Why I like only fan and not Instagram, because after a lose, for example, I receive 200 people who bet on my match and who say, Alex, I want you to die. What I think in tennis top 150, top 200, we need to do it every day. Like every day. You need to choose one hour and one address. I'm not doing it. My mom does it for me.

It's way easier. Ah,

Alex Miller is a French professional tennis player, together with Nick Gios. Alex raised some eyebrows by his recent partnership with OnlyFans. The 28-year-old is currently based in Dubai and ranked 41st in the world. The humble Frenchman is slowly climbing the ladder and has his sights set on the top.

What does it feel like to be one of only two athletes in tennis that are sponsored by OnlyFans? It's crazy. For example, this week in Miami, if I break my rocket, I got, I dunno, 10,000. So every players are like robots. Not doing anything. Mm-hmm. Because who wants to pay 10, 10,000 fine. Uh, food racket. Ena Williams is selling more tickets than myself.

She needs to earn more money than me because it's working like this. Mm-hmm. And I think if you organize a tournament only with ladies and only with men, people gonna buy tickets to come see the mens and not the ladies. Nice. I thought, uh, I'm gonna be 40 after the, the semis I met last week in Punta, but I'm 4 41, so when I woke up this morning, I was pretty sad.

What do you think it's gonna take for you to win Grand Slam? I think to win a slam and you need to be a legend. Who in your opinion is the goat? For me it is.

But first guys, I need to ask you a huge favor to please like and subscribe. And if you're feeling generous, drop a comment. This makes such a huge difference to the YouTube algorithm, and at this stage, we need all the help we can get because the bigger the podcast gets, the bigger the guests back to this episode.

So, Alex, what does it feel like to be one of only two athletes in tennis that are sponsored by OnlyFans? Uh, so yes. I signed last year. I was the first one with Nick Rios. Mm-hmm. Uh, so for sure, my friend told me, Hey, what are you doing on OnlyFans? Stuff like this. But, uh, no, it's, it was very funny and I mean, I love it.

I just signed my new, my new contract for this year, 2025. Mm-hmm. So I'm very exciting trying to, to make some new stuff, funny stuff on my account. Uh, trying to show to everybody how is tennis life, uh, some behind the scenes during the tournament and stuff like this. So I'm really enjoying the, the journey on Holyan.

Mm-hmm. Uh, and yeah, it's, it's nice to, to, to talk with you with, uh, some athletes on, uh, who is, uh, sponsored by Onan too. So, yeah, it's very nice. And what's the, the response been like in, in tennis? Like how, how have people reacted to, you know, to the sponsorship? I mean, I guess Nick had the same, um, but yeah, I'd be interested to get your take.

It was only some, some jokes, uh mm-hmm. By, by my friend at the beginning. But, uh, now everybody wants to sign with only fan. Uh, they, they say, Hey Alex, do you have the contact? Uh, I. It's always the same when you take some risk, uh, at the beginning. Yeah. Uh, people are talking and after, uh, they see that it's, uh, it's, everything is normal and only fun because they were talking for sure about the aortic things.

Mm-hmm. But, uh, they're trying to, to, to change it. And that's why, uh, we are on Onan right now. So, no, it's, everything is cool. Uh, I'm talking with only very cool guy, uh, on Onan. Everybody is very kind with me. Mm-hmm. So everything is perfect. I, I don't know. What about you? If you have some, if you can tell me how it's working, if you're talking with people.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's been very much the same. Um, I think in the beginning, like everyone was like, Ooh, like, what's going on? You know, what are you doing on OnlyFans? Um, even my, my wife or girlfriend at the time when I told her she was like. Okay. But, uh, yeah, as soon, you know, like as soon as people really find out, you know, that we are posting, you know, sport content and, and behind the scenes and, and really focusing on that, then I think people understand.

And I think people judge too quickly because they kind of think about the adult content and they're like, oh, okay, what's, what's happening? But, um, I think it's cool and I think it's a good, um, opportunity also for athletes to, to earn some extra income. Um, 'cause especially in smaller sports that, I mean, tennis has good prize money and golf and things, but something like mountain biking and stuff, the prize money is not so good.

So I think it's a cool opportunity for people to, to really connect with the people that actually wanna see their content and are willing to, to pay something for it. 'cause I think it's, it's a lot of work, um, for people to create this stuff. And on other platforms it's only free. And, um, you know, especially.

In, in some, some smaller sports. I think it's, uh, it can be very useful. I mean, I dunno how it's been a opportunity. Were you, were you surprised, uh, with how I, I dunno. I mean, I'm assuming, are you monetizing some of your content on OnlyFans as well? Yes, yes. Sometimes yes. Everything. Were you surprised that the surpris, were you surprised at the response or like how excited or clean people were?

Yes, yes. Yes. Because, uh, at the beginning I didn't know about, only found how it was working and everything. Mm-hmm. And, uh, yeah, I said, okay, I'm gonna put something I don't know at the gym. I'm gonna put three, $5 at the beginning just to see how it works. And I, and I see people taking my, uh, buying my, uh, my videos.

So I was quite surprised. But, uh, I mean, I'm not posting it. On Instagram or Facebook, just on Onan. Mm-hmm. So it's a little bit like, uh, pri stuff for only my followers. So I think it's, it's good for them. And, uh, when I'm asking to the, to the people, do you like my, my content on Onan? The everybody say yes.

So I mean, every, everything is great because since How long are you with Onan? A few years. Since, uh, 2023. Yeah. So this is my third year. Okay. With them. Okay. So yes, you're not new. You are whole athlete Onan.

Um, I think it's pretty cool as well, like to be almost like a pioneer, like doing something different, um, and grab some attention for sure. From the media, which I think is. It's always a good thing, uh, for an athlete. So, yeah. Um, yeah. When I met, uh, rubble, he was number six in the world last year in mm-hmm.

Doing, uh, the a TP 1000 in, uh, in Roma. And I put the, the cap after the match only fan during the, the interview. And it was like crazy. Every, uh, every media took, uh, a photo or mulis with only fan, what the fuck, and all the stuff, but I mean, I liked it. That's cool. Uh, you obviously Nick Crio is also with him.

Do you, do you know him and was that what inspired you to reach out or? Um, yeah. Uh, well, first one I signed, I didn't know Nick was, uh, with only fan. Okay. And, um. He is, I think 29 or 30 now I'm, I'm 28, so we are, we are not exactly the same age, so I don't know him very well. Of course I see him during tournaments, but, uh, I mean, we don't speak the same language.

Even my English is not the, the best. So when I see him, of course we say hello, but no, I, I don't know him, uh, very well. What are, I mean, obviously he, he's a bit of a, uh, I know what they call him, the bad boy of tennis, but like a McEnroe kind of modern day. Yeah. What's your thoughts on on, yeah, on that and like, like, 'cause from my side, like, you know, people have these different opinions on like when people lose their temper and break rackets and stuff.

And on the one side, obviously it maybe doesn't look that good, but at the same time it also grabs attention and people like to be entertained. So I'm always interested to, to hear Yeah, your, your thoughts on something like that. I think, uh, we need it. Uh, 'cause now in tennis, for example, I don't know. You go to Wimbledon, you break a racket on the grass, uh, you have, uh, 20,000 fine.

Uh, so, so it's, it's crazy. Uh, I dunno, for example, this week in Miami, uh, if I break my racket, I got, I dunno, 10,000. So every players are like robots not doing anything. Mm-hmm. Because I mean, who wants to pay 10, 10,000 fine. Uh, for, yeah. To break a racket. So I think we need to, to change it because the crowd wants to see people going crazy, wants to see players.

No, it's true. Once when, when the player is breaking racket, everybody likes it. I mean, uh, even for the media, for, for everything. So I think it's not good. Uh, Nick is not a good example. Because I mean, I'm maybe the opposite. I'm a very calm person, for example. Yeah. I never broke a racket. Mm-hmm. But, uh, I never broke a racket.

Maybe because before doing it, I'm thinking about the 10,000 fines, so I'm not doing it. Yeah. I resist, I know to control myself. But, uh, no. I think now it's a little bit too much. Uh, we have to, to let the, the players going crazy sometimes. We're not robots. Mm-hmm. Uh, it's sports. It's a crazy sport. So I think McEnroe, uh, before Nick right now is, uh, is good for tennis.

Mm-hmm. I mean, I don't know what's your opinion about it, but, um, for me, I think when you watch some tennis match, you, you like to, you like to watch Charact for sure. Mm-hmm. For sure. I think I. Yeah, it's always a difficult question, but, um, I for sure think it's a good thing. Um, I mean, I understand that, you know, you don't wanna set a bad example or whatever for kids and stuff, but at the same time it's entertaining and it's, you remember it.

Uh, I mean, like McEnroe for example, I mean, of course he was a fantastic player, but I think he's probably most remembered for, for all the things that happened. You know, and, and I may be similar with Nick, I don't know, but I think you definitely remember that. And, um, there are many good players that have come and gone, and they aren't talked about necessarily as much as, as McEnroe would be, for example.

So I think it's a, a good thing for the sport. And I mean, yeah, people, unfortunately, humans, we have to put some limits. We have to put some limits. Yeah. But for example, 20,000 fine to break a racket. I mean, yeah. That's insane. Even in, in the real life. If you, if you rob, uh, I don't know a bank, you will have, uh, 10,000 fines.

So, I don't know. There is a big difference, uh, to, to, to make, um, talking about the, I mean, you mentioned the, the, the fines. I mean, obviously there's good, um, good prize money in tennis. Um, what's, I, I think it's, it's always hard from the outside because, um, like from a sport like mountain biking, the prize money sucks.

Like the, the riders rely on sponsorships. Um, and the prize money is terrible. Um, but I think from the outside of tennis, you look and you know, someone who's winning Wimbledon and they're winning millions, you know, it's like, wow, crazy. All these guys are rich. But like, what's the, from your perspective, what's the reality of, you know, really being a tennis player?

Because, I mean, not everyone is won, is winning a grand slam, you know? Um, the reality is. That now the price money is growing up every year, so it's, it's fine for us. But uh, in tennis we are still earning like only 17% of the income. Mm-hmm. Of the a TP. So it's the during of the most famous sports, for example, NBA, it's 50%.

Mm-hmm. Uh, golf is around, I don't know, 30 or 40%. So we are quite less compared to other sports. I don't want to talk about your sport because for sure it's completely unfair. Yeah. But, um, we have, we. Lot of expenses. Like for example, I'm coming with my coach, uh, so I need to pay my coach, I need to pay the flight for my coach.

Uh, I need to pay his hotel, the food, I mean everything. Mm-hmm. So I have lots of expenses. Uh, when you see the price, money, uh, on internet or the price, money on the fact sheets of the tournament, you need to, to take off the taxes of course. So for example, this week Miami, it's maybe 30%. Mm-hmm. Uh, so we have lot of expenses.

Of course it's a good sport because the price money is growing up and there is, if you play good, there is a very good price money, but there is lot of, lot of players. Uh, everybody are playing very well now, uh, practicing very hard. Mm-hmm. So it's very difficult to be on the top 100 and yes, people talk about top 100 because when you are top 100, I.

You're going into the men of the Grand Slam. Mm-hmm. And that's the tournaments, the four tournaments of Austrian, open, Wimbledon and us Open. Mm-hmm. Where there is big money, like you lose first run, you're gonna get, I dunno, 70,000, something like this. Mm-hmm. Uh, so it's quite nice. But, uh, yeah, people see only price money, but they forget sometimes all the expenses, taxes and stuff like this.

Mm-hmm. And what, like, where would you need to be? Like what ranking you number 44 right now? I think, uh, 41 we are Monday. Okay. 41. You sick, uh, and that's your highest, right? Yes. I, I, I thought, uh, I'm gonna be 40 after the, the semis I met last week in, uh, in Punta Canal, but I'm 4 41, so when I woke up this morning, I was pretty sad.

Shit. What, what do you think? Like, realistically, like how, how deep does it go for people to be making like, uh, a decent living from tennis? Like how far back would you say? I think few, few years ago it was top 100, but now if you play the, the qualities of the Slam, you need to be top 210, something like this.

Mm-hmm. Just to be in the quality like this, you can at least finish the year earning a little bit of money. But if, if you want to be a tennis player and have a good life and earn some money, you need to be top 100. Okay. So difficult because I don't know how many people in the world are playing tennis, but, uh, a lot.

Mm-hmm. So it's not, uh, that easy. And, uh, what's your opinion on the, on the. On the prize money split between men and women, like in the whole, you know, 'cause obviously there's been a huge change in the last years, you know, having equal prize money for wom men and women. What's, what's your thoughts on that?

Uh,

there is so many different opinion about this case. Uh, me, I'm thinking just about who sell the tickets. Mm-hmm. Uh, I saw something, uh, I saw Nadal talking about, about it a few, few weeks ago. He said if, uh, for example, Erena Williams, he selling more tickets than myself. Of course she, she needs to earn more money than me because it's working like this.

Mm-hmm. And I think if you organize a tournament only with ladies and only with men, people are gonna buy tickets to come see the mens and not the ladies. So, so, so for me, it's only working like this. If you sell tickets, you deserve the money. If you sell nothing and nobody wants, wants to see you, it's a little bit less.

But in tennis, in the Slam now it's equal, it's 50 50. I mean the same for men and ladies. So, I mean, I'm trying to be just focused on myself, uh, and, and we see everybody earn uh, what they deserve and, and that's it. Yeah. It's, it is a, it's 'cause I mean, we've had similar discussions in, in our sports or you know, all sports around the world and it's always hard because of course you want equality for sure.

Um, but uh, you know, there's always these different arguments from both sides and you know, who, it's difficult to know who is, who is right. You know? Um, yeah. I think that's gonna be an ongoing thing for, for many years. Yeah. Me, if, if girls are earning more than me. It's okay. I mean, I don't care. I just want myself in a, in a good position.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Maybe, uh, like we can take it back, uh, a little bit and switch gears a bit and to, to you starting your career and, um, you know, to your childhood and stuff and where did, where did tennis fit in? Like, why did you end up, you know, taking this, this pass down to be a professional tennis player?

So I'm born in north of France in Poy. It's a, it's a city near Paris and at the edge of, at six years old, we went in the south of France with my family and we had the tennis courts, uh mm-hmm. In the garden of, of our house. So I started to play tennis at the edge of seven, eight with my dad. Mm-hmm. On the family court.

And just standing like this one year with my dad, uh, in the garden after going to a small club of my village, uh, during one or two years. And after, fuck, I'm, I'm winning against everybody in this club, so I need to change. And so I changed. And after, at the age of 12, I went with the federation. Uh, I think maybe it's the same with you, you know?

Mm-hmm. There is a, I don't know what to say in English. You sleep there, you're doing the school there. So it's like a, yeah, a sports center. Uh, mm-hmm. I don't know how to call it in English. From 12 to 15. And then at 15 years old, I went to Paris. Uh, the name is EP is the, a big center with lot of sports, like basketball, uh, tennis, uh, judo, I mean, lots of, lots of sports from 15 to 18.

And then I, I was not playing that well. Uh, I got some, some injury. Uh mm-hmm. So the federation decided to, to stop, uh, with me. So I went back home during one year. And at this time, I. I mean, I made a good year. I was 800 a TP, I finished the year 300, so it was a good year. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. But, uh, it was a little bit difficult.

I was alone traveling alone, uh, every week. Uh, I had no money to, to pay the coach to, to come with me because it's really expensive. So it was a tough year. Uh, difficult moment. But, uh, I mean, after this year, finish 300 and I say, okay, now my, my, my real career is, is starting. Mm-hmm. And it was a, a good point.

So, and after this moment, I was playing every year, training with, uh, with coach most of the time. And now I'm here, 41. And re really happy about my career for the moment and trying to, to improve myself every day. That's awesome, man. Um, what, uh, I mean, you said it was tough, obviously being on your own and, and I know how it is, obviously trying to make it as an athlete.

Um, I mean it's, everyone sees athletes when they, you know, when they're winning and everything is going well, and they're like, oh, that's the dream. But, you know, most people don't see all the, all the tough times leading up to that point. What was your main, um, I guess motivation to keep pushing, you know, to keep pushing to, to try to make it as a, as a pro?

I think at the beginning I was not thinking too much about everything. You know, I was quite young. I was 17, 18, so you just, I was, I like to play tennis, so I was playing tennis, not think too much. I was still at school. Uh, I think at one moment I wanted to prove to, to people who, who didn't trust in myself that I can be a good mm-hmm.

Tennis player. Mm-hmm. But that was just at the beginning and after tennis became like my, uh, my job, you know, it was not only playing tennis, that's not my job. So of course, money, money came on my mind and, and now I'm playing. And now I'm playing because I like tennis, of course. But because also it's my job and I need to earn money to live.

So I think I'm playing a good sport. So if I can continue like this during few years and after, okay, I stopped tennis and now I stay with my, my wife, my children, my dog, and I judge. Chill. I mean, that's the plan.

That sounds like a pretty good plan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, for for sure when I'm gonna stop 10, I gonna do something in my life. But if I. I have the chance to not think about the money. Okay. I need to work hard because I need to pay the bill and everything. Mm-hmm. It's a good point. So that's why I'm working hard.

Uh, a tennis career is not very long. I mean, I can, I'm 28. Uh, if I stop at 35, it's good. So only seven years left. So I need to enjoy the career and ordering the moment. And, um, well, on that, I mean, you've obviously made some big strides in the last, in the last year. Um, talk to me about the, the Hong Kong Open and, and, uh, yeah.

Getting that win. It was after a good preseason in Dubai. Uh, I practiced with a lot of very good player, uh, senior for you know, him. Mm-hmm. Um, so it was a good preseason during all December and Hong Kong was the first tournament of the year. Uh, I won it, get my first a TP title. Uh, couldn't start the the year with a.

With, uh, I mean, the best moment of my career, I just won, uh, my first tournament, so it was very nice. Uh, I got some injury during this tournament. Uh, when I won my second round, it was three hours and half match, so I think my body was not ready, uh, only the second match of the year and already made a match that long and my body was not ready.

So I got like a big tear. It was a grade three, uh, four, four centimeters and half, so it was a little bit difficult after. But, uh, yeah, I was really happy to, to get my first start and couldn't wish for a best start of the season. That's awesome, man. What like. What did that, what do you think it's gonna take for, for you to, to win something like a Grand Slam?

Because like, obviously that's fantastic, you know, but the, there's obviously a slight difference with, you know, with a Grand Slam and not, you know, there's a, a, a selected group of people that win them, but what do you think it it takes for people to actually get that done?

I think to win a Slam Man, you need to be a legend. No, no, no, no joke. Uh, I think since 10 years there is maybe three or four players who want Slam. Uh, if you, if you take off Roger, Rafa and Novak. Mm-hmm. So since 10 years there is only three or four players. Uh, and now, so Rafa and Roger stopped Novak. Um, I think maybe gonna stop soon.

Mm-hmm. Uh, but there is already senior Raz and player like this. Mm-hmm. So what do you want me to do? Uh, I'm just trying to, to practice very hard, uh, trust in myself because I think at the beginning is the most important point. Uh, when, when you see legend like this, you dream about it, but you, you don't think you, you can do it.

That's, that's important. And, uh, no, I'm just trying to practice very hard. Uh, it's difficult. Tennis is to win a slam, it's six matches, uh, best of, uh, free set. So sometimes you play, you play matches during four, five hours. Uh, for myself to, to recover after this kind of matches very difficult. I don't know if you know it, but I have Crohn's diseases.

Uh Oh, wow. Okay. I didn't know that. Yeah. People are people and are talking a lot about it because it's not easy. Uh, I got some problem to, to stay iterate, uh, during the match and stuff like this, so it's not easy. Mm-hmm. But, uh, yeah, to win a slam, you just need to be a legend. So, I mean, I don't know if I am.

I wish, but, uh, I think it's gonna be difficult. Well, I mean, you gotta start somewhere like, uh, I mean, you gotta win now. So now you just need to step it up. Oh, two, two years ago, if you told me you're gonna be. Uh, 41 in the world, maybe, maybe. Um, I will not trust you. I mean, yeah, because for me at the beginning was, whoa, if I, if I am top 100, it's amazing.

Yeah. And after few months, few months after, I'm top 50, so I say, okay, top 50. What, what now? I mean, you, you always want more. So this week I'm 41 and I'm looking forward to, to try to, to reach, I dunno, top 40, top 40, top 20. We'll see. That's cool, man. Um, you talk, you talked a lot there about, um, about obviously the big three, uh, Novak, rfa and, and Federer.

Who in your opinion is the goat For me is Roger. Okay. Interesting. And why, why do you feel that way? Because there is, um, the, the results, of course, if you are only talking about the results, uh, Novak is the goat. Mm-hmm. Because yeah, he has more slam and all stuff like this. Most, more title, more, more everything.

I mean, like everybody say you finish the game, he want everything. So he can't change sports. But Roger, I mean, everybody know Roger Federer. Like everybody tried to play like Roger. Everybody like Roger. So he gave, he gave something to tennis. I think nobody gave something like this in sports. So for me, Roger is the goat.

I mean, for me. Yeah. You you, you're gonna ask some, some someone else. You gonna say for me, it's not Albert. Yeah. Yeah. Every opinion different and. I mean, what do you think the, the, the secret or the key is? Like, why did, why did those three, why were they like so much better than everyone else? Were able to win so much over the last, you know, 15 years or more?

I think they had the chance to, to play at the same times, like free legend at the same times. So they needed to practice so hard to be better than, so Raffa needed to practice very hard to be better than Roger, uh, Roger to be better than Nadal. And so this made them like impossible to beat. Like, for example, now in tennis, like Alcaraz, he lost in sums at Indian Wales.

Uh, so the level is very, very, like the same, like a guy top 20. Top three can beat Alcaraz. But before, before, if you see the results. In final, it was always the same, like Feder, andal, kovi, feder, andal djokovich every weeks. So now there is maybe a small door, a small door open for us to, to win at a big title.

But it's gonna be difficult. But I think that's the main reason why the, they were so good. It's because they were playing at the same times and like practicing so hard to be better each other. Do you think, I mean, obviously besides yourself, do you think there's anyone, um, that you've seen coming up, um, that in this crop of, of players that you feel could be like the next big, really big, you know, player that's winning everything?

Or do you think there's not someone like that at the moment? There is of course Alcaraz sinner who gonna win a lot of slams. Uh. Two weeks ago, I made a good choice. I said to to my team and some friends, DRA Draper is playing very well. Mm-hmm. Watch out. He gonna, you gonna play a very good Indian wealth.

He won the tournaments. So I was not bad. But, uh, no, there is lot of good players, but I think Sinner and Aker is gonna win most of the slums in the next few years. Interesting. My, um, my German family, uh, in-laws, they, for some reason they think that sinner is my, like, we look somehow alike. I disagree, but they keep, they keep telling me that I look like sinner in a certain way.

I don't know. Um, uh, and so, and you, you've played kovich. What, uh, how did it feel, you know, to, to go up about, against someone like him? You know, uh, were you, how were you, how were your nerves and stuff? Um, going into that, uh, that match. It was first round US open, uh, two years ago. Biggest court of the, of the world, uh, in front of like superstar like Barack Obama this night was here.

Uh, so I was very, very nervous. Uh, I won my first game at 6 0 2 0, so that showed that I was very nervous. But yeah, it was good experience. Uh, it was night session against Kovich. Uh, I mean, when I was trying to, to win my first game, the time was very long. Uh, 6 0 2 0 against lot of people. It's long. But, uh, I was trying to, to enjoy the moment this day.

The guy was just playing amazing, so I couldn't do anything. Just, uh, trying to, to fight and, and, and win some games, but it was a nice experience. Um. I wish one day I can, I can win some matches on big stage like this. And like when you were playing him, like was there anything that you were kind of, that you noticed that was obvious?

Like where, like, where you thought like, wow, like he, this is what he is doing so much better or, you know, did you notice anything like that? Or was it just like he was a little bit better, you know, everywhere this day was like a machine, like not missing at all. Uh, because I played against Alcaraz in, uh, Wimbledon second round this year.

Mm-hmm. And Raz is more like, you know, fire. Like he can make winners. Amazing winners, but sometimes you do some mistakes and so it's like 6, 4, 2, 2 because he is doing mistakes. And for you it's good. It's good because you are, you are winning some games and it's easier to play against him. Against Novak, it was like a machine.

Machine, no mistakes. So it was really difficult. Physically, it's tough because, I mean, every points you need to play. Uh, so yeah, I, I said okay on the court. I was like, okay, I understood. Now why is the, the best player of, of all time crazy. Yeah. Uh, I don't know if I have the, I don't think the same in your sports.

Like if you, if, if you made some race against legend, if, if you can see in your sports why the guy is, is better than you, I, I don't know how it's working. I think it's, well, I mean you, I. It's hard, like if you see the people separately, like if I saw a rider, if I, if someone watches me on the track in a section and someone watches, uh, Lloyd Bruney on the track, who's the, probably the best rider in the world at the moment and he's French, uh, like if you watch us through one section, there won't be like a massive difference, um, yeah, in that one short section, but.

He does like everything a little bit better. Um, so from the top to the bottom. And then, you know, when you add up like 0.2 of a second half, a second 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, you add this all up and at the end of the run it's like 10 or 15 seconds and it's, it seems like a lot, but it's, it's just like a tiny bit. But everywhere everything is just more efficient.

Maybe he breaks slightly later, um, just gets everything a bit smoother, you know, his bike probably working better, you know, all these things. And, um, yeah, sometimes it's hard. It's not sometimes something obvious. It's just, uh, the little things, you know, the details reflecting because he, Roger said that in his career, he, he won, I think he said, uh, 54, uh, percent of his points during his career.

So that mean he lost 46%. So it's, it's nothing but the guys was Federer. So crazy. Yeah, it's the same. Um, and you mentioned obviously that you train really hard to actually, you know, get to the point where you can maybe win a slam. Uh, what is, what is the reality of what does that look like? Um, you know, how much time are you spending training?

How much time are you spending on, on court? Do you do other stuff like gym stuff or anything like that? How does your training look? Uh, typical day, it's around two or three hours tennis. Mm-hmm. And two hours gym. And after there is the stretch, uh, I like to stretch. I think it's important. Uh, with my age now, 28, I'm not that young, so yes, I, I would say two, three hours tennis, two hours gym, and one hour stretch.

That's, um, a typical day after, for, for sure. Sometimes you, you can sell the gym and you play four hours tennis. Uh mm-hmm. Sometimes you change, but if I have to say it's, yeah, two, three hours. Two hours and one hour. And is that the same, like if you added, or like if you're away kind of between games, between tournaments or stuff, or was that different when you were at home or?

That's between tournaments and if I have, uh, a match, so it's only warm up, uh, for 45 minutes and after the match. No gym and, uh, yeah, I'm talking just, uh, between the tournaments. Okay. Um, I mean, I'm guessing that there'll be some, some people watching this that are wanting to get to where you are. Um, what are some, I guess, what are some advice and, and some tips that you could maybe give them on a training or mindset or anything like that for them to, you know, um, get to where you are maybe a little bit easier than, than it was, you know, than it was for you?

Um,

I will not say the, the stupid thing. Like, you have to practice a lot very hard. Uh, no, I, I think I. What is very difficult, it's to, to enjoy, to be on the court every day. Uh, even for me sometimes for sure, it's difficult. Uh, but when I'm good on the court, it's when I'm happy to, to be there. Uh, enjoying to practice, uh, enjoying to be working hard with my team.

Uh, I think if I have to say something, yeah, to young players, it just to try to, to enjoy every day. Like to go on the court to practice. Uh, if you are, I don't know, 12, 13, it's, and it's already like tough to go on the court and you are not happy. It's gonna be difficult because the career's long. Uh, if you start, uh, at 14, 15 and you stop at 35, it's 20 years, so it's gonna be long if you're not happy to play tennis and to, to practice hard.

So just enjoy and, and see what gonna happen. Do you. It was good or no? No. Yeah, I thought it was good. Um, do you think, like, how much difference do you think it makes, you know, starting younger versus starting, you know, a little bit older, for example, like starting at 1415 versus starting at five?

Uh, because I see like, you know, you, you know, you've seen players and, and also in other sports like golf, you know, like Tiger Woods playing from like four years old playing golf, you know? Yeah. And became like the best ever. So yeah, what's, I think can be, can be a, a big help, of course to start very young like this, because.

I mean, for the technique and stuff like this, but, uh, me, for example, I, I studied at seven or eight years old. The tennis, it's quite late because, uh mm-hmm. Normally players start like golf, uh, three, four years old. Mm-hmm. I think what I, what I saw in sports, it's, you know, the, the guy who has parents who, who was like athletes, professional athlete, and so they, they learn earlier the mindset of, uh, what is it to, to be a, a professional athlete and stuff like this.

That's the, the main difference I see. But about the, the sports himself to start a few years after. It's not that important, I think. Okay. Interesting. Yeah. It's always a, it's always a balance, I think, because you know, you have, of course when you start younger, you maybe can get better and get. Better sooner.

But then obviously as you mentioned, like you have the, maybe too much pressure from a young age to, to practice and play. And, and I think also maybe the parents sometimes put pressure on the kids, you know, to, to practice and play. And then maybe by the time they're 15, 16, they're like, I'm, I'm over this now.

You know, if you, if you go watch some tournaments in France, like only tournaments in the small village, you're gonna see parents going crazy. And the, the poor, the, the poor, the poor guy is only 10 years old, nine years old. And uh, yeah, the parents are going crazy next to the court. So yeah, that's not the good things.

Yeah. I, I, I've seen that also in the, in the cycling side, cycling sport, and it's, it's insane actually. Shame off. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, um, uh, a little bit of a, a controversial topic. Um, and obviously I'm in, come from mountain biking in the cycling world, and, um, not really downhill, I would say is the focus, but in road and, and also cross country and stuff.

Um, you know, performance drugs and stuff like that are, uh, a big topic. And I know that there've been a couple players over the years that have been, uh, you know, banned and stuff from, from tennis, uh, or given a two year ban or whatever. Like, is that something that, that, I mean, what's your thoughts on that?

And, and is that something that's, um, that you're aware of or if you've ever kind of seen, um, and do you think even, I don't know, like I always think like about tennis. I'm like, what, what could you take to. To give you that, you know, advantage, I understand in a extreme endurance sport, uh, where you really need to have extra oxygen and stuff like that.

But yeah. What's, what's your thoughts on that? So I don't know if, if it's the same for you, but for example, me, I need to, to say on Adams, that's the name of the, of the site, uh, one hour per day where people can come at this address to, to make me a, a control. So for example, this morning, from eight to nine, I put my, uh, hotel address and the guy can come every moment during this hour to control myself.

I, I don't know, I don't know if it's the same for you. I have ha I have seen players that have, um, riders that have had that. Um, I actually haven't been in that situation. I don't know why. Um, only selected people get the notification that they have to do that. Um, but I have been tested many times, but not, not having.

Not in that situation. I think in tennis top 150, top 200, maybe we need to, to do it every day. Like every day. You, you need to choose one hour and one address. So I'm not doing it. My mom do does it for me. It's way easier. Ah, I got to cramp. Ah, ah, I know that. So, so yeah, today was from eight to nine. Nobody came.

So today I'm free. All good. But, um, yeah, in tennis, you, you can take of course, project who can help, help you for the, to be focused during three hours. Uh, uh, I mean, you just take risk. I mean, me, I'm taking nothing only, uh, you know, protein and stuff like this to, for the recovery. But, uh, I mean, every player are very scared about, uh, about it.

Uh, for example, last week I was sick. Uh, sorry. Uh, you, uh, you've, I think something happened with the connection there. You, you broke off for a second. Um, you said, so in tennis and then for the last, I don't know, 30 seconds. Is is it good right now? It's working. Yeah. It's good now. It's good now. Okay. Okay. No, I was saying that people are very scared about, about it.

Uh, like I saw you the case of, uh, of sinner, uh, like, but the cream, the physio mm-hmm. Was taking a cream. Uh, and when he, when he made the ma uh, massage on sinner, the, the, the guy was dumped after, so it's, it's strange, but for example, I bought something for the nose last week in, uh, Indian wells and, uh, my physical coach told me to not use it because it was made in, uh, in the US And uh, like there is lot of problem.

With the US project, so I didn't take it. Wow. Interesting. So, so, yes. Um, very careful about it. Uh, don't want to do anything, uh, bad for, for me. And, uh, I guess I don't know what else to say about it. Uh, on the, I mean on the drug topic, I guess we can relate that to, to parties. Uh, I wanted to know like what's the, the kind of, the realities of, of being at big matches and stuff.

Like what's, do, do tennis party afterwards, uh, you know, after the matches or not. Is that all like low key and what's, yeah. Um, is that, does that happen? I think few years ago, yes. I think few years ago people was making some party, but now everybody, uh, practicing so hard that if you want to beat them. And if you go to party, it's impossible.

So I think nobody is going to party right now. Uh, for example, last week I was in Punana, I, I lost in semis. Mm-hmm. So the, the, the guys, uh, the guy against who I lost in semis won the tournaments. He won yesterday, and I think the final was at 2:00 PM and the, the night he get the flights to come to, to Miami.

So you don't have the time to, to make a party or to Android title. That's the bad thing sometimes in tennis, that you win a tournament and you have directly to, to go to somewhere else. To, to, to play a new tournament. Mm-hmm. You don't have the time to Android, so that's sometimes difficult, but it's like this.

Yeah, I think it's a shame because, I mean, I understand it on the one side, but it's also, yeah, I mean, especially when you win a big match or something, like it's, it's, it should be something that you really enjoy and, uh, yeah, remember, and then it's just like, okay, put it to the side. Next one. You know? Do you have a lot of holidays or like how often is your tournaments, like your, your, your ride?

Like every, um, every two weeks. Every two weeks. Uh, so obviously it's just in the summer months, or the main season is the European summer. Um, so from, I would say April, may is the start, the earliest start, and it goes till October. Okay. Um, and then it depends. Some riders, some of the big ni, the big names, um, don't, they don't race, uh, all the events they race like the big ones.

For example, like they, there's the series called the World Cup Series, which is, I guess. Equivalent of like the Grand Slams. Um, and they only do those events, but they are only this year. There's 10 of them, um, in the year. Um, so if they're only racing those events, then it's not that much. I mean, it's still, I guess every second, third week, but uh, you know, it's not like crazy.

And there are a lot of other events, European series and stuff, which, which some other guys do as well. And then they do both. And on which case you're racing 20 events or 25 events, um, in, in the year. So then, then it gets quite, quite hectic. So if you are not doing some competition, you are only practice.

It's, it's not that it's not long to practice and to don't have like tournaments to, to play. Um, how do you mean exactly? Like, for example, me, I know like during December, it's the months where we only practice during the preseason before the the, the new season. Like after two weeks of practice, I want to go, I don't know, to, to, to play tournaments.

To have a official match. Like for, so for you, if you, if you stopped in October, you, you told me. Yeah, so from October to April you don't have, uh, like, I don't know, adrenaline you need to, yeah, so there's the, the, I guess the World Series then is, is on break, but, um, because I'm South African, um, I often go back to Cape Town for, um, for the, for like two months during the winter, and they have, uh, the summer series down there, so then I can race, um, the South African series.

Of course it's not as big events, um, but still cool to, yeah, to still race and, and still good to keep you, keep you sharp and still good training. Um, so I think I'm, I was lucky with that. Um, and I think like the Australians, New Zealand, you know, they all have the same kind of, same thing, but the Europeans, it's quite tough.

I think the Europeans do a lot of skiing and stuff in the, in the wintertime and because they can't ride, um, when it's got snow and stuff, so. Okay. Um, and, and of course like. Tennis is a little easier in that way that you can play, you know, in an indoor court, uh, even in really bad weather, uh, with downhill or, or any mountain biking.

It's pretty tough when it's snowing outside. Yeah, sure. Okay, I see. Um, what's your, what's, I mean, obviously we are both sponsored by OnlyFans. Um, how, what's your thoughts on social media and how that, um, like impact impacts you as an athlete? Like, 'cause I think in the, in the old days, maybe like 2000, in the 2000 10, 11, 12, like before Instagram was really a big thing.

And, um, all these other things, TikTok, uh, YouTube, whatever it was, um, maybe a little easier like for, for athletes in a way. 'cause they don't have to. Film everything and always create content, and they could just focus like a hundred percent on training and, and tournaments. Um, but at the same time, it gives people like you and I also a chance to earn extra income and expand your fan base and stuff.

So yeah. What's, what's your feeling on that and, and, uh, yeah, so first that's why I like only fan and not Instagram because after, uh, a lose, for example, I receive 100, 200 people who bet on my match. And you say, Alex, I want you to die. Uh, I hope you have a concert. Yeah, that's great. Yeah. Yeah. I can send you a photo if you want.

Like, it's crazy in tennis, it's crazy when you lose a match, even when you win sometimes, because of course the, the guy can bet on your. Components. You, I receive like many, many message like this and only fan. There is only 10 people who supports me. So that's, that's a good thing. Onan, there is not people like this, but, uh, I'm trying to not watch too much on the social media.

Uh, sometimes it's, it's going crazy. Uh, you lose a match, uh, it's finished for you, you win a match or you're gonna be an amazing player. So you, you know, it works. So I'm not, I'm trying to, to not watch all of this. And, uh, yeah, I just like to, now, after my match, I like to go on OnlyFans, see the, the support of, uh, with the people with my fan, uh, talk to them.

Uh, they send me photo when they are watching my, my Match, uh, the TV on the, on the, on the computer. So, so it's quite funny. But, um. Yes. Social media sometime can be a little bit crazy. So I'm trying to, I'm going on it for sure because it's working like this, you know, uh, Instagram can bring you some, sponsor, some business.

Uh, it's true. So you have to be on it. But, uh, I'm trying to spend less time, uh, on it for stupid things. That's, I, I literally can't believe that. Like, I can't believe that people message you. Hundreds of people you said message you like, because they, it's crazy. It's crazy. What the hell? I didn't even know that that was a, a thing like that betting on tennis.

I mean, I knew obviously that maybe it happens, but I didn't realize it was that big of a deal where, where people would actually message you. Like some pe something for security, because before it was only messages. So if you want to, so you have to, to, to delete it. It's, it's long to delete 200 message.

Yeah. But, but now people are, you know, make, make some comments on the post. So if you, if you go on my, on my profile and you go on the, on my photo, you will see 300 comments on the photo and you see the comments. It's, I hope you're gonna die. Uh, I hope your mother gonna have a cancer. Wow. Crazy, crazy. Yeah.

It's crazy. People are so, are, so mean. Like it's insane. That's, yeah. Yeah. The, the guy and the guy just lost, uh, $10 and, and wants me to die. It's okay. Have you ever, have you ever felt like really, I don't know, like really threatened or scared that someone might do something to you? No. Just, uh, one small story.

It was long time ago in, in Belgium in futures. So it's the, the first category, you know, there is the a TP, the Challenger, and then the future. So it's the third category for the professional tennis tournament. And after one doubles match, someone came to me, uh, a lady and, and gave me a, a paper and it was, it was writing, um, write me on telegram.

I have a deal for you. Mm-hmm. So I was saying, what, what the fuck, what, what deal? So I went to the supervisor because you have to, to say to the supervisor that when there is someone in the club who bets, because you know, they can bet, uh, on online and for example, the, the website. So they are just next to the court.

They, they said to the guy at the telephone, uh, Mueller just won the points. And like this, the guy, I don't know, in, in Russia, in uh, in can bet online, and he is in advance compared to the, to the website. Mm-hmm. So it's working like this for them. And so I gave it to the supervisor. He called the police, and uh, it was a lady and a guy.

And they went to prison for six months, I think. No way. Yeah. Crazy. Yeah, because they wanted me to, they wanted me to, to call her, to watch her on telegram and to make a deal, like for example. Okay. If you lose the, the second game of the match, I give you five, 10, 5,000. It's working like this in, in tennis.

There is lot of stories like this. Crazy. I had no idea. Crazy. Okay. Um, I will, uh, yeah. Insane. Um, that's something that because they, they can bet on everything. Like, uh, Mueller can win the match. Mueller can, can break first game, uh mm-hmm. Mueller can win the first set. And so if you, if they come to you and they say, okay, I give you 10,000.

If you lose the first set like this, they bet, I don't know, 100,000 and mm-hmm. They make so much money. So if we sometimes receive a message or stuff like this, we need to, to say to the supervisor directly. Interesting. Okay. Um, what, uh, I mean obviously you mentioned it earlier, um, that you wanna chill, uh, uh, hopefully chill in some years, play golf after you finish playing tennis.

I'm gonna chill, play golf, but what have you, what would you, what you would, what would you have been doing if, if you weren't a pro tennis player right now? I really don't know because I like every sport. Um, I was playing golf at, uh, good at football when I was young, so maybe football player, who knows? I wish when I was 18 and I was not playing that good, got some injury, I said, fuck, I should play football.

It's better because in tennis I think it's the same for you. I don't know. Uh, for example to today, if I go to practice and I got injured. I mean, I don't have a salary. Like I go back home, but I still need to pay my, my coach, uh, my physio, my physical coach. So in one day, life can change. Uh, like I don't have, uh, income.

It's, uh, only prize money week after weeks if I play good. But if I get injured, I'm, uh, I have no job. So that's the difficult part in tennis, I think for you too. Uh, golf for example, but in football, if you're injured, okay, you go on the bench, but you still have your 200,000 K salary, so it's fine. Or if you, if you are an older 200 million.

Yeah, exactly. So yeah, that's the bad things in spot like us. Yeah, it's, it's, uh, I think a lot of people look at athletes and they, it looks like the dream. And for sure in some ways it is. Like, you get to do what you love and, and you know, your passion is your career. But at the same time, there's a lot of, uh, pressure that comes with that.

And, you know, a lot of every year you never know what's gonna happen, uh, and no. Yeah, said of course, I don't complain. I don't complain because it's an amazing life. I'm traveling, uh, this weekend I'm in Miami, uh, playing tennis under the sun. So everything is, looks amazing, but there is a lot of sacrifices behind this.

Uh, not seeing my family. Uh, my girlfriend, difficult to see her too. She's working, she came to see me during two weeks, but I left home, uh, seven weeks ago now. So, wow. So yes, it's long, so it's a nice life, but there is lot of sacrifices behind this. So I think sometimes we, we, we deserve what we are earning and the life we have.

Mm-hmm. Uh, you mentioned your girlfriend, is she also in Dubai? So, so she lives between France and Dubai. She, she will move soon, 100% to, to Dubai. She is, uh, an architect. So she has, uh, she has her company in France and in Dubai. Yes. Awesome. Okay. Yeah. That's, that's tough not being able to Yeah. To see each other for that long.

Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes difficult. What, what, uh, how come you decided to move to, to Dubai? Of all places. First because it's nice place to practice during the preseason in December. There is now lot of players, uh, the weather is perfect. Mm-hmm. Because the, the first tournament, uh, in January, it's Australia. So yeah.

Sunny, uh, outdoor. So if I stay in France to practice, uh, I need to practice indoor, uh, it's five degrees, so it's, it's not Australia. So when after you, you arrive in Australia, you say, fuck, I just practiced doing, run more, but it's not the same sport. Yeah. So, so first it was, it was for this after, of course, uh, compared to France for the taxes.

Uh, 0% taxes in Dubai. Eh, that's nice. Yeah, that's nice. Uh, and after, because I like, I like it there. I mean, it's safe, it's clean, uh, it's all the time. Sunny. Uh, I need, I need to see the sun in my life. Uh, I cannot leave under the rain. Uh, I'm not feeling happy if, uh, if there is no sun, if it's raining every day.

So, mm-hmm. I like the life there. Um, I'm planning to, to live there even after my career with, uh, with my girlfriend, so it's nice. Cool, man. Awesome. Um, Alex, there's one question I ask every guest at the end, um, and that is, what does success mean to you? The, the word success? What does that mean to you? Um, to finish my career, proud of myself, to have my family proud of what, uh, I did during.

All my career, uh, and to have no regrets. Uh, like if I finish my career, I don't know, I would say something, uh, 25 in the world to be face, uh, to myself in the mirror and to say, okay, I gave everything. Mm-hmm. Maybe I couldn't do better. So, yeah, no regrets. And I think that's the success to be, to, to be happy of what you've done.

Awesome, man. That'll do. It's been, uh, thanks so much for coming on, man. This has been an absolute, uh, thanks to you man. Absolute pleasure. Yeah. Thanks to you for the invitation. Uh, I hope to see you soon to, to plate some tennis with you, uh, in the, let's play, let's play some tennis in the mountain.

If you guys enjoyed this episode, please don't forget to like and subscribe and drop a comment and let me know which guests you wanna see, and I will do my best to get them on and to see more episodes, click the playlist right up here. That was iconic.