Welcome to the Functional Tennis Podcast.

I'm your host Fabio Molle and I bring you insights and lessons from players, coaches, parents and experts who are ingrained in the world of high level tennis.

Today I chat with 21 year old Portuguese player Jamie Faria.

Despite not being the top junior in Portugal or competing in the main draw of any of the junior Grand Slam events, Jamie carved a unique path for himself.

College tennis in the US seemed like the next step for him, but he choose to stay with the Portuguese Tennis Federation.

This year he's climbed from an ADP rank of 411 at the start of the year to career high 116.

Thanks to an incredible run that includes four Futures titles and two Challenger titles.

Jamie shares his journey, his rise to the rankings and his plans for the future.

Really nice guy.

You're going to love him.

Before we get started, a shout out to our podcast sponsors, asics.

I got a package from them a couple of weeks ago and I've been waiting on them for a while.

It's a new shoe which I've tested a handful of times.

It's not a shoe I'd normally wear, but I really, really like it and I can't wait to share more about it, which it when I'm allowed to.

You're going to love it.

And also if any of our listeners down in Melbourne Asics are bringing me down there, I'll be down there in qualys week and if you want to say hello, I really look forward to it.

So hopefully see some of you down there.

Okay, here's Jamie.

Jamie, how are you?

Good, good, how are you?

Good, good.

Where are you?

You're in Portugal?

Yeah, Portugal.

In my.

In the residence of the federation where I'm based at.

Okay, so I'm looking forward to hearing about you've risen this year from I don't know, 4:10 to 121, which is a great rise.

So I'm really interested to find out about that and also your plans for breaking into the top hundred.

But first, maybe throw back to your junior days.

Did you play many junior tournaments?

I would say like one year and a half full juniors.

I didn't play any futures with the juniors.

I was not that good actually.

I just managed to play one qualifying of a Grand Slam.

Only Wimbledon.

It was because I was like six alternate and I went there to sign and I entered.

So my best ranking wasn't even top one.

I tried my best but I was like my group was strong already.

I had Henry Khoscha and one guy called Miguel Gromme.

She was like, like 30 juniors.

So they were always better than me and they were pushing me.

And when we came to the seniors, I grew up also physically and mentally.

And yeah, I did just the push on the seniors.

And did you decide to play futures when you were at what age?

Played some futures When I was like 17.

Okay.

You weren't top in your country, you weren't a good junior.

And what was going through your head?

Did you to be a professional player, you obviously college tennis, what were you being advised and what were you thinking?

I always wanted to be a tennis player, of course, but the studies for me were also important for me, for my parents.

Yes.

The club where I was from before the federation, I entered the federation with 16.

So the club I was before, many guys and girls went to college older than me.

So it was kind of the main thing I was thinking about, like, I'm not going to be that good as the main guy.

So I'm going to college and try my best and enjoy, you know.

But there was this opportunity of federation, they helped me and I'm here for six years, so I think it was the best choice.

I had some doubts, actually, late on the juniors, if I stay in the federation, I go to college.

But I did a good choice, I think.

I think you did too.

So you were just headstrong.

You're like, look, federation here give me great opportunity.

Let's do this.

And where exactly are you from in Portugal?

Far from the federation at the moment.

My parents, they are not that far.

Like five years ago, they were from Porto.

It's like three hours in Portugal.

The country is small, so everything is closed now.

They are from a village like 50 minutes from Lisbon, so it's fine.

Actually, my brother is now in college, so it's interesting.

But yeah, that decision of going away from my parents, it's not easy, but I thought it was the best condition that I had to grow up as a player.

And what exactly did the federation give you there?

Like courts, coaches, trainers.

What's the setup like?

First of all, they gave me a plan.

Of course, I was not that professional before 16.

I had the best conditions my coaches could give me.

For example, I would only do fitness one time per week, and I would do only like four or three or four, how do you say?

Practice two times by the arm per week.

So it's like I wanted to be professional, but I wasn't professional.

So first of all, here I started to grow and to learn how to be a professional.

I Grew up a lot.

I arrived, I was like 170 and now I'm 190.

What did they feed you?

Yes, I was like 60 kilos and now I'm 90 or 80 something.

And are your parents tall?

Yeah, my father is very tall.

He's 192, so.

But my mother.

Not.

Not really.

But yeah, I think they.

They just look at me and okay, we have these conditions and we gonna try to put him in his best shape as we can.

And I just started, I think a little bit with a downgrade comparing to the others, but I made my, my path and now I'm here.

And we know where you are now.

Where are duder players now?

Duder two guys.

Henrique Roche is really good now.

He's also 170, 160 in the world and he's one year younger than me maybe.

I think he's going to play Jeddah.

If not, he's going to be like one out.

So he's really good.

The other guy is top tennis.

He just started studying at the age of 19 so it didn't go that well for him and he was a little bit tired of tennis already.

So are tired at 19.

It's not a good idea to continue.

But I think he did also a good choice.

I think if you play a lot of junior tennis, you can be fed up with the game, can't you?

Because you travel a lot and it's pressure as well.

You probably get to 18 and you're like, this is tough, you know?

Yes, yes, yes, it's tough.

And you need to practice so much and sometimes choose something that you don't want.

You want to go with your friends, sometimes you want to go out and you don't choose that.

You need to choose 10.

So it's tough.

But when I look back at juniors, I think I put so much pressure on me.

Like I didn't need it to because it's.

The junior circuit is made for us to grow up and to compete against the best guys of our age.

And I think I made like a big thing.

This is like, I need to be a really good junior.

I need to play Grand Slams.

I don't need.

I didn't manage to do it.

But later I think when I look back, I didn't need to do it.

I just needed to play and come on, enjoy it.

Because it's also a really good environment.

That's amazing environment.

And so tell me, so you started playing futures.

You have a good base in the Portuguese Tennis Federation.

You've Moved up the rankings pretty quickly.

Like, you did have that stint of winning four futures in a row, which is, you know, it's not easy going out there winning.

I know 20 matches in a row.

I know we Kimmer Coupe Johns on the podcast recently, he did four in a row as well.

He was telling me afterwards how, you know, it's not easy and he probably has a bit more experience than you.

You would have had a lot less experience.

You're younger, it's all new to the body.

But what was the secret in getting through them and where were the four?

They were in Algarve, it's in the south of Portugal.

I already knew the club because I played like two times before the tournament.

So I already knew the conditions.

I already knew the people who worked there because I've lived also in Algarve.

So for me it was really special to do it in Algar.

The conditions were really similar.

All the tournaments were really close to each, each other.

The clubs like 20 minutes, 30 minutes, the, the most.

So it was really good conditions for me to, to.

To stay focused and no excuses, you know, I, I went with the some.

These guys were, they are top coaches.

So I was all the time really good with a good company and feeling confident.

And I just started the first week, I won, playing really well.

No, actually I played the first week, I didn't win, I lost first round.

And I wanted to start well the year and try to push a little bit and climb on the ranks as much as I could, but not a good start.

And then I start to win, win the first week.

And I think, yeah, I'm tired, but come on, I just play on Wednesday.

I have two days of rest now.

Let's do it again.

Let's reset and play and just focus match by match and not putting so much pressure on me.

And it was like that week by week, I had all the time winning and then only Wednesday.

So it was not that tough physically, mentally, it's tough to play all the, all the matches because there are many tough guys who put you on pressure points and yeah, it's tough, but.

But you got through like 20 matches at your age, like a couple of years younger is.

Is not easy.

And I'm sure, you know, you win one week and you're like, great, like to go on and win another week is great.

So actually I have a funny story to tell.

I was in Faro.

I played against Inek Barton in the semifinals.

I beat him.

And now then I win the tournament, I win another tournament in Quinta.

Do Lago.

And when I'm going to play the fourth week that I wanted to win the title, I'm going to play in Val du Lobo.

And then I see Inec Martin.

He took one week when I won Quinta Lou, he was going to rest.

And when Tommy came back and we meet at Val Dilobo, I was lunching and he was congratulating me.

Congrats, Jaime.

Another good week.

We meet at the final.

He said the draw wasn't even out.

The draw wasn't even out.

And the draw goes out.

We are in different parts of the draw.

Yeah.

And I said, yeah, man, we meet at the final.

Let's sign it already.

And we do it.

The draw is out.

We see.

We just start laughing a little bit.

We win one match, one round, another round, and we meet at the final all week.

Joking with the laughing about it.

And then we meet at the final.

And I won.

But it was a funny, funny one.

That's good.

When you look at a draw, I know you talk about there, you looked at.

Do you look who you're going to be playing?

I could be playing him in the quarters.

Or do you just do one round at a time?

I actually like to draw, to look at the draw and see who I meet in the further rounds.

I know it's sometimes not good.

Sometimes I put things in my head that it's not necessary.

Usually I like to see the draw, the draw of the other guys.

Sometimes there is a derby that I don't want to miss.

So I want to look at everything.

Yeah, it's hard to hide from the draw as well.

Sometimes it's everywhere.

It's on your phone and I'm sure you get the odd message, blah, blah, blah.

But yeah, that's great.

So that was your fourth week, so you must like.

Obviously you're from Portugal, you like playing at home.

It was like deja vu every week, was it?

It was like the exact same.

And every same referee, every same chair empire.

It was like the same thing.

I stayed at the same hotel many weeks.

So it was singers, same people, same opponents, same referees.

It was like Teju, but it was really good.

And so that's a lot in Portugal.

It's nice you're home.

Familiarity.

Do you like traveling?

Do you like traveling every week, different countries?

How's that going?

Yes, I actually like to travel sometimes.

I would like to know the cities and the country a bit better.

It's not easy, but we have to practice and play.

It's our job.

So.

But for Me, it's not like a thing that I miss home or I have so much point that I'm not.

So for me it's okay.

I really like to travel nice.

It's okay.

So you win your futures, you're playing more and then obviously this year you've gone from about what, 424/11 to your high, so 116 a couple of weeks ago.

What helped you make that breakthrough?

What did you change in your game?

Or was it your mentality?

How does somebody get from like you're only 20, you've gone up the rankings quickly.

How does somebody get from 450 to 120?

A lot of the main confidence that I again it was of course winning a lot of matches in the beginning of the season.

I think I made a really good push and I tried to have a different mindset in the preseason of preparing this season of 2024.

The preseason, it was, I think a main part of it.

Wanted to make a step up physically and also mentally, you know, like being more tough, handling the tough situations, better pressure points.

And I think if you win those points, if you have confidence in your physique that you can handle third set, tough points, that was like a main thing for me because I knew that I was going to improve my serve, I was going to improve my forehand.

My backend was always, I think my best shot.

Those things just started to click and I think I'm a more complete player than I was in the end of the other season, but not that different.

Just a more grown up player and with some step ups in some things, I started doing more matches and just the confidence go up.

So it's all this, all the percentages start adding up, all the little things you're working on.

Yeah.

And of course the feedback from my team, from my coaches.

It's really important because even in the tough times last season when I was passing from not winning so many matches, of course I was angry to be better this year and angry to conquer many things this year because last year did not so good.

So the my coaches just gave me like chill man, you are okay, you are growing up, you are doing your thing.

Just work and do your job and things will happen.

Not this year, maybe not that year, but will happen.

It happened too fast.

Yeah, no, never.

It's never too fast.

But what's your coaching?

What's your coaching setup?

Like two main coaches.

It's Neil Za Silva, a former player.

She was 1 130, 120 WTA.

And it's Pedro Soza, who stopped playing like one year ago.

He was top 100, like 99.

And the main guy is Ruima Shadow, which Also good player was 60 in the world.

So it's a team full of good and experienced guys.

So for me it's really good.

And to have the confidence with them and they have the confidence with me, it's the best thing.

And when you travel, who comes with you?

Normally it's Pedro or Nelsa.

There's many coaches.

Actually there's for the juniors, girls, juniors, boys, WT players.

So it's different.

And do you have a fitness trainer?

Yes, I have fitness trainer.

We have also physio.

I have a psychologist also.

Yeah, and nutritionists.

Okay, so you have a good.

You have.

No.

No excuses with the team.

No excuses.

So.

No, that's.

That's.

That's a really important thing.

And they pick me up about the federation.

Are you playing Jeddah?

No, I'm not.

They changed the rules, so I'm not.

What.

What rules did they change?

I didn't know the last year, which was when under 21.

Now it's under 20, so why not?

I'm not in the.

So you would have been.

Yeah, I didn't.

Yeah.

Okay, so you're in pre season.

Now you're back federation.

Next year's a break is a.

I'm sure top hundred is number one thing on your mind now.

That's the next step.

What are you doing this year to get ready to break into the top hundred next year?

So this is going to be a different year, I think in terms of.

Of course I will start to defend big points.

You know, when you are 120, it's different.

And when you start the season at 400 at that point.

But also I will have different responsibility.

We have, of course in Portugal we have Nuno Borges, that is top 30.

So now I'm like the second with Enrique, second, third.

We are always changing positions.

So yes, it's a healthy competition.

But yes, I will defend points and.

But I'm not trying to focus on that.

Of course I will try to focus on my.

The things that I need to still improve.

I think theoretically, technically and also physically there's so many things to improve that I need to play with the best guys on tour and to just going and continue to step up again.

So again it will come back to all those percentages in the preseason day.

Yes, also now I'm already on the preseason tough practices already completely soared in every part of the body.

So yes, again, reset.

See what I did?

Well, I do.

I'm going to do a recap and the things that I want to work out and be more consistent.

I'm going to work.

And there's guys still finishing the season.

So I didn't manage already to talk with my coaches, but I'm going to start now, focus on the physical practice for sure.

And later on the preseason I want to focus more on tennis and I.

Know the season isn't technically over yet.

So Australia, are you.

You won't make main draw, will you?

You'll be just out, no main draw.

I'm going to be in college.

I don't know if I'm going to be seeded or not.

For me I don't see it as a big difference because I see that it's so tough already the top 250 and so it's so hard that every guy is going to be there to win every match and they play really.

I just need to focus on me and try to enter my first main draw.

Nice.

And if we.

If we came back in 12 months time, so this time next year, what would you be happy with?

If you know what would be your goal that you would say, okay, I've had a good year.

Is there a certain number or what would make you happy in 12 months time?

I think I always say this because I think in tennis it's tough to put like a goal in ranking for a year.

It's really, really tough to.

Because you can play really well a week and so many points and you can jump a lot of positions that you don't even know.

Because in the beginning of the season I made my goal to play at least one Grand Slam because I was already out of Australian Open, of course.

And I wanted to play at least US Open.

It was my goal.

So to be 2:30 at September, no, August to play US Open.

But I managed to be 230 before Roland Gachos.

So I played the three Grand Slams.

I also wanted to play the Davies Cup.

I played at one.

Nuno was injured, so I played at one.

So it was a special moment for me.

Not the losses, unfortunately.

I couldn't help the team win.

But I wanted to play Davis cup for the national team and I managed to to play.

Also wanted to play Menderov ATP Tournament.

I managed to do it in bastard.

So many concord this year that I wanted to do and I did.

So it's really good.

What's your main site moving forward for next year?

Do you know?

Have you taught it out yet?

No, actually if I don't think too much.

Of course it's top 100.

I know it's going to be a tough season.

Many points to defend.

So you can see, not only I look at the race, you know, so I see my points from the race, not on the ranking.

So yeah, just start from zero and see where I can reach.

Nice.

And I forgot to say, you won a challenger this year.

Two.

Oh, you won two.

I thought it was one and a final.

Sorry.

Okay, so you won two.

Two in the final.

In the final, yes.

Okay, so I thought it was one in the final.

So that's.

That's pretty.

You know, challengers aren't easy to win.

Like even a.

A top 50 guy isn't going to come back and guaranteed to win a challenger.

Like there's no.

So that must.

That's more confidence.

Yes, more confidence.

I managed to win the challenger at home, my first challenger in Oirash in clay, before Roland Arrows.

And it was a special week for me.

But then I had a period from after Roland Rose to US Open, actually that I didn't manage to win so many matches.

So it was tough because I had a season like six months winning so many matches, of course at the future level, and also managed to win a challenger.

But when I go from rolling rose to U.S.

open, that part of the scene wasn't that good.

And I wanted to finish the season well and trying to take the most advantage of not making so many points in the end of the other season so I could climb more ranking spots.

So yeah, I finished well and I made a push.

I made the final in Valencia, the 1:25.

And then two weeks later I go to South America and win a tournament in Brazil.

So it was really special to end the season.

So that's a good season.

That's where the rank and jump is coming.

So a couple more questions.

Who's the boss, the player or the coach?

Ah, okay, he's the coach.

I think for me he's the coach.

I'm the guy who is playing there.

But I listen to everything and I respect everything the coach says because normally he's more healthy and more chilled outside the court than I am inside.

So I.

It's not like I'm playing.

I'm with the coaches with a remote and I'm playing.

No, but I have so much pace.

They give me so much space to do my thing and they trust in me because I trust in them in the practices.

So it's really good relation that I have and that I've built from the last five years.

Nice.

And if you weren't a tennis player, what would you be?

Or what would you be studying?

Yeah, that's a interesting question because actually I didn't go to college in Portugal, but I freezed my studies.

If one day I want to come back and study, I put it in history.

It's different than usual.

My father is an history of art teacher in university, so I've always liked history and also art.

And how old were you when you finished going to school?

I finished at 17.

At 17.

Okay.

So you've done a lot of schools, so.

Okay, that's good.

And was it online School at 17 or was it school?

School?

No, it's different school.

I did the school at night the last two years.

So it's like I did two years in one and at night just studying from 6:30 to sometimes midnight.

11:30.

Midnight.

Wow.

And to just to focus on tennis.

I wanted to finish it but with the best graduate was really tough.

I had to study a lot because I didn't have so many classes.

I was doing two figures in one at night already.

So, so tired from the practices or the tournaments.

And yes, I managed to do it.

And the final exams I did really well.

So well.

You're.

You're.

You're an inspiration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You know, you're bad, junior.

You went to school, you finish your school and you know, you decided not to go to college and now you're 21.

You know, you're.

You're getting close to the top 100.

That's, that's a dream situation for a lot of players.

So well done on your career so far.

There's much more to come.

I will be in Australia, so I'm going to look out for you.

I'll be down there for that week.

Qualys week.

I look out for you down there and yeah, thanks for jumping on and best of luck in 2025.

Thank you very much for the invitation and yeah, we meet there and it's going to be fun.

Sa.