera, et cetera. So I think I'm, you know, I'd say I'm pretty, pretty good at that. And then, you know, just, just being myself. And I think just kind treating them as, you know, I mean, yeah, they are my idols for sure, but also treating them as friends and just being, you know, myself and getting to know them all.

 

not just them and knowing the team as well. I think you've known me long enough to, I try and speak to everybody, no matter who it is. I try and get to know everybody on the team and I think I'd say they're all my friends now, which is really cool to say. It's been amazing, definitely.

 

Dan Kiernan (05:53)

I've seen it firsthand. I saw it firsthand with Alcaraz in Aussie Open. He could have walked away, sat with his team. He made a bit of a beeline, came over there when we were at the coffee bar to come over and have a chat with you. And it's amazing to see. I do want to ask you direct, I guess it's the coaches that are talking to you about what they want. A hidden part of the place can be quite a lonely place…

 

be quite a tough place if you this crowd watching you're feeling the pressure you know and then all of a sudden the coach comes up and says no no no I need you to hit with more spin or less spin or are they are they setting that up before the session are they saying right Jonesy obviously are they getting as they get to know you I guess it's easier but this is what I want from you today you know we're gonna play I know obviously a lot of the women want a hard flat ball they don't want that heavy spin…

 

You know, they maybe want that serve kind of darting in with a little bit of slice. You know, they don't want the heavy kick serve so much because a lot of the players. Are you being directed on that really clearly from the coaches?

 

Adam Jones (06:49)

Yeah. I think I was at the beginning, in like when I definitely more so from the coaches when I first started, you know, with all these all these top players, like they wouldn't really communicate too much with me about that. it, let's say I wasn't, you know, giving them what they wanted, then they would tell the coach who would then tell me. But he would obviously speak to me beforehand. But I think now as I've got to know them more, like, you know, they say the player says it more to me…

 

Which is good because I think it shows as a relationship building. I think the first time I ever hit with a top player was actually Djokovic, which in 2021 I think it was. It was the most nerve-racking experience of my life. was pretty... Well, I couldn't even say nervous, but yeah. 

 

Dan Kiernan (07:51)

More nerve-racking than Control the Controllables. Yeah.

 

Adam Jones (07:57)

But yeah, I mean, I was shaking. was, you know, he's been my idol forever. So yeah, that was my first experience. And it wimbled in in front of, you know, a hell of a lot of people and I didn't deal with it great. You know, first ball, Goran fed it in and I've hit it and it's hit the back fence, like completely, completely sailed back fence. I couldn't feel my arm. And yeah, like I used to, I used to get very nervous hitting with these guys and every session.

 

It got better and better and like the crowds now I learned to, I think I've learned to enjoy it instead of, you know, getting nervous and just turn it into excitement. So it's,  I've grown a lot from these experiences as well as a person and as a tennis player, for sure.

 

Dan Kiernan (08:44)

And in terms of hitting with multiple players, so I know that you hit with Anismiova a little bit, Emma Radacanu a little bit, you know, how does that work? How does guess, priority work? it, players, I guess players like to, one of the things I always think, not just the top top end, but in our sport, people like to pay to not compromise.

 

So they want to bring a physio in so they're not compromising waiting later in the day to see the ATP and WTA physios. They want to have their own of everything. How does that work? Is there ever any kind of nitty-gritty head-to-head over that stuff?

 

Adam Jones (09:24)

Yeah, I mean, it depends how it's set up. you know, for example, like in Australia, I was paid by the Australian Open and then Wimbledon, you you're paid by Wimbledon, like Queens. you know, if you work, if you're working for the tournament, let's say, then, you know, obviously, you know, players help you and they definitely, you know, they can tip you and stuff like that. And—

 

Dan Kiernan (09:37)

Okay.

 

Adam Jones (09:48)

—yeah, so it depends on the tournament and the setup, but like, let's say at Wimbledon, for example, like there was a day, it was unbelievable. I hit with  Carlos, I hit with Djokovic, I hit with Sinner, I with Amanda, I hit with Emma and Caspar Ruud and Sinner. I don't know if I said Sinner, but like it was insane and Elena. So it was just, it was insane. And that day kind of just like all, you know, all worked out pretty perfectly timing wise, but you know, there's been...

 

Dan Kiernan (10:02)

who had the graveyard shift.

 

Adam Jones (10:18)

Oh, was my last, it's crazy. My last session I was with, I was with Sinner. We played it, we played, I think we played a set, played a set with Sinner on my last, my last session. Like it was insane and I was done, like completely toast. I got, I think it was 6-1. I got absolutely smoked. Yeah, it was tough. But I think I, no, I did win a game. I held serve. So I was pretty pumped with that. But yeah, I mean, it was, it was tough after six, seven hours of playing and then, you know.

 

Dan Kiernan (10:31)

Come on, score, score.

 

Adam Jones (10:47)

Sinner and Cahill want to play a set, it's pretty brutal.

 

Dan Kiernan (10:51)

And you touched on the money bit there and I want to come around to this a little bit because I think not that I want to obsess over money, but...

 

A lad from Birkenhead, I don't know your financial background and it's not really any of my business per se, unless you want to go into it, but tennis is an expensive sport, playing you did and we can't miss out, congrats, you've won your first professional title this year as well with Toby Martin over in Naples, Florida, which is fantastic.

 

Adam Jones (11:19)

Yeah, thanks.

 

Dan Kiernan (11:23)

But even winning that title, you're not exactly filling your pockets, you know, in terms of what you're doing. You might be better off putting it all on black in Vegas where you are right now playing our futures. are you coming away with a bit of money in your pocket that you can go and put into your tennis? And without a kind of shaming and shaming, or you mentioned players tipping like these, you've played an important role with Rybakina, Alcaraz—

 

Adam Jones (11:32)

For sure.

 

Dan Kiernan (11:52)

—to go and win, they've got to win five million or whatever it is in Australia, the tip worth having in terms of like going back into your development, tennis development, or how are these players worth that?

 

Adam Jones (12:05)

Yeah, mean, it's a good question, tough question.  yeah, mean, Elena Rybakina, for example, has helped me a lot and she's been I'd say she's probably the one out of all of them that has helped me the most in that aspect, let's say.

 

Yeah, I won't go into like a mountain stuff, but yeah, she's helped me a lot. you know, for an example, like in Australia, I made a comment to her before, I think it was the quarterfinals. And I said, hey, you know, if you win this, actually, no, I said, when you win this, said, when you win this, I'd love to take a photo with you on the court with the trophy. She was like, okay, like, sure. And I was like, you know, didn't think much of that. Like, I was like, okay, like, you know, she has a lot going on. Like, let's see what, okay.

 

Dan Kiernan (12:31)

Yeah, of course.

 

Adam Jones (12:59)

Then she won the title and she remembered. And I went down on the court and she took the time in that moment to say, Adam, like, come on, let's get this photo. And yeah, it was something I'll never forget. And that memory was just, it was amazing. And she, in a moment of her success, took the time to do that for me. think it speaks volumes about her as a person. And she...

 

Yeah, she gave me a signed racket as well from the tournament, was special. I've watched that tournament, especially the final with my mum. We'd wake up in the morning, early doors, and we'd watch the final. And yeah, I'm getting goosebumps now, like that memory of watching it with my mum, seeing it on the TV, and then I'm on Rod Laver with her, with the trophy, with her team celebrating. was special. She didn't have to do that. And I'm very thankful for that, for sure.

 

Dan Kiernan (13:54)

I'm pleased that we're already seeing emotional Jonesy a little bit that's one thing The only the only thing I knew about you was that quite a few years ago You used to come to Marbella a little bit. Did you have a house or your family had a house near my bear and

 

Adam Jones (14:12)

We went, no, I wish, we went on holiday a lot down there and it was, yeah, it was amazing.

 

Dan Kiernan (14:15)

 okay. And so all of the players from SotoTennis Academy used to say to me, we're going to stay with Adam Jones this weekend. I'm bloody sure who you are. And they'd come back with these wristbands and I was like, flipper, I'll tell you what. And I'll be completely honest with you. When I first started picking up stuff, I almost, I thought you were a bit of a clown.

 

Adam Jones (14:23)

yeah yeah. Thanks.Mm-hmm. Okay. Okay.

 

Dan Kiernan (14:41)

you know, little bit, you know, it was a bit clowny and I remember like Liam Broady then was hanging out with you a lot and I remember things because I've spent a lot of time with Broady, I wonder why Broady's is spending a lot of time, like you make these, not that it was a strong judgment, but there's, but then as I've got to know you over the last year or two, a great personality in there, but there's also a very sensitive emotional soul in there, you know, and like, you know, and like, and you've talked a—

 

Adam Jones (15:05)

Yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (15:08)

—there already about the goosebumps, the moments, linking things back, living the dream. I know you have tattooed on your arm. It's something that is clearly very emotive, something clearly is very strong. So take me back to that time. You've referenced your mom. I know that your grandfather was a special person in your life as well, who you've sadly lost over the last year or two.

 

Adam Jones (15:16)

Yeah, yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (15:33)

You and you reference him as well on your social media. And I think you tell your story. And I think a part of what I connect to, but I think a lot of people connect to with you is that authentic way. And it's, yes, you can have your clowny moments and fun moments, and that's great. And I think you do it in a very good way, but you've also got this sensitive emotional side. where, I always ask the guests, where did that start, that passion, that emotion, that thing with tennis? Take me back to Birkenhead all of those years ago.

 

Adam Jones (15:33)

Yeah. Well, think I mean firstly I think I'm very very very close to my to my family and you know like you said I was I was very close with my we had with my granddad and yeah, I grew up in Birkenhead and yeah I started playing when I was when I was three at Trenton Tennis Club on the Wirral and you know, I was pretty bad at every other sport, but I just for some reason loved…

 

I love the game and I love everything about it. And yeah, I was pretty good as a kid. And then, yeah, I started at printing and then, you know, playing all the little events, you know, on the world and in Cheshire and, you know, stuff like that. And as I was getting older, just, you know, continued with that. then, then I went to Wrexham Tennis Center when I was, I think I was 12. I went there.

 

Dan Kiernan (16:55)

Okay.

 

Adam Jones (16:55)

So I started at Printin and then Bidston and then I went to Wrexham and then yeah, lot of issues at Wrexham that I'm sure you know about and then...

 

Dan Kiernan (17:04)

Yeah, so you were there during that period? Okay.

 

Adam Jones (17:08)

I was, I was, I was. Was, yeah, was a very, yeah, it was interesting. A lot going on. And then, yeah, I left there when I was 17 and then I moved to Bath. And then I was, yeah, I was there  from probably 17 to 22. And then, yeah, doing my own thing. you know, I got my first ATP point when I was, I think I was 18 or nearly just turned 19 maybe.

 

Dan Kiernan (17:13)

Yep. Yep.

 

Adam Jones (17:37)

First singles point and I've been doing my own thing since I was probably 22, 23. Yeah, I mean, like you said, like the finances, it's absolutely brutal. You know, it really is brutal. my dad worked two jobs when I was a kid to get me out on the court and my mom as well. Like everything we had went to tennis and over weekend I was playing at Sutton…

 

driving down to Sutton or getting the train down to Sutton to play these matches to get your rating up. And I was battling a lot in them. yeah, mean, my mom and dad put everything into the sport. with my granddad as well, like when they were working, my granddad took me to a lot of tournaments and made a of special memories with him. And we'd take the bus to the local tournaments and we'd...

 

you know, just spend the day with my granddad and, you know, I spent so much time with him and yeah, just I think the journey for me is very family orientated and yeah, just very grateful because without them, you know, I wouldn't be playing the sport and I wouldn't be in Vegas overlooking this mountain right now. you know, I've done a lot of cool things for sure. And, you know, I think…

 

people always say to me, you're very lucky, even this year you're very lucky, but I believe you create your own luck and I think it's all down to you and in here. I think I've been raised in a way that I'm very kind to everybody and I think that pays a lot. You give what you get, you get what you give and…

 

this journey for me, I've had so many ups and downs and a lot of crazy things have happened to me. A lot of unlucky things have happened to me. But I think, you know, if you, I move on pretty quick, like I kind of laugh, like I could have a great story at Wimbledon and I chopped off the top of my finger. I don't know if you knew that, but yeah, like it's a crazy story. And, but yeah, like I will, I will definitely tell you, but I mean, like, so for example, like—

 

Dan Kiernan (19:48)

You need to tell us now.

 

Adam Jones (19:53)

—I'm hitting Wimbledon 2022 and we're in the second week and I'm practicing a lot with Djokovic and I'm at the pub. I'm at the, not the Dog and Fox, the other one, the Rose and Crown. And yeah, okay, okay. So I'm at the Rose and Crown. yeah, unbelievable. So yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (20:07)

I wouldn't know Jonesy, I wouldn't know about the pubs and women. I actually met my wife in the Dog and Fox, so maybe that's not true. 

 

Adam Jones (20:17)

Well, I'm at that pub and I'm not drinking. I'm on the soda water and I'm hitting with Djokovic at like 11am the next morning. yeah, it gets to like 10 o'clock and I was with Sean Hodkin and a few other people and I was like, you know, let's go. And they were like, oh, you know, a couple more minutes. was like, OK. So there's a deck chair. I went to sit on a deck chair. And as you put your hand out and yeah, as it keeps your weight.

 

the deck chairs collapsed and sliced off the top of this finger. And I mean, it's pretty deformed, but somehow it grew back. It's pretty nuts. So yeah, I mean, I had to obviously cancel on Djokovic, which is pretty nuts. Yeah. Yeah. And some slice, maybe some chiseling, but, yeah, like that is a crazy story. But I think for me as a, you know, those things have happened to me a lot of other

 

Dan Kiernan (21:01)

You can still do four hands without a left index finger.

 

Wow.

 

Adam Jones (21:15)

Stupid accidents have happened, but I think if you feel sorry for yourself or dwell on that stuff, it's... Yeah, so I try and move on as quick as I can and just get back to it. yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (21:26)

So I asked you earlier, Jonesy, do you think people are hitting with you because of your tennis or because of your personality and because of your way? I'm telling you right now, I know you've got a great forehand cross, or so you keep telling us all on you're obviously a very good tennis player, but all due respect, there's hundreds that are. I think what you've got is something quite unique in how you connect with people, right?

 

Adam Jones (21:38)

Ha!

 

Dan Kiernan (21:50)

And that authentic way that you're able to do that is, and it's such a massive lesson for anybody out there, you know, because there's obviously some industries where it's just truly about the skill. And, you know, it might be something that someone locks themselves away and it's just dealing with computers or technology and they don't need to speak to anyone. But the reality is 95 % of this world is about connecting with people.

 

Adam Jones (22:07)

Mm-hmm.

 

Yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (22:20)

You know, and if you have the ability to connect with people well and you've got good values and you've been brought up and it feels like to me, I've got that inkling from you that you're playing or you're living this journey to a higher power know, with the family and, you know, those things that bring the passion, the love, the hunger, the drive, then I think the world becomes your oyster. And that's what...

 

Adam Jones (22:35)

For sure. 

 

Dan Kiernan (22:48)

That's what I connect with with your story and it's why, and I've told you many times, I believe you have, that there's no ceiling for you, know, in what you go and do because I think you've got quite a unique way of doing that.

 

Adam Jones (23:02)

Yeah, no, thanks. Yeah. Yeah, I think as well like well, thanks and you know I think as well like with everyone as well like the the journey of of tennis and life I think is so You know it correlates so well with each other and I think that's why you know it shapes you as a person like tennis like you know, I The struggles the ups and downs the you know, the loneliness as well in there, you know, it's it's even

 

We've had a great chat about my relationships, my love relationships. it's not easy, And you gave me some great advice and  just the journey of tennis and life, especially in the futures. I remember I was 21, I think I was 21, and I was camping in a two-man tent with Llewellyn Bevan and Ewan Lumsden.

 

We couldn't afford the hotel. had no money. we were in, where were we? We were in Sintra and we stayed one night in the official hotel. So we had the key card and I did what I'm good at and I was talking to all the people in the restaurant and the lobby and stuff like that and the workers and they obviously thought they knew our name off by heart and they thought we'd be staying there for the whole two weeks. But little did they know we were actually…

 

pitched the tent on the opposite golf course to the hotel. And we were using the key card to get into the gym in the mornings to shower. We would hustle the brekkie. They thought we were staying there. And then we'd go about our day playing the matches. And then we'd come back and pitch the tent back up out of the bag we put it in. We'd get waken up in the morning by the sprinklers and the people teeing off. But I think stories like that is why.

 

I'm so happy, you know, even getting emotional, but yeah, just with my journey and stepping onto Rod Laver with these guys and then, you know, it's crazy to me. It really is crazy. So how you go from, you know, that to that is pretty, pretty special. Granted, I'm not, you know, I wish it was me playing there, but I'm loving it. You know, I'm, wish I was playing the matches, but...

 

I'm loving what I'm doing and I'm loving what I'm doing with these players and just being around that. I'm there. It doesn't maybe matter so much that I'm not playing but I'm part of it and I'm helping these people and these teams and the players and getting to know people and I'm loving it. So yeah, it's been a journey for sure.

 

Dan Kiernan (25:47)

Hold that thought, I can't let you go without referencing Dear Dan. know, like there's Dear Dan, people listening now thinking that I'm all of a sudden the person to go to for love advice. I'm not, guys. I can assure you that. Not anytime, anytime soon are we starting a Dear Dan column. You know, I'll only do it if I get, if I get a hundred Dear Dan's, then maybe we'll start, we'll start an open column and it's anonymous. But.

 

Adam Jones (25:58)

Yeah.Hey! Yeah, yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (26:15)

Other than that, can assure you I'm not the one to go for it for on that. What I want to move to on that is, and it's a word that fascinates me, Jonesy, actually. It's the word success.

 

Adam Jones (26:28)

Mm-hmm.

 

Dan Kiernan (26:29)

Because I think success, almost brought up the thing that this success is a very linear word. And it's like, win success, lose failure. You know, it's almost, it's too, it's, you know, and like for me, as an example, like experiences and memories is massive. Like that's something that I was very fortunate with my granddad that taught me that, you know, he used to, he used to talk about how he was the richest man in Catchgate. And I'd be like, what's this?

 

Adam Jones (26:40)

Mm-hmm.

 

Dan Kiernan (26:56)

Guy on about he's like living in a shed you know but he's like but it was look at all these people I have around me and look at these memories I've gotten experiences you know all of these things and that's that's something that stuck with me how would you measure success what what what does and has that evolved you know you're not an old man but you you've got a little bit more age on you you'll be 28 relatively soon you know how how has the word success been defined for yourself and how has that evolved over the years?

 

Adam Jones (27:32)

It's funny you say that. I actually had this conversation, I was explaining a story to someone the other day about the word success. was pretty funny you asked that. And it was during COVID 2020 and I won't name the coach, but a British coach was like slating my friend, Jack Gibbons, a very good friend of mine. And he was like saying, oh, he's not successful. He's not successful. Like he's only—

 

Dan Kiernan (27:41)

Okay, great.

 

Adam Jones (28:01)

—got a few points, 80 p points, whatever. He had like five or six at the time, which is still a hell of an effort. you he kept going, yeah, he's a male model. mean, guy six threes, beautiful girlfriend. mean, life's good, but you know, and a great guy, you know, and this coach was going on about like, that's not successful, that's not successful. I turned around and Jack wasn't there at the time and said, you know what, you're slating my friend who—

 

Dan Kiernan (28:09)

And he's a male model, isn't he?

 

Adam Jones (28:29)

—He is successful, like in the world of tennis, say, like, okay, like, you know, everyone uses that top hundred thing, the ranking, right? But like, I think success is what you deem as successful for yourself. Like if that's one point, that's, you know, whatever it is, like I think the word success is, you know, it's down to you and your heart and whatever you deem as successful and that's success. Like for me, I...

 

I think I put a lot of pressure on myself being successful how many ATP points I could get or whatever that was. I think I used to see it as a failure for sure when I was younger. I put so much pressure on myself to win instead of enjoying the process of playing these matches. If I lost, I wasn't successful. I think I got, I was good. was like a thousand. I was beating guys…

 

ranked three, four, 500. And I don't know, I always wondered to myself, why, why am I a thousand and why can I beat guys three, four, 500, but I'm a thousand. Like, and I, you know, I put a lot of pressure on myself and, you know, there was for sure moments where know, I was down on myself and I wouldn't call it depressed, but I would, I was definitely in a hole and I was down because I was just, I was stuck at a thousand and I had this number in my head of…

 

you know, what I deemed as a success. And so that took me a while to kind of, you know, process it for sure. And it was, think as I've got older, it's got a lot, my mindset about that has changed and like, you know, doing all of this, the hitting and the, you know, these big events, like I'm, I think I'm successful in my own right. You know, I think, I don't think anyone, how do I say that? I don't think anyone could do what I'm doing or have done, let's say.

 

It's not easy, right? For sure. So I think I've got to give a bit of credit to myself. And like I said, just everyone's successful in their own right and what they believe in. Yeah, I think that's changed over time for me for sure. So yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (30:41)

And how does that look over the next few years for you in terms of how you measure the success of this next period?

 

Adam Jones (30:49)

Well, for me, my goals are I'm done with singles now. I'm done. I just think my body is struggling and I'm not enjoying playing singles as much as I used to, to be honest with you. So I'm just going to play doubles and do a lot of the hitting work because it's also great training for me. It's in front of the crowds, in front of…

 

You know, and I also ask a lot of questions. think people don't ask enough questions. you know, I asked Carlos a lot of questions and, you know,  Dennis or, you know, Elena or Amanda, like I ask questions. It doesn't matter. Obviously, I'm a male tennis player, but I asked the females the exact same questions as I asked the males. And, you know, it's all so relevant. And to me, like I learn a lot from these players. More like, maybe not so much…

 

I don't really ask them tennis questions. I actually probably should ask more, but I ask a lot of mental questions. mentally, why did you choose to do that shot or whatever it is on the big moment. for me, that's a big one. yeah, the success side of things. Yeah, I definitely wanted to do the hitting stuff and I'd love to get involved in a team. I'd love to get involved working with one player rather than five or six.

 

Granted they're all the best players in the world, but I feel like I'm in five or six teams, which is great. It's really cool and it's unique because I don't think anyone's doing that. So it's interesting. But then you've got to prioritise some players at different times. Like at Indian Wells, I was hitting with Elena, Amanda and Carlos, those pretty big three names.

 

It was tough, the times and fitting them into the schedule, is ridiculous to say, but the times of when they're hitting, it's definitely not easy because you're trying to please everybody and trying to do a good job. So for my ideal success, I'd like to be involved with player eventually.

 

Dan Kiernan (33:07)

Are you listening? Are you listening, players, coaches? Tie him down. Tie the man down. Geez. mean, it's like, come on. It's a no-brainer, you know, with what you're doing. In terms of learning, and I'd love for you to share some insights on what you've learned from what they've said when you've asked the questions, but what have you learned from what you've seen and what you've felt and...

 

Adam Jones (33:10)

No. Yeah, yeah. yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (33:35)

If you almost kind of tie that into speaking to let's say 16 year old Jonesy or 14 year old Jonesy, you know, what are the big messages or the big actions that you've taken from the last couple of years that you would teach yourself or another junior player?

 

Adam Jones (33:55)

I think probably the biggest thing for me, like when I was, you know, 14 to 16 to 18 is just, it's the little things and the little details that they do and, you know, how they operate at the highest level. And I think when I was 14, you know, 16, 18, I wish I could have done that a little bit better, detail matters and...

 

just kind of holding yourself accountable. And I think when I was that age, I didn't take full accountability of what I could control. And I think, I worked hard, don't get me wrong, but it was the little things that I could have done better in the gym, just more time in the gym and eating better and the sleep and I mean, there's so many things, right? But like when I'm seeing them…

 

how they operate, how they are as people and their routine. They have a routine every day. I don't think I had a routine. Every day was a bit scattered and not as professional as it could have been looking back. yeah, every day they have a routine and consistency. I think for me and probably a lot of juniors, they're not as consistent.

 

As these guys, like they'll work really hard and do everything right for four or five days and then they'll have two days, not off, but they won't do the same or, and then they lose two days. But I think these guys, like it's, it's every day. It's so consistent and it's, you know, it's like, it's like math and science. I don't know. Like it's just, it's amazing to see. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, yeah, that's obviously they have resources that, you know, I'd ever had or—

 

Dan Kiernan (35:30)

But it's not because of the teams around them as well.

 

Adam Jones (35:39)

—other people don't have like they have a team of four, five, six people, obviously telling them what to do, holding them accountable. that's for sure a big advantage that they have and at Futures and the Juniors, most people can't do that. it's tough. It's really tough. I think it's, so that's a tough question to maybe compare the two, but like as my own experience, just seeing…

 

how these guys are now. Like I wish I did, you know, similar things when I was a bit younger, let's say.

 

Dan Kiernan (36:15)

How many people are in Carlos's team?

 

Adam Jones (36:17)

Luck. Say like but Grand Slams close to like 10.

 

Dan Kiernan (36:23)

And who are they all?

 

Adam Jones (36:25)

Fitness, physio, doctor, coach. Well, obviously there was two coaches and then his brother, who's an absolute legend, Aaron. And yeah, his agent,  there's tons. There's absolutely tons. they, will, most of the time, mean, grandsons are all there, think.  yeah, yeah, yeah, all there, yeah, all there. So it's...

 

Dan Kiernan (36:42)

Are they all there all the time on the court?

 

But on the court when you're hitting with him are they always?

 

Adam Jones (36:54)

Yeah, think that's also like a huge advantage for him, of course. It's unbelievable. It's like a moving business. it's spectacular to see. But then also, I ask the whole team questions as well my game as well. Samuel Lopez, he helped me a lot with my backhand in Australia.

 

Dan Kiernan (37:15)

Come on, what did he tell you?

 

Adam Jones (37:16)

I was telling him, well, just, just, basically was leaning off the ball like a lot and I was like, like the ball's like flying. And you know, he took the time and he said, okay, like just, he stopped the session a second. He was like, okay, like I want you to move through the ball and you know, almost feel like you're coming to the net. And I was like, okay. So I kept doing it, kept doing it. And, it helped a lot. And I think that speaks volumes about his team as well. Like the fact that they stopped the session and give me advice and try and help me as…

 

It's amazing as he's preparing for a Grand Slam. It's spectacular to see and be involved in that. Also, Juan Carlos Wimbledon in 2023, we were doing a drill and I had to slice cross or something like that, let's say. then Carlos would go line and he stopped the drill and he fed me like 10 slices and was like, no, no, do this for your slice. Not even for the, obviously it helped the drill, but to help me.

 

Things like that. And his fitness coach last week helping me with my elbow, things like that. They don't have to do that. it's great to see. He's one in the world and he's an unbelievable guy. Truly nice guy.

 

Dan Kiernan (38:22)

No, it's lovely. Yeah, tell us about Carlos because we all love him, right? We all obviously we don't have the insight that you will have, but I think we all see the joy. We all see the just the personality, the coolness that he just he just uses class uses everything. What was he really like?

 

Adam Jones (38:48)

Yeah, just, mean, to put it quite simply, I think he's just a nice, normal guy. Like he, who happens to be ridiculous at tennis and you know, he's like you said, so classy, so kind, so, just so caring. And like even in our practices, like don't get me wrong, I'm locked in, like I'm, you know, I have, we have fun and we, you know, we joke, but you know, I'm locked in and I'm trying to do a good job for him and make him feel good on the court and stuff and you know.

 

Even if I miss, it's fine. He laughs or whatever, he's not bothered. Whereas some players if I miss, yeah, yeah, it's a problem. yeah, mean, during the, this story is pretty awesome. So the Wimbledon final before playing Sinner last year, I warmed him up outside court. Another insane memory for me. It's absolutely beyond belief. And it was so special before a final.

 

And we finish, it was a great session. And he gives me a hug, says thanks. And then I point out my parents. I'm like, my mom and dad are over there. They love that. And without hesitation, he went straight over to them, shook their hand, gave them a hug, took a photo with them and me before the Wimbledon, the final. Are you kidding me? That's unheard of. It's amazing. And just that for me…

 

people always ask me, know, is he a nice guy? And I say that story. I mean, it's pretty, pretty awesome. And it's great, great to hear, cause I don't think a lot of people, you know, I like. 

 

Dan Kiernan (40:23)

When you see him in that environment, and when you see these players, also, Rybakina, are they the same? Is a final the same for them? Or do you feel a little different on that final day?

 

Adam Jones (40:37)

Good question. feel at the start of the warm ups, I do feel a little bit more tension, let's say. There's obviously a lot on the line and I think like an angry tension, but like the nerves. I think at the start of the warm ups and you know how they are before the warm up and how they are with you, there's a bit more nervous tension, let's say. But then once you're five, 10 minutes in, you know, they relax and it's all kind of back to normal. And yeah, just...

 

Yeah, but it's special before those finals for sure. Yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (41:10)

Because I always tell the story that I think it was, I can't remember the exact year, maybe 22. Ons Jabeur played Vondrousova  in the final, was that 23 maybe? And she, Ons, chose to hit on center court before the final when Vondrousova hit on the… 

 

Adam Jones (41:20)

Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I remember that.

 

Dan Kiernan (41:35)

Southlands court that she's been hitting on every day and just completely normalised the day. And Ons actually turned up on centre court, I don't know if you remember this, but she turned up wearing black and they said you can't hit until you, so she then had to go and change and the whole, you talk about routines, right, and all of a sudden her whole routine was different.

 

Adam Jones (41:47)

Yes, do remember that.

 

Mm-hmm.

 

Dan Kiernan (41:59)

And I think we all saw on that day that Ons, the nerves were too much. Granted, she was playing for the whole Middle East. know, so obviously a very, a lot of pressure on her. Vondrousova was just the rest of Czech always win. People from Czech always win. But just the importance of those small details and those routines of keeping you in. I always think it's interesting to see how they are in that sort of environment.

 

Adam Jones (42:29)

I agree. Yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure. And it's, you know, it's interesting to observe for me as well, like, like, what courts do they hit on before the big matches, before the quarterfinals or like, what kind of changes and each player is a little bit different, you know.  I remember Elena, we, we practiced on Rod Laver before the final and Aryna, she didn't. And I think Elena got off to a much better start…

 

than Aryna. So I don't know, I think those details are very interesting. And I think it definitely helped her that we hit on Rod Reaver before the match. So it's interesting to see what all these players do or if they change it or where they hit and the times as well. I find the time super interesting. Like you compare it to like, you know, the futures or something like usually. I mean, yeah, it's obviously so different. So it's tough to compare, but like…

 

You can't get courts, you can't book an hour, you can't book early doors or whatever. So it's like you're practicing an hour or something or two hours before your match. then it's just, it's a big difference. So like Carlos at Indian Wells, he's like playing it, say not before six, like we hit one till two. And then there's been a couple of occasions where I've hit with Elena in the morning and then again in the afternoon if she's playing a night match.

 

Dan Kiernan (43:50)

Okay.

 

Adam Jones (43:54)

everybody's different and it's really interesting for me to see all these different habits and their routines.

 

Dan Kiernan (44:01)

I don't know if you hit with him the day, he actually, who did he play in Indian Wells and he lost the first set 7-6, but then he won in three. think, the girls were playing at the same time or whatever it was, we were in the warm up area at the same time. And I think it was Iga was playing on the court before.

 

Adam Jones (44:12)

I did hit with him. Rindin' it.

 

Dan Kiernan (44:29)

And as we left to either go and practice or go to our match, Alcaraz has been in the warm up area for about six minutes. he was in his match kit. So I was like, okay, he's in early. I thought in my head, was playing at 7 p.m.

 

Adam Jones (44:39)

Mm-hmm.

 

Dan Kiernan (44:50)

And it was about, let's say, 10 to six when he was there.

 

He was in his match kit, but he looked and he was looking around and all of his team was there, but the fitness coach. And he pulled out a mat, but he looked a bit stressed and he started stretching. But he was like shouting at his team, basically where the hell is my Spanish isn't great, but I understood enough where the hell's the fitness coach. And then the fitness coach came in two or three minutes later, bright red.

 

had like all the equipment in the kit and Alcaraz has had a proper go at him. And then the fitness coach started stretching him. then literally four minutes later he was called. So I don't know what happened for the match. I don't know whether they got, how they got their timings wrong. It was obviously tennis is unique sport. You followed by and we went and played our match or our practice, whatever it was.

 

Adam Jones (45:29)

Yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (45:43)

And I was at a Wonderhow and I was like, oh, we lost the first set. And I was like, and it just goes to show like even in our sport, all of those, the team of 10, you can still get caught short because, Iga had won two and one in let's say like 57 minutes or whatever it is. And obviously the Iga match could be three and a half hours. So that whole kind of preparation Yeah, really interesting to see.

 

Adam Jones (45:53)

Mm-hmm.

 

Yeah, yeah, 100%.

 

Dan Kiernan (46:12)

And understand how different everybody is.

 

 Tell me, and you don't have to give me a name, but your hardest ever hit and why.

 

Adam Jones (46:21)

So I've got this one. I won't say the name because I actually got in trouble at Wimbledon. Someone asked, I did an interview with somebody at Wimbledon and got asked this question and I said the name and anyway, I got in a bit of trouble from Wimbledon. So that was an interesting one. But she is an American tennis player and it was at Wimbledon and I remember, yeah, I remember going down.

 

to the practice court at Aorangi and another player who I was hitting with, I won't name the name, but I walked past him and he said, oh, good luck. And I was like, what do you mean? He's like, good luck. And I was like, okay. So yeah, didn't think much of it. And then yeah, we start hitting and all my hits, every session I've ever done in my life, you start slow, you build up a rhythm and a groove and...

 

Yeah, this woman didn't start like that. She absolutely nuked the ball. And I'm like, you know, I'm just massaging it around at the start. She starts swearing at me, hit the, hit the effing ball. yeah, hit the effing ball, man. I thought I'd just put it away because I, no, I said American. That was my American accent. And yeah, so she's swearing at me. She's going nuts. And then I'm like, okay, so I start nuking the forehand and she can't control that pace on Aorangi grass.

 

Right at the back. Yeah, who can? Exactly, exactly. So she's then shanking the ball left, right and center and it's just going atrocious and we're probably six minutes in, she's throwing a racket, hitting the ball everywhere. So then I walk up and I said, just hit with your coach. And I walked off the court and yeah, she was vile actually. Probably one of the worst humans I've come across in that interaction. It was atrocious.

 

Dan Kiernan (47:45)

Who can? Who can?

 

Did you?

 

Wow, well done. Are you supported by the Wimbledon Hitting Partner organizers in that?

 

Adam Jones (48:21)

Yeah, mean, Peter Finn is the head of the practice and he's amazing and I explained the situation to him and he's always got our back and he looked into it and decided that the coach then came up and apologized to me. She never, ever spoke of it again, but the coach came up and apologized and I said, okay, but I'll never hit with her again and I never have hit with her again.

 

Dan Kiernan (48:23)

Yeah. And of any of the players that you've hit with played her in any tournaments when you've been there?

 

Adam Jones (48:52)

No, I don't think so. I don't think so. I try and avoid this person.  Yeah, she was not very nice. yeah. But I've told that story to a lot of people, so I don't think it'll be tough to find that out. 

 

Dan Kiernan (49:02)

I've got a few names in my head. 

 

Yeah, exactly. And I have to ask you about one. It was actually. It was the coach of Luisa Stefani, who plays with Gaby Dabrowski, a great guy, and he loves Novak and he he was showing me a video the other day. We were actually looking to see if Novak was hitting with Tom, obviously Tom Linley from SotoTennis Academy, who you know well, and he wasn't, but.

 

Adam Jones (49:34)

Great guy.

 

Dan Kiernan (49:38)

He said that he was watching and you got moved to the side of the hit. And on the video he showed me Novak's hitting with this guy and you're stood there at the side and not hitting for Wimbledon. Tell me this story. What happened, Jonesy? What happened? This was last year.

 

Adam Jones (49:53)

Was that at Wimbledon? No, I think, I think,  well, well, well, was that with Sean Hodkin? Was it that? Because, no, there was also.

 

Dan Kiernan (50:03)

Maybe, On the court on the side, the court on the side.

 

Adam Jones (50:09)

I don't think there's much of a story to that. I remember me and Sean were doing a session and I was pretty good, I think. And maybe not hitting the correct ball that he wanted. I think that he asked me to stop for a sec. And Sean was...

 

Dan Kiernan (50:31)

So how does that, how do you feel when the greatest of all time has moved you to the side?

 

Adam Jones (50:37)

It's not great, it doesn't make you feel brilliant, it's a great story and it's a great memory, right? But then I was subbed back in and I think it went well, but I remember Djokovic warmed up with David Quayle and Caleb Sims at Wimbledon. And I'm sorry to those two, but they were absolutely diabolical and they were so tight.

 

They couldn't make a ball and these two are my good friends. I'm sure they won't mind me saying that, but they were horrendous. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I'll move on to this one. But and he was snapping, absolutely snapping. And it was, you know, I wouldn't say I was laughing, but I was it was was a it was a funny moment for me to sit there with a coffee and watch that unfold. So, yeah, it was an interesting one.

 

Dan Kiernan (51:08)

Well, well deflected from your store.

 

My last question on hitting partner stuff, it's obviously, I think it's a fascinating subject, right? And I'm sure you get asked a lot of questions on it because people are very interested, this is my curiosity. Do you find that the majority of players are doing the same thing? So during the tournament where it's kind of quite run of the mill, warm up, cross-courts.

 

How much of it is that kind of general tennis practice and how much of it is specifics to a game style patterns?

 

Adam Jones (52:04)

Yeah, good question.

 

Dan Kiernan (52:06)

the way to serve, return come into that as well.

 

Adam Jones (52:09)

I would say before the tournament, before the first match, a lot of it is patterns and drills set up in pattern play. Would say the coach would feed, Carlos, a short ball, he'd approach my backhand, I'd attempt to pass him and we'd play the point out, let's Running forehand and you go cross and you play…

 

point play scenario, but with certain shots in mind. I would say there's a lot of that, a lot of two cross one line. I don't necessarily play a lot of points with serves, like sets with them. 

 

Like, you know, I mentioned Sinner earlier, I don't really know why that happened, but we did hit a lot. Yeah, exactly. A lot of it is, you know, with me, just that sort of stuff. And then once the, you know, once the tournament kicks off, then it's just match warmups mostly and then like

 

Dan Kiernan (52:52)

They'll often do that together, won't they?

 

Adam Jones (53:05)

You know, a day in between, like at the slams, we'll do, you know, a full match warm up and then we'll do a few, you know, point play scenarios. Maybe the day before, something didn't go as well. So we'll practice that and then finish with some feeds.

 

 And it's, it's a lot easier, I think, when the tournament starts for me anyway,  you know, before the tournament, like it's, it's tough, like it's, you know, running a lot. It's, it's not, it's actual training, you know, but then when the tournament starts, it's just—

 

Dan Kiernan (53:30)

Yep.

 

Adam Jones (53:33)

—about rhythm mostly and feeling good and then getting out there, you know.

 

Dan Kiernan (53:38)

And you mentioned earlier it's helped you and I'm sure it in lots of ways, but you think it's also hindered you, the fact that you're having to change how you hit the ball, you're having to be a bit of the bitch boy playing the way they want you to play, you're not playing the way you want to play, you're not developing your strengths, you're not identity. Has there been a hindrance as well?

 

Adam Jones (54:02)

Yeah, there's definitely pros and cons for sure. know, like you said, it's, you know, I'm there for them at the end of the day. So, you know, but I think most of these sessions, like, apart from the crazy, the crazy woman I hit with, like most of these sessions are, you know, I'm free to kind of hit the ball how I want, like, okay, sometimes they'll say, you know, hit a little bit different, but nothing, nothing crazy. Like with Elena, I'm absolutely…

 

tubing the ball, like I'm hitting exactly the same and we hit great together and you know, it's for an example with her, I just played the same. ⁓ But yeah, there's pros and cons to this definitely, but I think there's more pros than cons, you know, with the crowds, the people that I've met, the experience and like, know, none of my friends have really done this to this extent and yeah, I think it's...

 

For me it's awesome, if I'm hitting with the best players in the world on the biggest stages, I'd rather do that than grind 40 weeks in Tunisian jungles. So it's trying to find a balance.

 

Dan Kiernan (55:10)

Yeah. And you're playing tomorrow in Vegas in the futures. How does Elena's serve match up to a male serve on the futures, too?

 

Adam Jones (55:17)

Mm-hmm.

 

Her serve is unbelievable. She's so good at tennis. It's pretty insane actually. When I'm hitting with her, it's pretty scary. The pace, the accuracy, the tempo, the way she hits the ball, her movement, everything is pretty similar.

 

Dan Kiernan (55:44)

If she played on the men's too, what would her ranking be?

 

Adam Jones (55:46)

To tough, I don't know, I plead the fifth, I don't know actually.

 

Dan Kiernan (55:52)

Well, come on, you gotta answer this and just remember, Dan Evans is listening.

 

Adam Jones (55:56)

Ha ha ha, Don Evans. I did a

 

stint with him as well, unbelievable guy. I don't, honestly I don't know. I can't say, I don't know. I can't say, I can't, I can't, don't know.

 

Dan Kiernan (56:05)

Come on, Jonesy. Don't you be chucking these bloody coffee ratings out left, and center and then not, and I asked you about your area of expertise in tennis and you're not giving me an answer.

 

Adam Jones (56:18)

I would say, I would say to something? Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I think she'd have a two, yeah. She's very, very good. I mean, yeah, it's a tough question. I'm gonna say a two, but Dan Evans is, he loves this sort of chat, I...

 

Dan Kiernan (56:22)

Would you? You think she'd have a two? She is very, very good.

 

I just. What would Dan give? What would Dan give her?

 

Adam Jones (56:41)

We'll have to ask him. I'd like to hear Dan's opinion, but mine I'm saying that too.

 

Dan Kiernan (56:47)

I think I'd be more five.

 

Adam Jones (56:51)

It's an interesting question.

 

Dan Kiernan (56:53)

I think it is but coffee now I'm maybe not the best person to talk about coffee because I hate coffee I . I hate coffee sweets with the quality streets we know that coffee was always left in my family and you'd get get a chocolate on like Box and day and you'd be like there's one left but it'd be a bloody coffee one you know like…

 

The only way I can drink coffee and it's not good for my physical shape is by basically chucking in a bunch of caramel to take the taste of coffee away. So I'm not a great coffee person, but that's kind of how you've got us all addicted to you. And that's kind of how you've got the algorithm going, this love of coffee. So when did the love of coffee start? us your coffee story.

 

Adam Jones (57:40)

I think my coffee story, I'm 27, I think I started drinking a lot of coffee when I was like 21, 22 and just with the traveling and I love meeting people. Yeah, relatively recent for sure. And like I love meeting people and experiences and talking to people. I found going to coffee shops was quite an interesting way to get to know people the baristas and just kind of a coffee experience.

 

Dan Kiernan (57:53)

or relatively recent.

 

Adam Jones (58:10)

A lot of tennis players love coffee. lot of the Brits, Dan Evans, I've traveled with him a bit and he loves the coffee. Skupskis love it. mean, a lot of tennis players, yeah, they love it. So I think, yeah, and I was like, I'm spending a lot of money on coffee and I'm not really getting anything in return, but I'm getting a great experience. So was like, I might as well have a laugh with it. these videos kind of started off as a joke and then...

 

Dan Kiernan (58:19)

Everyone, nearly all of them.

 

Adam Jones (58:36)

I got a lot of views and lot of more followers and I was like, maybe I'm onto something. yeah, a flat white, forehands and flat whites. But it's kind of interesting even in Australia or Indian Wells, bloody good players, they don't follow me on Instagram, but they watch my videos and they say about the last video or... Well, in Indian Wells, Sinner and his team were saying that...

 

Dan Kiernan (58:59)

Go on, tell us who's come up to you.

 

City duty.

 

Adam Jones (59:06)

that they're loving the videos and you know, yeah, they love it. So it's interesting, you know, and they don't follow me on Instagram, so it must be popping up every now and again. So it's good. mean, yeah, it's been and I just have a laugh with it. I think these videos are like I'm just myself. I'm not trying to be anything that I'm not. I have a laugh and.

 

Dan Kiernan (59:27)

Give us the start, give us the start. What do you say at the start?

 

Adam Jones (59:30)

I say, guys, it's Jonesy here. yeah, that kind of just, and every day, like even today in the tournament, everyone's shouting Jonesy here. So yeah, it's funny. And I've had quite a few people who I don't even know. I wouldn't call them fans, but ask for photos at Indian Wells or whatever, and I'm like, whoa, it's kind of cool. So yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (59:33)

That's it. Really?

 

How do you monetize this?

 

Adam Jones (1:00:01)

Well, next year I'm going to be opening my first coffee shop in London. yeah, stay, you got to, yeah, yeah, yeah. Got to stay tuned for that. So yeah, that'll be pretty, pretty cool. So let's see. It's called forehands and Flat Whites. So yeah, yeah, let's see, see what happens.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:00:07)

Yes. Or called Jonesy here?

 

There you go. Well, that's.

 

that's part because we do a quick fire round here control the controller balls and we're going to do that but I do I did prepare a little quick fire coffee round for you and actually that's one of the questions so that you can still answer it will be an easy it'll be an easy answer what's your highest rated coffee been what's the rating and where was it. 

 

Adam Jones (1:00:45)

I think it was like an eight something, I'll have to fact check myself, but it was like an eight something and it was in Australia and you know, there's been a lot of stick as well sometimes about my ratings and too high, too low, whatever, but for me it's not just about the coffee, know, it's the experience, it's the people in there, it's the vibe, the location, the barista.

 

You know, there's a lot of things to go in it and the cup that's a big one for me like a ceramic cup or a paper cup or whatever the tipping system like how they are there's a lot to it you know it's not just the coffee you know

 

Dan Kiernan (1:01:26)

Well, it's a tipping system, it can't be an American one that wins.

 

Adam Jones (1:01:30)

American tipping and coffee, it's too much for me. It's the iPad turn, they turn the iPad and they shove it in your face. It's not good. And the coffee in America is terrible. Terrible. It's awful. It's like a three something, I think it was like sewer water in Tunisia or something. Was terrible, terrible. yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:01:42)

What's your lowest rating? Where was that?

 

And forget the rating, what's your best ever flat white? So nothing to do with the other stuff, the actual flat white itself. What's the best one you've had?

 

Adam Jones (1:02:05)

 Probably... I can't remember the name. Dan Evans actually pointed it out to me. I'll have to think of the name. Somewhere in Melbourne. I went with him a few times. It was unbelievable. I need to make maybe an app or have something like write this stuff down because I forget actually.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:02:25)

What makes it good? What makes a good coffee?

 

Adam Jones (1:02:27)

The beans, how they roast them. To be honest, I don't really know myself. Just how it tastes. The milk to coffee ratio, the size. A flat white should be an eight ounce cup. And sometimes it's 12 or 16 or whatever. I think a flat white is such a good way to rate a coffee shop. It's such a... I don't know.

 

That's how I got into it and I love a flat white and just started as a joke and here we are.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:03:01)

Be careful on this answer because I've asked you a lot of questions today. We've talked about a lot of things. Your answer to this is the one part of this whole podcast that's going to go viral.

 

Adam Jones (1:03:13)

Okay.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:03:14)

Which is the best country for coffee?

 

Adam Jones (1:03:16)

The best country for coffee is...

 

It's a link.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:03:20)

Not Australia, the tennis world loves saying Australia.

 

Adam Jones (1:03:23)

I'd say Italy, personally. I'd say Italy. also, mean Australia's unbelievable as well. It's also unbelievable. For me, I'd say Italy. As a coffee lover and the experience, I'd probably, I'd say Italy. Italian coffee is amazing. Definitely not America.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:03:32)

Nice the biggest no-no country.

 

Adam Jones (1:03:45)

America is the worst. It's the worst. think America, you know, they want to be the best and I love America. I want to live here forever. But I, the coffee is atrocious. Atrocious.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:03:57)

Even the black coffee that they bring out at breakfast everywhere, wherever you go.

 

Adam Jones (1:04:01)

It's absolute trash. In the motels it's terrible. And then they want a tip.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:04:05)

And

 

Adam Jones (1:04:08)

crazy.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:04:09)

who's the best barista that you've had and why?

 

Adam Jones (1:04:13)

the best barista? ⁓ Well, it depends. I've had a lot of beautiful blondes baristas.  So yeah, it depends. It all depends. I like a nice blonde barista.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:04:28)

Was he, is he a good looking blonde or? And, and your, your best flat white story.

 

Adam Jones (1:04:30)

No, it was a female good-looking blonde. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

 

Best flat white story? Probably a story that I shouldn't say, but I'm at Wimbledon and before the play starts and I always would sit on center court with a flat white and I'm like up in the stands and I'm trying to like take a video and I basically, my friend

 

is videoing me and I have the coffee like, you know, on the railing and I've like moved and I've elbowed my coffee onto Centre Court. Like it's not, I don't think it really went on the grass, but it's like gone all around the side and it was a mess. It was an absolute mess. Like everybody's just, you know, everyone's snapping and confused as to, you know, what I've just done. And yeah, so that was, that was pretty embarrassing and I definitely didn't rate that coffee.

 

That's for sure.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:05:37)

and the biggest celebrity to reply to one of your coffee pours.

 

Adam Jones (1:05:42)

Mmm.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:05:42)

So Sinner

 

spoke to you, but what about someone actually replying on Instagram?

 

Adam Jones (1:05:48)

Probably... a tough question. Tough question. Maybe Jojo Siwa and Chris Hughes. They're both pretty famous, I'd say. And it's a tough question though. I'll have to think about that one. Those two are pretty up there though.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:06:07)

And I'm setting you up now because what would the name of your coffee shop be?

 

Adam Jones (1:06:14)

forehands and flat whites. That's the name.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:06:16)

Which there we go. Get yourself the forehands of flat whites in London coming soon. Watch this space. And Jonesy, what's the future for you? You've got, guess I break it down. I look at you as a tennis player, a hitting partner, potential coach. I think you do a great job as a coach and an influencer.

 

Adam Jones (1:06:22)

Come on, vamos.

 

I'm us.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:06:43)

You know someone who I've seen you kind of you're popping up with bottles of water I've seen that you've just got another deal this week. It's you know, you start it's starting to it's starting to move It's starting to mortar. What is the future hold for yourself?

 

Adam Jones (1:06:57)

I would like to get as high as I can in doubles. I think I'm going to focus a lot on that. Well, I am going to focus a lot on doubles and get as high as I can. And  that would be number one. Number two, I want to, you know, for sure, get in a team with the top player  individually and yeah, be a hitting partner for that team. then…

 

hopefully eventually transition into coaching along the lines of a top player. I love the travel and yeah, I love this life. I'm sat in Vegas right now. It's not bad from a kid from Birkenhead. So I think, yeah, just enjoying the journey and not really having a plan. I think I'd never planned for any of this. I didn't think any of this would ever happen to me. So yeah.

 

Just enjoying the journey and living the dream as my granddad would say. Exactly, exactly. Maybe some male modeling after the haircut, I'm not sure, but let's see. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:07:53)

And up a coffee shop. We'll leave that to Jack. 

 

In terms of, to finish off, but before we finish off Jonesy, I just want to say thank you, thank you for making me wait. the diva behavior, you know, I like it. You know, when you're building this brand, it's good to just make people wait, know, treat them mean, keep them keen.

 

Adam Jones (1:08:19)

Sorry. That wasn't intentional.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:08:31)

I always enjoy our conversations. I love what you're doing. personally, look, I'm a big tennis enthusiast. I'm a big tennis supporter. I definitely have had times when I haven't been. know, when I go back to probably some of my junior days, I probably was in some quite dark places with the sport, but I actually think the sport offers so much more than people realise. And I think people are starting to see

 

that I hope people are starting to see that there's many ways to skin the cat. we don't just have space for players that are coming in and going to be top 50 in the world. That's just, it's not reality. And I want people to be making a living in this sport many different ways. And I do think there is a space for this hybrid role. We had Felix from the Tennis Brothers on the podcast. He's making some good money with what he's doing with all his YouTubes.

 

Adam Jones (1:09:03)

Yeah.

 

Yeah

 

Dan Kiernan (1:09:26)

Those YouTube things, you know, and it's, I think there's now, there's a real opportunity within the sport to do different things. And who are we to judge people and say that they can't do that? So, you know, I think having these stories out there, you know, you then being able to fund your tennis to stick at it and who's to say you can't be a top 50 doubles player in the world, you know, and, and, and, and live that dream as well. So, I'm fully behind you, a big, big fan and supporter of yours as well, Jonesy.

 

One day I thought you were a clown. I certainly don't think that anymore. I think you're a top human being and wishing you all the very best over the next few months and years.

 

Adam Jones (1:09:57)

Ha. Thanks mate. Thanks very much and vice versa, vice versa. Yeah, it's great to see what you're doing as well.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:09)

Oi. Jonesy. Are you ready for our last, our last quick fire round?

 

Adam Jones (1:10:16)

I'm ready, I'm ready. My phone is on 2%. I don't know how that's happened, but I'm on 2%.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:19)

That's go quick, go quick, go quick. What does control the controllables mean to you?

 

Adam Jones (1:10:25)

It means control what you can control and what's in your power. Don't worry about things that you can't control. Just focus on yourself and the rest will come. Don't worry about the outside stuff.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:43)

What's your favourite Grand Slam?

 

Adam Jones (1:10:45)

Wimbledon.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:46)

Singles are doubles.

 

Adam Jones (1:10:48)

Singles to watch, doubles to play.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:50)

Who's the greatest male player of all time?

 

Adam Jones (1:10:53)

The greatest Roger Federer, the best Novak Djokovic.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:10:58)

Greatest female player of all time.

 

Adam Jones (1:11:00)

Serena Williams.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:01)

Will Serena be coming back this year?

 

Adam Jones (1:11:05)

Yes. Yes.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:07)

Do you know that or you think that?

 

Adam Jones (1:11:09)

I think that.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:10)

on coaching or not.

 

Adam Jones (1:11:12)

Yes.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:13)

Medical timeout or not.

 

Adam Jones (1:11:16)

For the right reason, yeah.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:18)

Net cords on serve or not.

 

Adam Jones (1:11:21)

Yes.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:22)

What's one rule change that you would have in tennis?

 

Adam Jones (1:11:26)

Time between points, think if it's a short point, it needs to be less. If it's a long point, it needs to be more. I think that could change for sure. I think it's a tough rule.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:36)

And who should our next guest be on Control the Controllables?

 

Adam Jones (1:11:40)

Carlos Alcaraz.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:41)

Well, you've answered that question. That means you're responsible for getting Carlos Alcaraz on to Control the Controllables.

 

Adam Jones (1:11:48)

Okay, I will try my very best.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:11:51)

Over to you Mr Jones. man, good luck tomorrow. Thank you so much for coming on. We're gonna get you back on in a year's time because I have no doubt you're gonna have lots more to talk about in 12 months. Keep it rocking young man. Thank you.

 

Adam Jones (1:12:03)

Thanks very much. Thanks mate. Cheers.

 

Dan Kiernan (1:12:07)

And it was well worth the wait to speak to Adam Jones or as we all know him, Jonesian. What a delightful young man he is. Someone who is finding his way in life in the tennis world in quite a different way, you know, and having achievement on the court as a player, but also hybriding that into his world…

 

and having these opportunities and these experiences and he only scratched the surface on the stories that he told us there, you know, but imagine that what he's experiencing being around the best players in the world, you know, being very much on first name terms, having these conversations, how cool is that Jannik Sinner and his team coming up and saying that they'd seen him and he's, you know, talking about the flat whites and, you know, just something very, very endearing about him and…

 

we saw that emotional side as well that that North Star that he's doing this for his family He's got that he knows where he's from he's so grounded by that and I think you know, that's something that all need in this life, you know, makes makes such a difference when when that purpose is strong that North Star is strong and We're gonna see a lot of Adam Jones over the next few years. I have no doubt You know whether that is him as a tennis player whether that is him on the tour…

 

as a hitting partner coach or whether forehands and flat whites is going to take off as a coffee shop. He's got a little bit of X factor and he's someone that was a delight to speak to. And I look forward to hearing how it is. We'll maybe get them on in 12 months time and find out how it is all going. So big, big thanks to Jonesy. Hope you enjoyed that one. I myself am bringing this to you from…

 

long time away from home, obviously missing the family terribly. reality of the tour, it's not easy. It's not easy for us coaches. Yes, we're staying in lovely hotels in some of the best places in the world and we love what we do. But there is a burnout that happens. I think we saw it Carlos Alcaraz a little bit this week. Yes, fair play to Seb Korda beating him but...

 

He did look a little bit burnt out and I think we see it. You Medvedev's also lost this week after doing so well in Indian Wells. You know, we see an Egas Friantek massively struggling. It's a lot, you know, and it's these players, but just spare a thought also, not just for the players, but for all the rest of the people in the ecosystem and those families that all of these people, including myself, are away from…

 

as well, you know, that is something that I think we should also just shine a light on sometimes. So big love to certainly all of my family. Big love to all the families that are supporting people that are out here in this crazy traveling circus. Lots more to come. It's not long before we're to be back in Europe for the clear court season. I do have a couple of great guests lined up in terms of coaches of top players.

 

I hope to be bringing to you in the next week or two. And as ever, get in touch if you want to hear from us, you want to speak to anyone. Let's see if Mr. Jones can get Carlos Alcaraz. I mean, that would be some cue, it? he could turn that one around. So if anyone can, it's Jonesy. Could you imagine that? we look forward to bring a lot more guests and look forward to the tennis season coming back to Europe, certainly for myself.

 

And hope to see some of you out there at the tournament over the next few months. Thank you for all the support, until next time, I'm Dan Kiernan and we are Control the Controllables.