May 3, 2022

#160: Jofre Porta - Effort is not a Sacrifice

#160: Jofre Porta - Effort is not a Sacrifice

Jofre Porta is one of a handful of tennis coaches who can say they´ve worked with two world number 1 players from a young age.

The Spanish coach helped guide Carlos Moya from juniors to top of the ATP rankings, and also worked with Rafael Nadal as a junior.

Jofre has previously worked for the Spanish Tennis Federation, he´s been a tennis commentator and is currently the Director of Global Tennis Team Academy in Mallorca.

In this episode, he talks to Dan about coaching Moya and Nadal, why Spain produces so many players, his thoughts on the up and coming Carlos Alcaraz and much more!

ATP Tennis Coach Jofre Porta Quote that effort is not a sacrifice

Episode Highlights:-

  • Hear about Jofre´s time with Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal.
  • The similarities and differences between Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz at 18.
  • The special relationship between Moya and Nadal.
  • Why he believes effort is not a sacrifice.
  • How he uses technology to help develop resistance.

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Transcript

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

Daniel Kiernan  00:09

Welcome to Episode 160, of Control the Controllables. And we continue to try and get under the bonnet of this amazing sports. And when we look at it, Spanish tennis has arguably been the most successful nation of the last 20, 30 years, particularly in the men's side of the game. And today's guest was the coach who took, Carlos Moya, on that amazing journey from a youngster in New Yorker all the way to world number one, and then the greatest male player of all time?, what do you guys think? Rafael Nadal 21 Time Grand Slam champion, he's also played a big role with Rafael Nadal. And in this episode, where we're looking into, in a subtle way, the real secrets of the success of Spanish tennis over the last 30 years.

 

Jofre Porta  01:12

Well we'll try to convince the guys is a effort is not a sacrifice. You need to learn to enjoy the effort. You enjoy the effort, everything is easier. And finally, you don't want to enjoy the effort. Maybe it's better to play another thing. You know, no, no tennis,

 

Daniel Kiernan  01:26

For those of you who have not come across Jofre Porta. That is the man himself. Welcome to Hell is what he says when people turn up to his Academy in Mallorca. It's such a privilege for me to have these conversations. Every time I come away, and I got I get it now. I get it. I've heard about Jofre for the last 15 years. And I've not understood what his philosophies are why he does what he does. But after spending an hour an hour and a half talking to him, it is very clear. To see how this man takes it's very clear to see why he's had such an impact on some of the biggest stars in the world, but also on many, many players that have gone through His hands. His English is very good. He speaks with that Spanish accent that we love to hear. Make sure you're listening closely to this one. There's a lot of gems in there. I know you're gonna love it and I'm gonna pass you over to Jofre Porta. So Jofre Porta big welcome to Control the Controllables How are you doing? Fantastic.

 

Jofre Porta  02:40

So time Wednesday, we'll cover weather now and winter rally the practice I'm so happy to be here and to speak with you. It's a pleasure, an honour

 

Daniel Kiernan  02:51

The honor is all mine. Joffrey I've, I've heard so many good things about you. I've I know that you've been so highly involved in tennis in Spain for many years, and played such a big role in the success and people will know you for your time with Carlos Moya. They'll know you for also having a young Rafael Nadal at the Academy many years ago as well. And I think I think the starting point for me, we've got a young Spanish bull in Carlos Alcaraz who you know I saw maybe for the first time three years ago and I think it was very obvious then that he was well on his way to being one of the best players in the world. But what have you got a few words to say on Carlos Alcaraz to start.

 

Jofre Porta  03:43

I think it's amazing. I tell the people a couple of years ago maybe four or five years ago because I was I'm really really friends with the first coach of all the coaches the power but with Antonio Gonzalez Valencia he tried to have a cane and we make something together. And when I see him he was amazing. See how how great here know everything will be agree that the fantastic players I think the more important is that they are rarely brief. You know they they don't they don't mind about hit the ball or chance with this question was play single handed double handed because it was it was so young, you know? And I tell him that's another he will be fantastic one single 10% Because it does the hallway too crazy. And HEPA one thing that Heather one thing that I assume in Nadal Novak is controlling everything you know his eyes controlling everything so we are practicing you can see that his eyes is a control on the upon the pattern in this case the partner the everything happened around themselves now was like this nuclear is not concentrate but it's focused.

 

Daniel Kiernan  04:54

And and when you first saw him, as this is something we talk about a lot into tennis, you know how, how early Can you tell? And and my answer when I get asked this question is you have generational tennis players, you know Rafael Nadal Roger Federer, Serena Williams, you know, you you have these players that come along that they're very very special, you know from a young age, then you have players that you don't know maybe they have a chance maybe and they go a bit of a longer distance when you first saw Carlos did you? Were you able with your tennis eye to say yes, this is the guy this is the one that's going to carry the torch for Spanish tennis.

 

Jofre Porta  05:41

My eyes really both in this way. You know, because when I was working with Moya, I never think will be top 100, only top one you know, with Rafa was easy because it's also easy to see that it's okay. Without Carlos, The first time I saw him he was very young, maybe 12 When you want any European in Majorca, and was not simply fantastic. But he's not very sure and made mistakes. And but it's because it's so great. No, I think one of the things that are displayers is they don't mind so much about the results when they are young and they try things they hidden Stanley to hit the ball, they're not afraid to hit the ball. It is one the price is to lose some matches but, but that's a matter we don't speak about the present, we speak about the futures This can also be of the days so difficult to put in the mind of our players.

 

Daniel Kiernan  06:34

But this is also when we think traditionally of a Spanish tennis player. We think somebody who puts a lot of balls in court, somebody who moves very well who defends very well. And this way of playing this bravery hitting the ball taking risks. It's a little bit different.

 

Jofre Porta  06:57

Yeah, but and we have some players Nadal recover a little the guy that is fighting us in a ball but but we have different players no Verdasco or Feliciano. Well, I think that I try to convince the people that dispense play, the traditional things player is changing over the week, we really believe that may mistake is not right. You know, we think the consistency is important. But I think at one time no time of Emilio Sanchez we spoke before the mistake is overvalue you know we need to make imbalance know the mistakes and the progression Yeah, I think in a long time in Spain we have a good a good balance in that sometimes too much No, but I think we're in balance and nothing Carlos is amazing this way he can keep the ball but defense balls impossible balls and yesterday after the second match run like the first match this is crazy is is is amazing

 

Daniel Kiernan  07:58

and how good is he Are we are we talking multiple Grand Slam champion

 

Jofre Porta  08:04

You know, I like to make the phrase what will have to happen, you know, obviously if I need to pull money from money, but I don't whenever you know, I think he can be really rude but you know he hit the ball so hard. I wish he didn't have any injury and but because mentally is so so tough. I don't think he he can get doubts about anything good enough.

 

Daniel Kiernan  08:32

And I promise I'll move on from Carlos Alcaraz. But I think because he's he's so exciting. I think people people also want to hear because there's not many people in the world that have spent time with Rafael Nadal and with Carlos Moya from such a young age. So how how does he compare it at that sort of age or even when he was maybe 15, 16 How does he compare to Rafael Nadal?

 

Jofre Porta  09:00

I think there's a lot of things similar you know, maybe one of the things obviously is Be Brave hidden realms the mind here except that we challenge this one is also so important. Right? Second one is the effort is they don't do the Mizzou therefore you know they go they don't think is good is not good to go a they don't yesterday in the match, you can see is the second match Nadal will be more conservative, physically, they don't understand this kind of word they go I think when you are young you must be like this because it's how the soul of the young people must work maybe in Rafa because Rafa the people doesn't know it now is this lower player serving in the soup with but one goes young so fast, they don't have time to recover. And we start to put three balls with Toni Nadal we'll put three balls at different things for for the late. The more time for recuperation. These kinds of things with The without glasses is not necessary because the the window is is really really good. Rafa was left with a very clear, tactical very clear pattern now that the play hide to the back end of the opening. Carlos is more more things not because we left or sometimes limited but in the beginning it always still the same. And in the beginning one when you told me about 16 years old Nadal was like this is not so tactical, no, it's more, more fresh, you play more, more, more winners, etc.

 

Daniel Kiernan  10:36

And in terms of if we go back to and I want to get on to Carlos, Moya because I know I know you spent so much time with Carlos Moya and I think it's not normal to have a player from such a young age and then go along that journey. But in terms of in terms of Rafa who is I believe he came to a government run Academy of yours in Mallorca. At what age was that?

 

Jofre Porta  11:07

But what we'll start with Rafa is the nine nine years old you know, when I come back, I was in the Spanish Federation, I come back with my gear so and Tony was happy because obviously Monaco they don't have a lot of players for for for for make the work and we make groups in the beginning we try to make older players you know, but um, it's time to work you know, and and Tony was coming in the beginning and watching the practice and to say you are more time here that's funny, why you don't start to work with us he will start to work together was a fantastic time because we would have so many things

 

Daniel Kiernan  11:44

and how much of it how much of it is training? And how much of it is natural? You know, when we're talking about the superstars, you know, what, obviously, they have to train and and obviously, they train very hard, but how much of it is you know, what, they will find their way no matter what,

 

Jofre Porta  12:07

Obviously, is was only training there are so many players that train so hard if they don't know right, it was a is not true. But if we speak only about the talent, he doesn't speak about only the technical talent or they call them to go to the native style and speak about all the talents we need to work you know, I think one of the best things of Rafa is the education of the family of Toni is special they prepare him for the effort and the effort and therefore and therefore and and have be humbled you are not you cannot be proud about what you know because there are people now the missus that told me that there are people said Pete like because he's a doctor you're a tennis player all this kind of message make a tough and believe very very involved created player in the in the in the project and I think these kind of things help so much obviously is the guy is not telling you whom a right but I think it's it's a lot of things no one is the practice but we need to think about the location of the family environment. One time somebody tells me now the people know about the traffic service to the father of Rafa Nova one time tell me how old they are the parents of of Rafa say you know them you say no the perfect No, because they don't want to be the protagonist. They want to be in the shower, you're allowed to grow the kid. These kind of things help so much. But is there a big big percentage depend on the talent of the guy usually? No normally technical talent, because he doesn't play some people don't like because he's not this Hispanic is not traditional. But he have a fantastic coordinative talent and mental wouldn't be to speak about or physical is great.

 

Daniel Kiernan  13:54

And in terms of your coaching, you know, I know and I've, I've spoke to lots of people and I know you say when they come to your academy now, Welcome to hell, you know, and is this did this start when you started your coaching Did you already have this philosophy? Or is this something that your philosophy has changed as you've moved your way through your coaching life? When

 

Jofre Porta  14:20

I started it was war so you can have two more Yeah. Well in the beginning I I didn't know nothing about them is you know, I don't come in from the tennis courts. I was a basketball player is not is a career story. But I think in the end I started in tennis, and I don't know a lot I put a lot of passion we fight a lot with the small details. It was like it was a real you know, because we go we land in the same time that the players they land with the players they don't teach the player a language the players now in the time also, Rafa was different I have a lot of more experience I study a lot I love all you know that They love the number seeing so many things around tennis and my thing I can help more that people will tell the hell because I think it's like your job you need to you need to understand that when you come here the they are not a space for the laziness you know will be hard, you know, and what we try to convince the guys is a F four is not a sacrifice you need to learn to enjoy the F four you enjoy the F four everything is easier and finally you don't want to enjoy the effort maybe it's better to play another thing you know, no, no tennis

 

Daniel Kiernan  15:31

Effort is not a sacrifice. I absolutely love that. You know, and I think in the modern in the modern day, the modern day child you know who has a mobile phone has an X Xbox has Netflix has so many things is that something that you find is more difficult to get people to understand that now than maybe 20 years ago

 

Jofre Porta  16:02

is really really difficult when for example in our economy the guys leave the phone at 830 in the morning on it's not true they can use the phone 830 In the afternoon till 1030 They go to sleep is the only moment they can use this they can use the phone for speak with a mother or need to study whatever like this but he's not allowed to play or or to talk to these in this time you know the weekend where they have more time but it's not because it's because it really really bad you know the the mobile phones and all these kinds of things is a stimulate one terrible hormone is it dopamine is the same that the drug addicts or the smokers or whatever you know, and obviously this dopamine is only coming one you receive one satisfaction without effort you know is this one we prepare the kids with this kind of criminology to the axe I want gratification but I don't want to make the effort and I think is a very very terrible is a terrible information for that we try to manage that it's not easy because obviously they are addicts we can make software but the truth is they're addicts to the to the technology and with my wife that is helping so much a FISA is my is my I don't want to say is my right hand I am bad sometimes obviously guys a battle that we will lose but we need to fight you know because it's too much important. How control and change the f4 give you satisfaction because it's serotonin serotonin is you you feel good. Serenity in the long term No. Dopamine is really really dangerous. It's not bad, but it's rarely just because make it

 

Daniel Kiernan  17:53

I've got two things because I'm also a tennis parent. And so if my wife will be listening to this because she she edits the podcast so and I have two things that we have to write down as parents and that is effort is not a sacrifice. And we don't want to give satisfaction without effort. And I think I think these two these two messages are so so important and and anybody that's listening to this, which I'm sure a lot of people will be I want you to scribble those things down because the world will be a better place if we can all take those on. And Joffrey in terms of you mentioned that basketball was your was your sport you know so what what was it that attracted you to tennis you know how did how did tennis win you over over basketball

 

Jofre Porta  18:46

and fanatical intervening I hate and it's Believe me I play tennis because I don't want to study the normal study I have a steal my father What do you want? My father told me say I want to leave because it's probably my time they are not University for sporting these kinds of things. And my father say yeah, but in basketball how many coaches live because basketball in Spain is a I don't know when you say tennis only in Martino it was from Martino says there may be 12 only Martino I think tennis is the best option. At least I like this in the beginning I don't like you know the people is very poor. With the wide tissues. I go to I remember one time I was at Isha is a little yellow on the top and they come in to say with a yellow you kind of go and do you know this kind of thing j here these kind of things you know I'm very I play but I don't look bad one day understand that, then is why I believe that is the best sport for the education of our kids. I think they are not one sport, maybe boxing but they're not a lot. They play basketball but two is really really good. But basketball the contact that the player and the coach have in there This is not in basketball cannot be because there are no time then this is so personal, then this is individual work. But we working in group we have so many, many conditions, that is, I think is the best one of the best scenarios for for 40s The kids, their location by, by the tennis I think is a lot better than our ways now. For that I started to be in love with that and now I'm connecting no more. And

 

Daniel Kiernan  20:28

I can see that and you're I can see you're a big student of the game, you you understand that tennis is changing and evolving, evolving all the time. So can you can you tell the listeners some of the some of the areas almost looking outside of the box. So I know that graphology is something that you've looked into, you know, laterality, you know, the subconscious the conscious, you know, I know that these is some of I know that these are some of the passionate areas that that you've looked at so to start with graphology Can you tell the listeners what, what that is and why that's relevant.

 

Jofre Porta  21:12

Anything is fair because I one time one more year contract polder chenko A he know a lot about authorities you open my mind the latter is the eye looking more and more and more. And then they are one guy that is a pool said they little time ago die but he's fantastic. He make fantastic programs in TV. So easy to found in in YouTube, about neuroscience, you just have to study a lot about the graphology is very simple. It's not new, it's a start that in, in the 1940s, or something like this is very simple. how some people right? Do one spirit and say This guy is like this noise I'll do shine or some artists Robert is aggressive or softer is a is, for example one was my problem, when I started to write a several is going down going down. This means that I have a good start but bad ending, you know, because I'm really lazy man. But this kind of thing gives you the information. But the good thing of the graphology or relocation by the respirology is the double direction of that the old resonance, everything but in this case, it's so clear, if I can change your right I can change your mind. I love the psychologic work when I can see, you know, I know that there are so many words, but the psychological one I can see because I can tell because thegoal is so clear in my mind is easy to work in that we believe that the kids when they look at what happened help a lot obviously the problem is the kids don't have passions for my this kind of work because it's nice to be passionate, but we make a lot of things because they graphology normally, people make different types of drops in throw in the in the paper, we make a little more we make a stand up in the ready position with one eyes, with the other eyes with eyes closed, we're looking always a little more, because it's the body of reality that we're speaking is working fantastic. We really believe in this kind of work.

 

Daniel Kiernan  23:20

So as as we're talking, and I I often when I do these things, I have a pen in my hand. And when I'm writing I write some little things down, I often draw pictures. So I so what does that mean about me?

 

Jofre Porta  23:37

I'm not a graphologist that has experimented that you know, obviously obviously, it's easy to see that your capacity of concentration is good because you can open and close I think it's this one is fantastic because your capacity and being a conversation in the same time make a draw or make some things in the same time you don't lose the the concentration is fantastic because he studies now you cannot be concentrated all the time. But you need to be focused one is really really important. And this kind of work help is we make this kind of work on call know that make one type of work make something that make resi the kids and carry on you know because this one way for practice that oh that be concentrating that but really I not a graphologist? Yes, I know that we have. We have one experiment that he failed at what we must do. We think there's something general you know about the concentration about the Balance Center data, but then you can make more and looking work with adolescents assumptions. So that is a graphologist is one guy for La Palma, the island of the volcano. And we start to work with him on a nice render on the booth and he's working by Internet is the threat of a promotion. But really he makes a good job he can make analysis there Last what we must do with every single player, or those who don't want to pay that will make a job sizes that we know that work for the concentration or whatever.

 

Daniel Kiernan  25:11

I like it. And if, if I was to ask you the question of what is your philosophy as a tennis coach? What would you say?

 

Jofre Porta  25:22

I have one sentence of one sentence of Einstein that we love, we really believe in that. If you tell that I don't teach my students, I prepare the conditions where they learn, you know, they there is very simple, we don't teach, we need to teach how learn or whatever, you know, but don't make the word that they can do for their own. Sometimes the coach, is we going to go too fast for the parents? Because finally similar is the solutions. The guys may these distribution make that? No. And this one we don't believe work a lot, you know, is it better to say you need to play the ball higher? They don't tell you how you try. And when you make the mistake of saying, Oh, look at that this one doesn't work. Now this one doesn't work to in what key don't found the solution set. You must do that, you know, but I think one of the of the problem of the surge in general intelligence in particular, is when we try always to make easier the work of our players. And we make the opposite. I tell them a couple of weeks ago, I tell one guy because it was a little despair because I put so much they start to think its personal I say listen is very simple. My work is make you your your situation more difficult for you is not make easier your situation. And I need to fund your work is trying to get the solution for these problems that I put in the in court. You know, don't try to look in one shoulder for it. Sometimes Yeah, obviously. But in general don't try to found a shoulder for for hat for help, you know, looking for help. I will make what this means necessary I love so much then is that the unit right? This is one sentence that they use sometimes I love so much. And it's a lot for my job project and this project. That isn't to say you hate me forget something is a price they will pay. Happy for. Forget that. And it's fantastic. Because the Ratchet is so we are crazy. The parents, what do you say to my son is sort of an hour conversation.

 

Daniel Kiernan  27:33

One of one of my favorite analogies which, which I hope this makes sense to you Jofre because it's it's basically what you've said there is the satellite navigation system in the car. You know, and if some if somebody drives a very complicated journey, which tennis journey is very complicated and long, and and I use the satellite navigation. And then the next day I have to do the journey again. I don't remember. And if somebody takes the satellite navigation away, I have no chance. Whereas if I take the journey and I use a map and I struggle, and it's difficult and I have to ask the next day, I am able to do it and the next week I'm able to do it and it really sticks and I think I think that's a very similar concept to what you're seeing which I like a lot 100%

 

Jofre Porta  28:30

Really 100% Really how many numbers of phones you remember I don't know the point of my wife before you know maybe 100 points because they are important everything it's been so easy life is my main comfort zone making videos I'm so sorry so so direct but these like these I tell everyone is come for some make it you see when you don't want to change the shots at either one of the ways you don't want to change your shot your grip or whatever is because you want to be in the comfort zone, you will be a video player no idea person but the ideal player because you don't you will not found the solutions. Yeah,

 

Daniel Kiernan  29:14

Comfort zone makes idiots so they I've got I have three I have three already amazing, amazing pieces of gold. And by the way, my wife who I've been with her for 21 years. I remember her phone number 21 years ago, you know, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna say the number because it's it's still it's still her mum's phone number, but it's exactly right. You know, and I, I had to put a lot of effort in 21 years ago, one to persuade her, you know, to be my girlfriend, but to also also to remember the phone number. I like it a lot. Jofre, I have to move to Carlos Moya. You know and if if my reading is correct You You started with Carlos when he was five years old.

 

Jofre Porta  30:05

More or less, yeah.

 

Daniel Kiernan  30:06

So how I guess there's a few things that come to mind you've already mentioned you weren't sure he was going to be a top top 100 player, but any relationship is difficult to keep going for so long. So how many years did you work with Carlos and tell us a little bit about that journey?

 

Jofre Porta  30:28

Well to be honest, I work I work till 7pm he go to work till nine when he come back after the injury we start to work or work and we'll talk together again but with me is not a problem because it's very smart guy with Russell two they're very smart guy in the relationship you know interpersonal intelligence they are really really good they manage fantastic and you will be a week with me when you were was one player so they are more respect because they look at you like big brother or father or something is the work is easier you know it's not the same when you take one guy that at 18 That's a matter that look at you like a coach you know, I think that the work with this kind of like Tony with Rafa or I with Rafa or me with with with Moya were really really easy because the respect is was was was so so even I don't know when I traveled with Moya I don't think we go to the hotel there are problems he go to the reception to say we have a problem you know it's I don't I know I can't stop everytime I'm not your waiter I'm not your babysitter you need to make the work I can hear for help you in the theater they don't know for make easier your your three and they understand that perfect and allowed to and now all these for example what you play charts that you know in third they make a lot of the stories about the one kid take the bag the body words don't allow the Tony wantto speak with him you don't allow and Tony tell Rafa take you back and Rafa them speaking listen this time because it's 30 years old. Close to Las Vegas pennies You know Steve Malkin and and he came back he say don't be guys don't allow me to say you don't like the back we go to Monaco and Don and Rafa speaking with a Bollywood I say please we're saying the back to me if you don't know me means you no no no no no don't give to me man this kind of thing is so natural which I think was more it was Moya more because it's more you're obviously he's younger than me but it's not that different. You know you're like a big brother or young father I don't know what I am and the relationship was was so natural always we never fight I was so hard that I Penny so many times Carlos he know that he makes so many laps like or so many you cannot imagine but they know that he understand perfectly is because I really loved him you know he's not because today I think can I say I think I want to say thank you to my team because he punished me so much or he showed me so much because it's the way for for a good player. I think is a sometimes love means say this one is not right sometimes we need to shout and

 

Daniel Kiernan  33:24

How how is it for you now see and Carlos Moya in in the box with Rafael Nadal for for so many years as well. It has to be kind of strange for you to see and also so nice for you to see how that relationship is as well

 

Jofre Porta  33:38

Really nice and nice and not so strange because the truth is Carlos was an amazing person because normally, Imagine you are the best player in Mallorca never and it's coming one guy young guy that everybody know will be better than you you are not jealous you help so much you know invite him you play doubles with him he's looking for you some wild car he practice with you even your so so so big difference in the beginning he was not a coach but was part of the team with one is not part of the team. No he's very important. He's very happy. John Bosco he's traveling is was coach of moive Hitomi one time is a one day you know one day is Rafa when the match pass in the ranking to Moya and John tend to refer to camera sorry, today better hippos he answer rarely intimidate I want Rafa when always that's a matter is not too late and as we will present you know, this kind of player of course, is easy to see him teaching or helping, helping Rafa because he held off always toto Rata is the relationship with both.

 

Daniel Kiernan  34:56

Very nice and who, who's the next Mallorcan tennis player. Do you have any young young Mallorcan tennis players that are coming through?

 

Jofre Porta  35:05

Well, we have some players and you know that our academy now there are a lot of players they're not from Spain, you know, but I feel like me, but it's difficult to tell because so small that is difficult to understand what what would you bet there are some players that they play in really good, they're in the in top in Spain, and we will see what happened. You know, finally, I like always we have beautiful boys for play. But I don't know how long they will go. But we will be really, really interesting. We have Tony, Escalba is one of the best under 12. Tommy is one one of the best. Martina one of the guys on the left one. One gal Lisa, is one of the guys under 13 We have really, really good player, national players, and some ones International, but I don't know you will get some good player, especially a special player, but I know that will enjoy this project.

 

Daniel Kiernan  36:04

And in terms of we've talked more specific to certain players, but I always think it's a fascinating subject is the subject of Spanish tennis, you know, and, I mean, I've had a tennis academy for 12 years now in Spain, you know, and for me to see the competition, one, you know, the competition is amazing. So I think naturally, you know, the competition is there, the weather, you know, the fact that there's so many so many courts, there's so many people, the passion of the coaches, you know, you go to tournaments, there's coaches at all of the events, you know, and beat and because of that, and then the then the other reason I see is the likes of Rafa, you know, they they seem to pass on their knowledge and pass on their passion to the to the next generation. What in your opinion, you're I'm coming from the outside. So I have I have a I have a different lens. In your opinion, why is it that the Spanish system or the success has been so great for Spanish players over the last 3040 years?

 

Jofre Porta  37:16

Sometimes when you go to conferences around the world, you know that people ask me what about the Spanish system? Really, I don't think the Spanish system exists is every coach work different but we have some condition like you say that this is made easier our work, first the weather, you know, we have the weather and the clay courts, I think Clay courts help a lot of the football for the tactics because you need to have more passions in this one piece. The guys in the in play. Help help a lot. Second one, the competition will have amazing calendar competition, they guys can compete a lot. You don't need to spend a lot of money. And the third one for me, I don't know you will be angry with me. But is the overprotection in Spain? We don't have so high overproduction, like in other countries. And for for me, I don't tell that these goods are no good. But I don't want to continue this way. But obvious will make tennis players Yeah. For me, football players. Yeah, you know, when the conditions are too easy, when the people protect too much something is not dangerous, but in the same time is difficult to be to be hard, and tapping the word. And for that, this kind of things, I think the three things give a lot of values about the effort. Again, the effort is inside of the soul of the players have been the same. Maybe it was the Athenians. But where we have a little more money now is is is in balance with the money and the Nobel protection. And this kind of situations, I think helped a lot because the truth is so long because sometimes no right? So many countries, they have amazing time and money. Freedom, or so long time, like Spam is difficult to find so, so big, so long time I was a top level player.

 

Daniel Kiernan  39:05

And in terms of again, I said I've been here 12 years. And this is home for me. You know I don't I don't plan that you never know what happens in life. But I don't plan to go anywhere. You know, I'm in love with Spain. I love I love the life I love. You know the tennis I love I love so much about it. When I was back in the UK, but not just the UK when you go to Australia when you go to many countries. They talk about the Federation. You know, it's it's always in the conversation. You know, the Federation is the Federation that in 12 years in Spain. I've never spoken to anybody in the Federation. I've never really heard of of there even being a federation. You know, I what I see is I see a lot of passionate people doing their own thing and working independently you know there's lots of accountability you know all of those things now obviously someone like yourself you're more involved in what would be the Federation and I know you've worked at the Federation before so so tell us a little bit about the Spanish Spanish Federation and what's their role in developing tennis players?

 

Jofre Porta  40:20

I think the Federation when different times in the Federation I worked with Spanish liberation in the best time in the techni technification center in Sanko get that in this time there are so good players Maria was one but there are a couple he has global and got so many players that they are top top 100 or less but the true here I want to be honest is one make the group in in Malayalis to know but after that, but I think when when you have a group like this is difficult to make a long term because finally the coaches they are not the coaches of these kids you know they receive these coaches difficult to have the same passion every year again every year nobody else was playing at the same time you're going out there I think the one of the happened to me what you say no I was told Salvador was ITF everybody not but this reason that reason? Yeah I think finishing in Spain knowing nothing all these things that you ask here you know is payment normally they kept more possibilities that will sell out or or or our whatever I tell them is maybe you need to stop to think in the Federation and make your work because finally they are not what system they are you know that there are so many system now there are so many good players in know they don't go for by the same system and you can build your own system I think it's million times better. I think the Federation is good they are a federation but be careful because the Federation can can make this one more more close no more. I tell one thing maybe you want to pull later or not one time one one coach of England asked me Why do you think spank have so much success and an England not so much you know because it's 13 times the budget of the of the spends Federation yay tell the tale that in the time that you you look in one system for teach players we play you know I think when you have so much organize organize everything in the time that you look in all these kinds of things is better close times open standards or how we can make the progression we need to come with you we play and finally tennis is played tennis sometimes I speak when I see some some family the size there are so many good ones but you see some exercise in the in the in the YouTube I think we need to make it the size of the design is the size is fantastic is fun and it's necessary but we need to think must be better than the guy alone in front of a wall hitting the ball you know, we need to look in not just for for make a decisive we need to look and the more important we need to play in sometimes when we forget that we need to play the two players play so much outwards. But not because he's one fr ee i know because they love tennis you will have tennis. I cannot ask a to Moya, how many hours you play? This is no sense. It's not saying because he don't know. So much hours when he's young in front of a wall with friends claim is not just the practice, but because not because like this I will be no no because I love them. This is the love is part. I live like this.

 

Daniel Kiernan  43:49

It's when I was I moved here. The first month that I was here. I started the Academy with no players. And I brought in one or two players that they came from the UK. And I was calling it an academy with one maybe one player, you know, not paying money. One player paying a little bit of money. And I took them to Marbella to play some matches. And this coach who I was it became good friends with he said he said you British tennis coaches are the best coaches in the world. He said you have so many different drills. He said here in Spain, he said we're not good. He said I only have four drills. He said drill number one, I stand in the corner and the player plays back to me many times. Drill number two I stand in the other corner. The player plays back to me many times. Drill number three, I go to the net in one corner. The player appears to place too many times to drill them before I go to the other side the player plays to me. You said that he said that's all I've got. You know and it was and that's that's being a little bit unfair to British cultures, because there's, there's many amazing British cultures. But but but I think the, the, the example isn't and the thing I take from you, is just play, play, and don't play to become a professional tennis player player because you have a passion play because you love, love to do it. And at the end of that, then then somebody might might go on and become a professional tennis player. And I think, I think that's such a nice, it's such a nice way Hannah and I've used this a couple of times from the Rafael Nadal tour events, which I which I love the concept and, and the first year I went, I saw the statement from from Rafa that said, play the sport, as if it's the most important thing in the world. But understand, it's not, you know, and I just thought that was such a beautiful way for us to look at this sport of tennis. And that, for me, encompasses what I see with Spanish tennis, you know, whether it's a local tournament, whether it's a national tournament, whether it's an ITF, it doesn't matter. I see lots of people playing as if it's the most important thing in the world, you know, but then coming off the court and appreciating that it's that it's not

 

Jofre Porta  46:26

There was something that we use a lot with the kids is not exactly the same, but I think is just about our philosophy, it everything is very, everything is important. So everything is important. But nothing is so important, you know, is we need to understand the material because when we make dramatic if I don't play tennis I cannot throw by because no no no, no no play because you enjoy to play tennis. Because you make too much dramatic. You don't go more far. It's just you know what this person they'll say the question was, somebody may go see what difference is the passion your possession for his very simple Passion makes you happy obsessional make you stress, you know, when we pass we cross the line we start to be sad, we don't enjoy that. We need to be careful for that play so many hours but enjoying this game is without question that about rankings or stupid things material things and tired about the ranking at eight entirely convinced the people the rankings is the consequence but with the players that now we have a rule dragging, we don't know what will happen in the future. You know, it's it's not sensible. We need to always play with tennis, you know, we play with them is not only about technical compete correctly, and we'll see what happened, it's not necessary to look in the ranking like crazy, it's really is a is one fight that is waiting for really difficult to find a toto to win. Please

 

Daniel Kiernan  47:51

listen, parents, players coaches, you know, do not look at the rankings, you know, and it's, it's such a, it's such an important message as well. If I just I've got two or three more little things. I'd like to jump into job for a while I've got you and what do you think of the concept and I've heard a few people say this recently. And I think I think Alcatraz is the way he's playing his maybe quite a good example of this. Although some people said he couldn't play on clay. I would imagine maybe they need to, they need to look at what they said when he's one to ATP five hundreds on clear already this year. But that, but that almost tennis is becoming a little bit more of a hardcourt game, even on the clay court, you know, whereas, you know, maybe 20, 25 years ago, you had your Thomas Musters who just put the ball in court 20, 25 times, you know, without without trying to do so much how do you feel the game is evolving? And my second part of that question, if you had a blank sheet of paper to develop a top player, obviously there's many other things but would you play 100% on clear quartz, would you play 50% on clear 50% on hard you know, how do you see how do you see that going in the modern game?

 

Jofre Porta  49:17

I think when they change the balls, now the grass is more like clay and plays more like that as noise. I think everything is more similar one is because the technical the players is better the second one because they look at that obviously with new whereas of Wimbledon you can see rallies that before the time of Ivanisevic see the ball go and comeback is over the average you know this one is it's important to understand one thing is the physical one, the mechanical one what I love so much clay because me Spanish no no. As because Clay You know the Cinetic change no when you break you connect this in a sense when you make Working in heart is working in line when you play in clay you need to slice and you need to break the people say I need to learn to slice no no you need to break it this this kind of thing or break and feel the snap teaching is connected with the shot. I think for the kids is so important for this one I believe in Brazil one coach asked me but every day every year there are less tournaments in clay what will happen with a clay courts is they even they have no one to nominingue play I think it's better to I will follow teaching the young kids who are in play now. But the truth is we need to understand that now is very similar and the people who it's so strong but in the end the players like Rafa or Alcaraz will be better because they are a little difference but they are difference in play tactically even they just have to play down the line so so but crosscore help a lot but it's true that the in the past their players that brass player they then cannot play in play if they are players there they cannot play in grass now. For example more yet don't like playing rest and Atelier is not sense because you have a good serve. You say yeah but that's not for me. And then we play one baby scalping in Australia the rest of Australia is different because the band the ball jam more is close to when a Filipino is close to when the poses that is is a grasp player I say you see is a sometimes with our belief make our lives for one more simple but no you can get more things now that you think in the beginning that is true that the game will be more more similar. Yeah, I think I don't think it's bad I think I think it's good I don't the people say they're two different sport the physical physical versus two different sport yeah I know how we work we work in the beginning a lot of things play we compete whatever because they're an allele we introduce more and more and more and more hardcourts you know, he'll arrive maybe at least 2% with the youngest players we when we need to compete in hard court maybe we go too hardcore in our academic they are not a coach you know when we have friends near here they give us for free hardcores and when we have tournaments a whirlwind one will want to make something in hardcourt we go there no bad we don't really what they see when I told that the people singing and praising we can prepare hardcore in clay I think he's I guess he when Wimbledon I was playing with a was playing practicing in the week in the in the break a bakery clay is a sue that is a difference for but we can use one for the other one, you know, apparently, the variability work is not necessary to reproduce exactly what will happen in the matches no and maybe this one that not only will help you know this disturb and for that we try to increase our our working in hardcourt, but the volume of plays is always celebrated.

 

Daniel Kiernan  53:21

And, and in terms of in terms of how the sport has evolved? Is there any things that you think, a non negotiable, that whether you played in the 1970s or you play in 2040 It's, it's the same, you know, obviously the physical changes, the rackets, the balls, the strings, what stays the same from generation to generation.

 

Jofre Porta  53:52

I think the mental the people is was mental growth in this time, we'll be mental rooting this one obviously, physically and technically so different. Even tactically know the surf. Seven teams is so important is the only thing important maybe. And and now the return mate is more important than the surf because everybody says so good. That the the mental, the you know, the mental capacities. Thing is the people who's brave will be brave now. And the people who is not brave enough will be not brave enough now No, I think is the kind of thing that doesn't change.

 

Daniel Kiernan  54:29

Very good. And to take you into into the modern, the modern game. Now. We've and again on the podcast, we've had Craig O'Shaughnessy, we've had Mike James, you know that a really heavy you know, the Player Analytics, the data analytics. What's What's your thoughts on how data analytics is coming into tennis?

 

Jofre Porta  54:53

I think will be really, really important, will be very, very important because it's clear that uh the tactics the patterns of the shots give you a lot of solution for understand the game no even for instant individually every single player this one will help a lot I want give me the chance that believe that will be in the know the only thing you can do I want to I want to I want I'd love to make this game a need to believe that is the one will help a lot for understand the game but in the same time I think I want to believe maybe right is no but don't Don't Don't thank me this this The thinking is their part that is magic. You know you cannot control by numbers obviously numbers will control a lot of things. But when you have a good shot multiple and you need to play down the line there players will play in an area players will play insightful report you know, I think is this kind of things. The numbers doesn't doesn't give you the 100% but the intelligent artificial intelligence can make a lot of things but I want to believe not everything because it's not nonsense we can play everybody in the PlayStation is more of one with a demo. I got my chair.

 

Daniel Kiernan  56:19

Exactly. And if you two to two questions, I'll ask one question first, if you will, working with a top 100 plan now would you use data analytics to help you Yeah,

 

Jofre Porta  56:34

Yeah. One thing is my dreams and nothing is that real? You know, I think this won't help a lot. The only thing I am actually sure it's absolutely true. The only thing is I want to be one space. I don't want to believe the one is the 100% you know but of course that that gives us so many options for understand the game and the same times for put this program with the shots over cameras will be not easy because looks crazy sometimes you know, you have a pattern but it's not. It's not the pattern so clear. You take Mantega you the President was very clear now it's more difficult to understand the pattern and and obviously they play without thinking you know a player is naturally don't look like they have a real plan when he played Of course they have a plan with which they rarely have a plan but it's a plan very open I want to believe Yeah, I want I wish maybe I want to also understand these kind of things like they also important things in this game I want to believe that they are one part that is not controlled controllable. Did

 

Daniel Kiernan  57:42

you Did you see the Alcaraz passing shot, that 7665 4015 To demeure there's and if you haven't seen it, you need to get on to YouTube and you need to watch this shot, you know, one that he's got the mental belief that he can still win this match, but no data analyst can tell can tell us that somebody's going to play a shot like that, you know? So my second part to that question, Jennifer is would you like to work with a top 100 player again and travel on the tour?

 

Jofre Porta  58:21

I I try to be honest always speak I'm very lucky because I work with two fantastic players mazing player they make fantastic trips my last trip with with ratha was in Miami when he did further was amazing. But I will if I can because you never know if I can. I will I like to work with the youngest players. If one of the younger players doesn't blow up and want to carry on with me and we can we go together maybe I can work with a top 100 But take 200 or 200 or 100 I think my fields of your work etc etc. is only working if I work with a player till the beginning you know when he's young I don't want to take older players they don't want to take top 100 or top 10 But really I'm so sorry but I tell that they may be nervous but I need to feel that I'm part important of that I need to feel that the respect of the player that they're respectful is not that but it's more than respect I want to when I see my player look at me like a father or like exactly but I need this feeling the money is not so important and and the Angus please give me that you know on the east these guys carry on and they're good and good and good. And we arrived to Kansas land fantastic but I don't want to take over place at the moment I can change tomorrow.

 

Daniel Kiernan  59:54

When Carlos Alcaraz calls us next week. This would be very good. Difficulty turned down. But in terms of in terms of you, if you did go on the road, what would happen to your academy? Because I can imagine and I've not been there. I've not been and I've said to you at the start, I really do. And I promise, I want to come and see you at some point. But I can't imagine that your academy is the same if you're not there.

 

Jofre Porta  1:00:24

I live in the academy. Yeah, yeah, I live in the academy in the I don't believe that we have a system it was because it's very free. Everything is very free. But we have one. One system of work that is easy to follow. I am here. Sometimes that can be one week. I don't call you this time. Maybe I go one conference in I don't know in Australia, I am 15 days out of Dhaka we put the maximum can happen. I'm here all the time I live in the academy. I try not travel a lot with the players because I think I can have more here. And I'm here all the time, and will leave my wife and me we have two rooms is our house. You know we live in the academy when in touch with the kids for 24 hours per day is I know every small detail all the kids because we live together. This one is all so cool. Nanos not so cool, because it's good for something because we can come we care about a lot of things. But this family is structured, make dramas do small things, knowing or everything have a good thing to everything about bad things. But really, I don't pass a lot of time, but it doesn't get me because it's a it's my house. It's my real campus.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:01:35

And how long can you do that for? Because it when I hear that? You know, like, I'm very passionate, and I I've had my academy for 12 years. But it gets to 830 at night. And I like get me get me away from these kids for a few hours. You know, and, you know, I don't take many holidays, but I do take some you know, is this something that you think you can continue for 10, 20 years? Is this something that you're gonna get tired of because that's that's got to be some people listening will think that's very, very difficult. And when you say Welcome to hell, they'll be thinking Jofre and this is how for you having to having to live there as well.

 

Jofre Porta  1:02:27

This year, we buy the facilities now we ran the Forum this year, we by the time that I buy something like this, because I never see all these kinds of things. And now I cannot escape, you know,

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:02:41

You're stuck?

 

Jofre Porta  1:02:44

But the truth is, I told my joke game I told my wife I imagined myself in 10 years or 20 years. Like oh man sweep the court, you know, very angry because the gift leaves the paper like this, I don't imagine me retired in the mountains or the beach, you know, I imagined me on court fighting with the kids in another way. You know, I think for me, really, I think happened to you to know when you are out of the Academy you can disconnect. You know, for me, for me, it's easier. It's my mentality. It's easy to disconnect in the academic? Because I am close you know, I don't think the you know, this has party is good is not prepared because I know there's happened something out there you know, and this one made me more free is a concept a little weird. But this How would my mind or how I convince my mind that is working? And we make these can also think you know, I have two hours free I can go to sleep assistance, or whatever, you know, because I don't spend throw because leaving me at stake food because you know, it's a very simple life. But it's like my sister is coming maybe six months ago say Gioffre you live like in a camping? Yeah, no, no, I tell the school is cooler. They're not okay, because I love to live like you know, it's not to have to room not is not is not alive the normal way people live but we'd really really really love this kind of love is the kind of life that is how we understand that in a when Jay so much.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:04:25

Well Joffrey, your your passion, your enthusiasm just comes through so loudly and so and so clearly. You know, it's infectious, you know? And, and I think anybody that it gets a chance to be around you, you know, are very lucky and like I said, anybody anybody listening, I know. There's you know, global global tennis academy, you know, check it out. You know, it's something that's an experience that you should all give a go. I know as well as something I'm going to look into is to come and see You may be in September because I believe you also offer this experience for tennis coaches to come as well.

 

Jofre Porta  1:05:08

Yeah this video is we make something really no not really but different no they will when they stand tennis or our our how interesting tennis or we understand tennis is not the typical way and we'll have to cheer that he every year is coming 30, 40, 50 coaches sometimes in the global experience that we organized and sometimes just coming for for be one week with us and share the time and the knowledge together and we enjoy we'd really love to share our experience or our knowledge or our stupidity I don't know where we share but we really really really enjoy and and obviously when you would you teach you learn during the same time because in the it's not one thing close that you listen and honest no no it's normally there are no other people and we can know but when you make that I make Laddie who might go to their you know is an in the middle of the title or was when I go some symposium or something like this once in person is good when the middle conference the middle of the conference is good you know what the people want go out to the conference speak about is when the conference is good doesn't matter conference very nice very important but the the people not connect to and speak about later is as a word what we try to do is that not that okay we pass on knowledge we we record Oh in the computer but then we need to speak about we need to play with this information I tell the coaches playing with information don't don't look in one system play with information and make your own system and this system today is like this maybe once a year is absolutely different our periodization today or five years ago is absolutely different. And it's funny just guess because it's funny play with that.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:06:58

Yeah, very good. Now our tradition that control the controllables we have a quick fire question round to finish. So are you ready?

 

Jofre Porta  1:07:12

I'm absolutely ready.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:07:14

What does control the controllables mean to you?

 

Jofre Porta  1:07:21

We believe a lot in the in the in the stoics you know the philosophy this takes because of it and these are little like these know what you can control controlling what you cannot control yes adapt you know I think life is like this tennis is like this for that I really believe you need to control what you can but don't try to control what you can adapt accept.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:07:42

Very good. Your favorite Grand Slam

 

Jofre Porta  1:07:46

So sorry for England but it's Australia I love Australia but not especially because the game as for the most firmness I think is the more I never been in USA affiliate give me I feel that I am Stan is you know nothing more nobody cared about how you raise nobody cared about nothing you know it's just tennis and tennis and tennis and for that I feel so comfortable enough to have a loft area

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:08:16

When when you said earlier about the white shirt and the yellow on the on the shirt. It was never going to be Wimbledon

 

Jofre Porta  1:08:28

Okay I never judge but on another very comfortable in Australia

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:08:35

Absolutely serve or return

 

Jofre Porta  1:08:39

Return I think serve now the everyone is served so good that the difference start to come from the return

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:08:48

Clay courts or hardcourts

 

Jofre Porta  1:08:51

I don't want to answer clay of course clay

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:08:59

next one's even easier Rafa or Roger?

 

Jofre Porta  1:09:04

Absolutely easy. Of course. I love Roger is amazing guy but I love how we play but I know Rafa a lot. I will always do cannot use Rafa for kids The keys like everything will wrap up but you can use because it is so difficult and then you tell the Rafa make that as a rough as Rafa you know but you can use so many parts of his life like example for the player that is no just because I love him because like Sam is because helped me so much in my work.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:09:37

Whowill be this year's Roland Garros male champion?

 

Jofre Porta  1:09:43

Rafa. I think really, I don't know how how Rafa will be right but I want to see really I'm very curious EA wants to say I'm very excited to sell Kara's clean tournaments of five sets. uh in in clay I think we'll be will be crazy to see how manage the bat I think I think have a good chance I want to believe always like it's been you know. Obviously Rafa is good etc etc will be fantastic, but I think a good bet is on caressed.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:10:21

And what about the women's Roland Garros

 

Jofre Porta  1:10:27

The women's is difficult to know because it's so many players no one appear they all disappear. I can tell you one thing about this one one coach I don't remember the name is from Belarus. And he make a conference and he tell one difference in the boys and the girls that obviously we are not the same no matter what the other but at the same. And she told me the difference. Biggest difference for practice with boys and girls is one boy will make a disaster make a disaster. One girl will make a disaster. She's a disaster. Now the capacity of the boys of say, is not me. It's the one thing that they do. And they else when I make something, it's me this, this we need to work a lot. Unfortunately social I don't I don't want to say that we're born like this, but socially or not? What is the feeling that it happens so many times we need to feed the girls to be far of what I do is not what I am, you know? And I don't know really, I don't know who will be I can bind that you can be the TRICARE player, February players. But now I'm really really confusing the feminine. I love that because it's changing so much. But yeah, I love the feminine tennis because I think is more tactical, sometimes more than the males. But I really don't know I don't want to say because because

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:11:51

Medical timeout or not? Should we be allowed a medical timeout or not?

 

Jofre Porta  1:11:58

Like always, no, it's I think it's fair. But in the same times, we need to be careful how we use the people. For me, it's so clear how the some players use the the medical timeout for for break the rhythm of the opponent, etcetera, etcetera. Maybe the only way for refer is no medical timeout. But in the same time some sometimes it's necessary for me, it's difficult to understand that we have one injury, you need to stop 510 minutes, you can recover in a one on one moment. Maybe we need to be tasks on the side that battle like you're having injury but like for you. You have a little time but not we cannot break the rhythm of the of the match.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:12:45

Comfort Zone makes idiots keep them out of their comfort zone. No medical timeouts, no medical timeouts. Davis Cup or ATP cup.

 

Jofre Porta  1:12:57

You know, that's spangle and Jason made the baby steps so long time. But now it's difficult is difficult that I understand that the players have so many matches. Maybe one of the problem is that there are so many so many tournaments. But I love the baby scabby I love the old Davis Cup. We need to look at one way but Davis Cup for me is something important. I believe a lot because it's part of my life. So just just because that is part of my forehand or backhand. I can say a little more insight for him. While your voice coach?

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:13:37

Exactly. And who should our next guest be? On the podcast?

 

Jofre Porta  1:13:45

I have one is a is polar tango, I think is a is amazing. I don't know it's coming before but polar Tango is the other one. John, four calories is the physical coach of Malala Awards, the physical coach of Maya. I think these two persons helped me so much. I think the information they give is crazy. So so so.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:14:09

So now I'll be in touch because your job is to help me help introduce.

 

Jofre Porta  1:14:16

So I can speak with them. And personally, the especially Juwan is difficult because he's like, you know, it's like men in the mountain along you know, because of like the popularity of both have a little bit more but of course I will pass you speak as you the contact of course.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:14:35

Jofre, thank you, I, I've learned so much from this conversation. I know that everybody that listens will as well thank you so much for your time and keep up the great work that you're doing in our industry. Thank you.

 

Jofre Porta  1:14:49

It's a real pleasure. Thank you so much for inviting me and for giving me the possibility to share with you and you share with me. So much information. Thank you so much.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:15:00

Just Gracias Jofre that's about all I've got. After 12 years in Spain, there's not a lot more to offer. It's painful. It's shocking, really. And I couldn't have spoke to him in a bit more Spanish but great guest loved it took took so much from that. But before we get to Jofre, I want to bring the you in Vicki at this point because big news in the tennis world this week, Wimbledon's announcement, and no, no players from Russia or Belarus, able to play Wimbledon this year already been a big backlash on that from the ATP WTA. I'm hearing some decisions are going to be made over the next few days as to whether ATP and WTA points are going to count towards Wimbledon. But I guess this backs up what you said a few weeks ago that you feel that this is the right action to take.

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:16:01

Do we really want to start with my strong strong opinions on this? I mean, yeah, I personally believe it's the only action to take. I read read the news when it came in and was like, fantastic. I know a lot of people who think very, very differently, and that sport and politics shouldn't mix is the common comment that I keep reading. But for me, this isn't politics. It's not Biden versus Trump and what we all think about that it's not whether Boris should resign over drinks during lockdown. For me, politics really isn't the right word for this. It's about innocent people being murdered, essentially, tortured, raped. Just look at the separation that's going on the millions of people that have fled Ukraine. You know, if you listen to the podcast regularly, you might have heard us talk about we're supporting some young tennis players, their parents have made the decision to drive across Europe. Some of the families it took them 24 hours just to get over the border in Ukraine. One mother has come with her 10 year old and her four month old baby, she's had to leave her husband behind who's had to fight so she's worrying about him every single moment of every day and the rest of her family left behind. She is in a strange country, having to get her head around Spanish and English. Her husband is left in Ukraine missing his children missing this amazingly special time with his newborn baby that he'll never get back. And they've had to make this decision as a family to keep their children safe. They said that's the number one priority is their safety, of course. But she's come this far from Ukraine to Spain to enable her eldest son to continue having some normality in his life by keep on doing the sport that he loves. And another family we were speaking to, they got as far as Poland. And they couldn't travel on any further they had a five year old daughter who was so traumatized by everything that was going on. And just the journey itself to get out. They they had to say, look, we just can't carry on at the moment. We can't carry on the journey to Spain, we have to just settle and and just focus on her and make sure she's okay, of course. These are the stories with positive outcomes, as opposed to what we're reading daily in the newspapers. But still, the effects that this is having on on individual families and as a nation as a whole, is horrific. And while I will miss the Russian and Belarusian players at Wimbledon, I will I don't think 16 or so players not playing a tournament. Okay. Yeah, it was one of the biggest tournaments of the year. I don't think their sacrifice is even in the same sentence is even comparable to the sacrifice a whole nation of people are having to make. And I'd love I'd love to have seen the ATP and WTA make a stronger stance on this really?

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:18:59

Well, I think we might. But I think they might make a strong stance against what you're after. And it's I've softened on my views. I know that a few weeks ago, on the podcast, I said I don't think they should be banned. I find it hard to argue against against your points, you know, and I certainly don't want to argue against them. You know, I'm with you. It's a small price to pay. It's it's hard for us to even compare somebody being pulled out of a tennis tournament compared to what's going on. Is that really going to have the impact? I don't know. You know, if everyone does it, maybe it does. It's just that I think where my head's at with it all it's, I'm caught in between this position where I just can't really believe that this is what's happening in 2022. You know that there's individuals that are that are going ahead and doing such things that a nation Is his man handling and and blowing up humans taking out taking out a country? And you know what we can do as a sport? I don't know, Wimbledon have a brave stance. It's a brave stance for Wimbledon to make. I think it's a brave stance as well for the LTA to also jump on, you know, has it come from the government? What other potential repercussions for Wimbledon LTA on that? Are people going to jump on board with it. You know, we saw with the Peng Shuai situation, people made stances for a few weeks, and then everyone tends to get back to normal life when when people in Ukraine just aren't going to be able to do that. And I I'll, I'll be honest, I don't have a strong feeling anymore. I just I just wish for peace in this world. I really do. And just hope and pray that we're going to find a way for for these countries. And it's not just Russia and Ukraine, you know, we've got this there's many countries in the world, that these terrible actions are happening as well. And who will we I guess, on this podcast, to put that to write but I think we are also right to bring attention to it. And could you people thinking

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:21:21

Could you sit, you know, will often as an academy sit and watch the Wimbledon semis final could you set with the Ukrainian families that we've got at the Academy right now and knowing the difficulties that they're going through having to leave family members behind and Ukraine to fight just the journeys alone to get here. Could you be cheering on Medvedev, for example, or rube Levin, the semis, the finals of Wimbledon, watching them lift potentially lifting the Wimbledon trophy? I gotta we can't that. What message does that send?

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:21:54

I think I think if they're representing Russia, I think that's a different thing. I mean,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:21:58

Of course they're representing Russia, whether they have the picture of the flag next to them. Of course, they're representing Russia, their Russian athletes,

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:22:05

If we see the way that rube loves talked about it. I mean, he's stuck in between a rock and a hard place, isn't he? Because he's, he's gone as far almost, I'd rather

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:22:14

I'd rather be stuck between a rock and a hard place and be stuck between having to leave my home or get bombed.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:22:19

But I'm not sure that's on Rublev.

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:22:21

So if it's not on the Ukrainian families, either, but if

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:22:25

we take rube Lev, how far can he go? Without his his government, his leader, all of a sudden, he disappears off the face of the earth, you know, so. So for him to be completely outspoken against it is very difficult. You know, he's I know that him writing no war and peace and things on the cameras is not going to change it. But but I'm also not sure that an individual like that who blatantly doesn't agree with what is going on him being punished as necessarily,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:22:56

I don't think he's condemned what is going on there.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:22:58

I think I think it's very difficult for him to go much further than he actually has. You know, there's a, there's not a freedom of speech in Russia. You know, there's, you know, where we again, I talked about the we talked about it earlier, the banks were in China, there's not there's not the freedom of speech that's allowed in some of these countries. And I guess, the energy that needs to go somewhere, but I certainly don't think the blame should be going somewhere. I understand that if if that as a sanction, if all sports got together stopped all Russians from competing, that may be then the pressure of that will start to build,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:23:39

And it has to start somewhere for that to happen, isn't it? Yeah, but it does.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:23:43

But I always think there needs to be an agreement made across sports across or even just take tennis itself, you know, get your agreements, right first, I'm not sure Wimbledon have done themselves any favors, just just making that one decision themselves, potentially isolating themselves the LTA potentially isolating themselves as well have the conversations with the ATP WTA. And I think it shows the fractures that we have in our sport. If we can't come out with a global message. This is what has been decided as a sport. For this reason. I think I can go with that more. I think I can go with that more and then maybe use that to try and get other sports and get the athletes to really understand that this is not nothing personal. This is something that we feel we need to do. As as a world to apply pressure, speak to your leader, speak to your government, see if the change can be made. But in reality 1617 players not playing Wimbledon is not going to have any impact on Vladimir, well,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:24:48

We're talking about it. So it's already had an impact in the tennis community. If you go if you're on Twitter and the first few days even now that is all anyone is talking about very, very much. wrong opinions for and very, very strong opinions against most of the opinions I've been reading or actually against were

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:25:05

Most are against. And I think you'll have a lot of people that in look, we, we want PCs, you know, everyone's got their own opinions, it's polarizing. It's, I think, ultimately everyone wants, everyone wants the same thing. But I think the argument is, Should these individuals suffer? And, and Ukraine individuals or for what, for what reason? You know, because is that is that going to have the impact, you can keep talking about the, you know, the Ukraine individuals, we know that we know that that is what this is all about. But but as a, you know, stop Russians playing the World Cup football field, for me has a much bigger impact, stopping them going to the Olympics has a much bigger impact, because it's a nation. You know, the individuals RWB lives lived in Spain all his life, you know, all of his tenants life, you know, you could argue he's happened happened to have Russian parents, you know, very few of us got Russian parents, does that mean it's very, doesn't play, you know, where? Where is the line drawn? And how do we set this up so that it has maximum impact. And I think just one isolated Grand Slam, and Federation, coming out and making this rule, like I said, before, it's brave, it's really brave, you know, and in lots of ways, fair play to them. You know, that's the stance they want to take. But I would have loved to have seen the sport get together and make a stance together on this as a sport, rather than in the fractures that we currently see.

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:26:35

When it's difference of opinions. Even there, isn't it? You know, there's ATP and the WTA made their decision, and obviously Wimbledon LTA does not agree

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:26:43

They do but there's my point. This is the whole problem with the tennis industry. There's, there's too many, there's too many fractures within it. There's too many organizations, there's not enough collectiveness, you know, so then there's not enough power. And this is we're talking about something that's massive here in terms of a wall. But that that comes down to whether it's prize money, whether it's in a distribution of of TV rights, whether it's sponsorship deals, whether it's, you know, gambling, which we talked about a few weeks ago, that they're not they're not coming together and work and working together. And I think, you know, would it be nice to have seen that, because now all that's going to happen is you're going to have a lot of in house fighting the ATP and WTA, I think, by the time this goes out, I think they might have already done it, I think they're going to I'm hearing that they are going to take ATP and WTA points out of those events, you know, because they're going to counter so then it's going to become in house fighting within the tennis world, which defeats the whole objective of really what's going on. But I think to move on, because I think we could talk about this for hours, I certainly am not disagreeing with you, you know, I think I'm softening to that way of looking at it. But I'd like to see sports and organizations as a whole, do something a little bit stronger, that will actually have a maximum impact. But I do have some empathy for the individuals that as well, you know, that are that are finding themselves in these positions. But yeah, let's let's as always sell prayers and, and and see what we can we can all do to rally around and hope that hope that this, this nightmare for so many comes to an end sooner rather than later. But I think we do have to we do have to move on. And apologies for those of you that haven't come on here to listen to that debate, but a vitally important topic in the world right now. But when we want to move back to our amazing guest, Joffrey Porter, and just so full of knowledge, and again, I said all the time, but I get to see their faces more times than not when we have the video call. And he had such a cheekiness about him as well. You know, you could really see ease passion, everything about him, like so much going on in his head. You know, this is his life, and just so many golden takeaways to take with us from that one. Well,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:29:14

I think we both have the same one. Effort is not a sacrifice that for me, jumped out at me as soon as you said it, a lovely little, quote, we used it at the start of the episode and something I've been trying to keep in my mind all week.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:29:29

I've I've used it 44 times in squads this week. And it's, you know, don't don't don't celebrate that you worked hard. You know, that's, of course you work hard, you know, and that's it. And I think it's just, it's such an insight into people talking about the Spanish system. And systems aren't. I don't think there is such a thing as a system in the tennis world. It's an individual sport, you know. You've got clop and Gladiola. for Liverpool and Man City, they've got a system that maybe they play in a with their teams from 20 years old, on to the first team, but when we're talking about nations, in an individual sport and so many ways to skin, the cat, and it's storming, there is necessarily a system that works. But there is certain things that go through and seem to be just in the, in the makeup of these of these Spanish cultures. And in turn the Spanish players, and that is the one you call should give you best, every single time, every single point, every single week, every day, every tournament, on court off court, you know, and he seems to have that down in abundance. I do know quite a few players that have gone to his academy. Not many have made it through the week. It genuinely is tough as boons. I love the concepts of normal mobile phones all day. Yeah, no distractions. No. And just getting back to that kind of old fashioned way of working, you know, and I think, I mean, it's massive. And if if people have the passion, then then I think they flourish. I think the problem is, if they don't have the absolute passion obsession with it, they'll use it as an excuse. And and I can only imagine how many people have come and gone through the doors of his academy and blamed him. Because ultimately, they don't, they don't they don't cut it. And I think that it brings a greater kind of dilemma into into us as tennis coaches, you know, how you are, you know, it's quite tough as a coach, but I also am trying to get that get that balance of keeping people loving, loving the sport, you know, do we sometimes go the other way where we're a bit fluffy? And it's all a bit too? nicey? Nice. I think so at times, I think coaches are definitely guilty of that.

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:31:59

Different players respond to different ways as well. Absolutely.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:32:03

Absolutely. And, you know, you take Rafael Nadal, he was made in that way. He was made in that way, Tony, Tony Nadal, actually quite a funny story. I was at the dal Academy, back in November 2021. And Tony spoke to the coaches, the parents, the players. And one of the first things he said is he said, If you I tell my sons, wherever they go to play tennis, just when people ask you who their father is, make sure that they don't say it to me, because then my secret's out that I'm actually not that good. And, you know, really nice story and his boys played to a good level. A couple of our guys at the Academy beat them in close matches, but great attitudes. And in exactly that, you know, Tony's probably put the same into his sons, if not more than he did to refer, you know, and Raph has gone on to win 21 grand slams, his son's a six 700 and the World Juniors, and it brings home that ultimately it is on the players, you know, there's no coach in the world that's got that's got that magic. And that brings me into another little court that he said, which I loved it, it was it was along the lines of I don't teach my students, you know, he prepares the environment for them to learn. And I love that as well. I use the sat nav concept. Along the lines of that there's, you know, ultimately if you don't have a player with passion, doesn't matter how good the environment is, they're not necessarily going to learn the lessons that they do. And I love that he's putting all of the ownership and that control the controllables back onto the players.

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:33:41

I really liked what he was saying about Carlos Moya and Rafa and Adele's relationship. I didn't realize a lot of the background. They're very family oriented. Yeah, I mean, we said individual sport, but the Spanish do seem very tight as well, very supportive of each other.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:33:58

But you see that, don't you anyway, you know, you see that in the restaurants here. I mean, when we moved here, the shock, we got that, you know, people in the community are constantly saying, Oh, well, we'll look after your kids. You know, that's fine. You know, you guys have a bit of a bit of quiet time. You know, I think that the Spanish family culture is like that, or when we had our second child who was born in Spain you just sent home because the care is with the family, the cares not necessarily in the hospital. And I think that is very very inbuilt. And again, it's quite subtle but you do see it you know, there's a there is a bit of a family together feel. You see it now with Carlos Alcaraz with the other Spanish players. You know, he's Korean or busta. I know they train together but they seem very tight. And it goes a long way we need we need that need that support. So that's where we are. That's where we learn, you know, the next guest that's coming in in a week's time who I've had the conversation With today, actually Dalma Golfy world number one Junior who's just broken the top 100 in the world WTA that comes on the back of five years, which was 136 in the world when she was 90 and it's taken a four or five years to then get inside 100 But it comes on the back of two other two other Hungarian girls who broke the top 100 The two months before, you know and that we delve into whether one of the reasons that she got there was that and that's the way that we work as human beings, we we've got barriers in place, you know, Rafa growing up with Carlos Moya would have opened all of those barriers, you know, and I think that the Spanish continue to do that. They've got a lovely relationship. But is he going to win Roland Garros?

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:35:51

Oh, I want him to win so badly.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:35:54

Number 22. In 2022,

 

Victoria Kiernan  1:35:57

it's got such a nice ring to it.

 

Daniel Kiernan  1:36:01

Playing against Carlos Alcaraz in the final would be an unbelievable event for Spanish tennis, but also for global tennis. And then we'll get them both on maybe to talk about and afterwards on control. controllables sorry, we've gone on a bit, guys, I know this one. If you're still with us, you are big supporters. And we thank you greatly for that. If you're not, then you won't hear this. So it doesn't matter anywhere. But we will be back like I said Dalma Galfi. Coming up. I'm excited also to announce we've got Mark beef Taylor, the fitness coach of the recently retired Ash Barty. So what amazing insights we're going to get into not only how he trained, but also the mindset of ash Barty. He's been part of the team for the last few years. Many more guests to come. Thank you all for supporting. Please keep liking rating reviewing. But until next time, I'm Dan Kiernan and we are Control the Controllables