Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach Mike James - Data Analyst
13 snips
Dec 9, 2024 
Mike James, Chief Performance Analyst at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, reveals how he combines technical and tactical data to enhance players' performances. He discusses the significance of marginal gains, explaining how tiny improvements can turn matches. Mike shares insights on delivering analysis to players like Coco Gauff and Holger Rune, and the challenges of rapid scouting for last-minute matches. He also predicts that movement and wearable tech will shape tennis in 2025. Plus, he shares fun anecdotes about his PlayStation rivalry with Holger!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Holistic Data Integration
- Tennis analysis combines physical, technical and tactical data to produce actionable insights.
- Mike James marries multiple data sources to steepen players' learning curves.
Tennis Is A Game Of Tiny Margins
- Matches are decided by tiny margins; winning ~54% of points yields match wins most of the time.
- Tennis analytics must account for surfaces, formats and balls, making it uniquely complex.
Relentless Tour Life
- Mike travels heavily, typically 20–35 weeks per year, and treats it as a privileged but relentless lifestyle.
- He says the sport demands year-round commitment from analysts, coaches and support staff.