Before the pandemic, the videos were all about tennis instructions, transfer of knowledge from you to us. Now it's much better because it is also about people. I like to know about MEP, Ian and his friends... It is good to watch Ian classes and analisys, but It's also good to see him playing, training, suffering or talking to MEP, like this.
He's a likeable dude that enjoys tennis. He has really brought a breath of fresh air to watching matches. And his game is very difficult to face. Not "pretty" but effective. And winning ugly is still winning.
Not ugly at all to me, very smart way of playing, make opponents run like hell while being so fit himself. Something to learn for all players all levels . . Dustin Brown plays like this too 😅
12:20 Opponent: Are you just gonna to keep drop shotting all day? Ben: Well, until it stops working.... yeah Opponent: Well I'm outta here then Hey Ben, you dropped this....👑 A king always deserves his crown - you absolute mad lad.
This interview really made more simpathetic towards MEP. It made him more human, more real and also made me realize how intelligent and how strong his mind is.
Ian, as a long time follower, I simply want to reiterate what several people have already mentioned - you’re absolutely killing this pivot in the Essential Tennis model. It will be interesting to see the ultimate balance that gets struck in the “edutainment” formula. Thanks for taking us all on this journey!
Wonderful dry wit. Love the fact that he is so comfortable with his own style of play and that he doesn't give a sh*t about what others think. That right there is a real role model.
hahaha yeah right!! most of people like to play tennis to develop technique , grow in their talents and not just number to 6 at any cost lol...let him do this where it counts, in a pro sport:) he would not even come close.....junky ball style is not cultivated because if you cant handle pace you cant win the matches in a row!!! and many pros have hard time with pro junkie ball player Medvedev....it yields 1 in 100 ....so thats not effective strategy ...it gets eliminated in the process!! but it is the most used strategy among recreational players.....millions of Bens out there among all age groups and 80% of all club players lol and yes ofcourse that people dont want to waste time.on that :) but improve....and you cant improve playing Ben that much hahaha, you can though if not aware of the process get demotivated for improvement!! this is what he stands for and celebrates...because he does not get to play proper players...nobody wants to waste time and Ben thrives against that 80% majority in all clubs!!
in a nutshell Ben thrives on 80% majority in clubs who did not finish basic education of tennis that lasts 5 years! thats how he builds his rating to 4.5
Loved seeing this true gentleman putting on display his articulate nature, class, talent and sense of discipline amongst others. Ian's questions were meaningful and very respectful...only if the ATP post-match interviewers were half as content-rich with their inquiries.
Man. As much as I already respect your channel, you knocked it out of the park this time. I never would have guessed that you'd be as good at constructing a story as constructing a point. Introducing us to MEP the philosopher was a genius first chapter. Ignore all the short attention span "milking" critics... You're doing a fantastic job of building anticipation and suspense. Bravo 👏
Well..maybe 95%! There will be always some idiots claiming his game or women's 4.5 matches are boring and shouldn't have place on the channel. Inviting Ben goes in counter to the hateful social media. Again congrats to ET for promoting the game that way! :)
Terrific interview with Ben. I appreciate him even more now having watched this interview last night. I watch quite a few of Ben's matches via TennisTroll and am impressed that he is able to win, frequently, at NTRP 4.5 playing his game and style without compromise. On top of that...he is well-spoken, a husband, a father, and a fellow veteran. Nice work all the way around Ian.
What an articulate man. His attitude is wondrous and the answers were well crafted and explained. I respected his tennis game, but this interview made me respect a lot more. Thanks Ian for doing this and thanks Ben, you're an inspiration!!
Ben, loved your thoughts at the end. I have no doubt that you are a grate father and husband. Thank you for everything you have done for our country and for the two youtube channels. Looking forward to the matches not just to see who wins, but to get to know you and other players more.
What a lovely guy and a great chat. Really looking forward to these matches! It's brilliant how showcasing the personalities of the people on and off-court can get us all excited about sport at any level, not just the elite.
As a former opponent (and loser) of Ben’s, I’m so happy to have learned a bit more background on him that you can’t necessarily get into during a match. He absolutely gassed me in our match in Atlanta in July 2019.
Just came across this video and watched MEP play a few times. As someone who was nationally ranked as a junior and got offers from D1 schools, I applaud Ben. For someone to learn tennis and be true to his own style despite the purists and enjoy himself is fantastic. I quit playing competitively before college because of burnout and pressure and to be honest I am jealous of Ben as he just seems to enjoy himself. Bravo.
Wonderful post! Showcasing both Ben's funny yet down-to-earth personality, and Ian's brilliant interview style. I had been frustrated by the slow progress towards posting the MEP matches, but this episode now reveals Ian's genius in evolving his channel, bringing forth and exposing personalities that are more intriguing that those on the pro tour. Nicely done!
I like seeing players like this at higher levels, because it sets the stage of reality very quickly in a match and becomes a litmus test for where YOUR game is really at.
Great words of wisdom from Ben here. Congratulations on a wonderful family. Best words ever spoken from Ben "Anger takes energy". In life more than tennis, anger does actually take physical and mental energy and really has no good end. At 55, I have seen this and experienced this over my life. Thanks for the reminder Ben.
Semper Fi, Ben! Great to see you out and spreading our Marine Corps vibe throughout tennis. Absolutely brother, mission is priority so stay determined, keep focused, and have fun! I’m a Marine as well, I would say a steady 4.0 and 45, (and I had a decent jumper too) so we’re quite similar. You have a pretty awesome and complete game! Would love to hit or get a match with you some time. The 10% are the 10%. The only advice I would say to you is to put your racquet in your non-swinging hand more often. It will totally allow you to balance and will keep you from sitting on your heels, putting both of your hands on your racquet any time you’re not swinging. Like BBall, this game is best played on your toes.. Keep swinging away and enjoying Devil Dog! Tennis is a game for life and fun for the whole family. OORAH!
Used to "hate" him (quotes because I struggle against his playing style all the time). Totally dig this interview.... plus learned this: "Anger and being angry takes energy, not just on the court but in life". Brilliant!
MEP has one of the best mindsets I've ever seen. Best regards from Brasil, guys! Great channel. I prefer to watch you guys play than ATP games, seriously. Way much more grassroots and also closer to our day-to-day basis.
Good point, very grassroots. I believe in amateur sports where you strive to be better, but end of the day, you have a beer together. You love the sport and sportsmanship. Watching from Kathmandu!
I'm ready for the matches to come out. Ben seems like a really chill guy. His facial expressions to certain questions were cracking me up 😂 I do wonder if playing indoors will hurt or help Ben's game 🤔.
Ben has found a very efficient and effective way to stroke the ball and construct points. It frustrates players who want to play “pretty tennis”. I admire his lunch pail mentality of playing matches. Many competitive players can learn from his mental toughness
What a remarkably nice guy! I love his perspectives, and I shall try to put into practice many of his thoughts. Even before hearing him speak, I had become a little addicted to watching his matches. Now, I am even more interested in watching him. I get the feeling that he rarely if ever talks shit about anyone. Well done.
What a nice guy, down to earth and straightforward, with a great attitude to tennis and life in general. Looking forward to watching the matches. Thanks for bringing this to us, there will be no losers here.
when I first watched this guy play, I thought (as many others have thought) "there is no way this guy is a 4.5." I understand the rating is calculated based on wins but still. Then I thought "why do I care?". Ben's super chill and seems like a great guy who loves tennis. Ben, just remember, Haters are your Motivators!
Great interview! Ben has a great message of there are many ways to be successful, we just need to find out what works for us. Just like Ben, I'm hoping my daughter will grow to like playing tennis as well 🙏
3 things strike me about MEP after watching this: 1. He did 5 years in the marine corps; 2. He played basketball for years before switching to tennis; and 3. He’s a very smart guy. Marine corps explains the mental/physical toughness. Hoops explains the ability to change direction, stop/start, anticipate (many hoop skills transfer well to tennis). And the thoughtfulness. As he points out, he plays this way bc it’s effective, but he has the ability to adjust and play differently. Most of us could really learn from him
Love this guy, he is a real class act. I consider myself a pretty good tennis player, but he would drive me nuts in five minutes on the court. And I would quickly realize how out of shape I was to play a longer point. Great content, really looking forward to the matches. His dropshot is pretty special.
Well, I never thought I'd be looking forward for a Monday so much, can't wait to see the matches. Great interview with a lot of good insights for the tennis community. Congrats ET team and MEP!
Holy Moly! I know Ben, we used to play matches back in Virginia. So weird seeing him on UA-cam. Great all around tennis game and more importantly a fantastic guy! 💪✌️🎾
I started playing tennis in 1995 and always had good footwork and picture perfect ground strokes but no mental game at all. . . I read Brad Gilbert’s book “winning ugly” to really start to focus on the mental grit aspect of my game, and I’ve made a ton of progress but it’s still something I struggle with 20ish years later. MEP plays strong tennis and I think watching him on here really drives it home for me how important the mental aspect of tennis is.
Congrats on doing this Ian, I really applaud the way you've both given Ben an opportunity to present his side of the hype surrounding his style and also allowing all us viewers to "meet" Ben and form our own opinion on his approach. Moving him away from the "MEP" tag (with it's inherent slightly negative connotation) and more towards "Ben" has been astute and I feel the right thing to do. Well done!
Wow, I must say: I'm impressed with his intelligence, his eloquence, his thoughtful personality - I like this guy! I wasn't expecting that. I think Ian likes him, too. His obvious affection for his daughter is endearing. Overall, what a nice surprise. Good on ya MEP, you're a good egg!!
Interesting guy. His Marine background explains a lot about his mental game and desire to stay in games and compete hard. His basketball background explains his athleticism and ability to stay consistent with his shots.
16:45 MEP is asked about why he agreed to play 4 matches in three days. The way they talk about this is one the most screwed up part of the tennis playing community. They treat his schedule like he’s going to run back to back marathons. Playing matches indoors on a fast court is not best of five at the French Open. This attitude about his match schedule points to the fact that most tennis players have no understanding of what being in good shape is and what it allows you to do. I give Ben credit, he is the only person in the matches played here that displays any kind of real sports stamina. During the on court talks between games Bens breathing is like it is during this interview. His opponents on the other hand are breathing heavily at best. I half expected a heart attack from one of his opponents who was breathing in such a labored manner. They should be embarrassed to be breathing so hard while Ben looks like he’s taking a stroll at his local mall.
I love the way that Ben approaches tennis (and life). He boils it down to the essentials, and I can't wait to see how he does in the matches. I really connected with his comments on the guy who complained about drop shots and quit. I play a similar style to Ben's (though not as effective), and I've been told that losing to me made someone want to quit tennis, among other things. This is going to be great!
Absolute delight listening to you Ben, giving your time to explain your outlook, your approach and your experiences. When you're Number 1, they come gunning for you. Everyone wants to do their homework on you and give it their best shot to beat you. So, big kudos to you for putting yourself out there. You are a master at making the best out of your tool box and leaving plenty in your wake. Looking forward to the matches and hope the publicity helps the Troll channel make some more funds for your charities.
Impossible not to like this humble, articulate guy.
Totally agree, Ben's a great guy!
You got that right! At 69 year old I learned a lot from him. Thanks!
I agree. Fun to watch play.
Agreed! I’m prior military as well and that “mission mindset” does drive my dedication in everything I do.
i agree he seems super cool all the guys involved seem really nice
Before the pandemic, the videos were all about tennis instructions, transfer of knowledge from you to us. Now it's much better because it is also about people. I like to know about MEP, Ian and his friends... It is good to watch Ian classes and analisys, but It's also good to see him playing, training, suffering or talking to MEP, like this.
Really glad you're enjoying the content Tiago!
¡Qué astuto punto! También estaba muy bien dicho. Gran comentario, amable señor, y excelentes observaciones. ¡Gracias desde Canadá!
Great questions and answers- really like MEP’s answer at end.
We did too, thanks TennisTroll!
I slow clapped to that. 👏
He's a likeable dude that enjoys tennis. He has really brought a breath of fresh air to watching matches. And his game is very difficult to face. Not "pretty" but effective. And winning ugly is still winning.
Winning is winning! Thanks for watching!
I believe it was someone called Wan Iestermann who said “there’s no points for style”.
honestly his game is super pretty in its way
Not ugly at all to me, very smart way of playing, make opponents run like hell while being so fit himself. Something to learn for all players all levels . . Dustin Brown plays like this too 😅
@@EssentialTennis And winning isn’t everything but it’s winning.
12:20
Opponent: Are you just gonna to keep drop shotting all day?
Ben: Well, until it stops working.... yeah
Opponent: Well I'm outta here then
Hey Ben, you dropped this....👑
A king always deserves his crown - you absolute mad lad.
And maybe he dropped the mic on that one too. 😂
That he is! Thanks for watching Mark!
This interview really made more simpathetic towards MEP. It made him more human, more real and also made me realize how intelligent and how strong his mind is.
Glad you enjoyed it and changed your perspective!
Yes, he is not a sadistic person trying to make me suffer through his drop shots. haha
I like how MEP has the low key "gangster" approach. "Sure Ian, I can come play you, er, how about I play all your friends while I'm there?!"
😂💪
@@EssentialTennis Charles had me laughing too!
Ian, as a long time follower, I simply want to reiterate what several people have already mentioned - you’re absolutely killing this pivot in the Essential Tennis model. It will be interesting to see the ultimate balance that gets struck in the “edutainment” formula. Thanks for taking us all on this journey!
Really glad you're enjoying the journey Jack! I'm enjoying with all of you! 🙂
@@EssentialTennis next thing - more women's games! :)
What a great perspective Ben has to how pointless anger is - both on the tennis court and in life :)
Thanks for watching!
MEP is awesome. Great attitude. Good sense of humor. Thoughtful reflection. The best of amateur tennis. Nice interview.
He's a fantastic gentleman all around!
17:37 ... not just myself but also for you and the channel. That's pure authentic generosity there.
🙂
Last line of the interview is gold.
Totally agree!
Wonderful dry wit. Love the fact that he is so comfortable with his own style of play and that he doesn't give a sh*t about what others think. That right there is a real role model.
💯
hahaha yeah right!! most of people like to play tennis to develop technique , grow in their talents and not just number to 6 at any cost lol...let him do this where it counts, in a pro sport:) he would not even come close.....junky ball style is not cultivated because if you cant handle pace you cant win the matches in a row!!! and many pros have hard time with pro junkie ball player Medvedev....it yields 1 in 100 ....so thats not effective strategy ...it gets eliminated in the process!! but it is the most used strategy among recreational players.....millions of Bens out there among all age groups and 80% of all club players lol and yes ofcourse that people dont want to waste time.on that :) but improve....and you cant improve playing Ben that much hahaha, you can though if not aware of the process get demotivated for improvement!! this is what he stands for and celebrates...because he does not get to play proper players...nobody wants to waste time and Ben thrives against that 80% majority in all clubs!!
in a nutshell Ben thrives on 80% majority in clubs who did not finish basic education of tennis that lasts 5 years! thats how he builds his rating to 4.5
Wow. My respect for Ben just went through the roof.
Awesome to hear!
Loved seeing this true gentleman putting on display his articulate nature, class, talent and sense of discipline amongst others. Ian's questions were meaningful and very respectful...only if the ATP post-match interviewers were half as content-rich with their inquiries.
Couldn't agree more, thanks for watching!
WOW! Has me in tears. Thank you Ben for being a Marine, husband, and dad and an example we can all admire!
Thanks for watching!
I love the table, it’s like a masterpiece theatre interview...on a tennis court
Thanks Biren!
Dude is a veteran💪, thanks for your service🙏, that explains why he can just brush off the negativity.
David Frost interview!
Yes: the roccoco table, modern chairs, plastic bottles and loud trucks make for unique design.
@@dammitol25mg19 haha the trucks made it surreal
those final words from Ben are Gold
"More than one way to succeed." I love that.
Of course!
This guy is a legend! Humble, funny and most of all, motivated by challenges...
💪
Man. As much as I already respect your channel, you knocked it out of the park this time. I never would have guessed that you'd be as good at constructing a story as constructing a point. Introducing us to MEP the philosopher was a genius first chapter. Ignore all the short attention span "milking" critics... You're doing a fantastic job of building anticipation and suspense. Bravo 👏
I appreciate that!
Watched so much of MEP during lockdown. He is a hero of 🎾
Pretty sure he went from 80% positive and 20% negative to 100% positive after this video! 👍🏽❤️
Well..maybe 95%! There will be always some idiots claiming his game or women's 4.5 matches are boring and shouldn't have place on the channel.
Inviting Ben goes in counter to the hateful social media. Again congrats to ET for promoting the game that way! :)
great interview, excellent well constructed questions, even better answers. I think he is much better respected afterwards. cheers from Brazil
MEP… Thanks for your service. Fun to watch you make these guys work hard.
Terrific interview with Ben. I appreciate him even more now having watched this interview last night. I watch quite a few of Ben's matches via TennisTroll and am impressed that he is able to win, frequently, at NTRP 4.5 playing his game and style without compromise. On top of that...he is well-spoken, a husband, a father, and a fellow veteran. Nice work all the way around Ian.
Thank you for your service to the country and to essential tennis
💪
What an articulate man. His attitude is wondrous and the answers were well crafted and explained. I respected his tennis game, but this interview made me respect a lot more. Thanks Ian for doing this and thanks Ben, you're an inspiration!!
❤🙏
I love this comment.
@@scottbroady3159 OMG Scott. What would I not give to have your backswing!!!
Ben, loved your thoughts at the end. I have no doubt that you are a grate father and husband. Thank you for everything you have done for our country and for the two youtube channels. Looking forward to the matches not just to see who wins, but to get to know you and other players more.
Thanks for your support johnny!
When you realize that MEP was a Marine, it all starts to make sense. Complete the mission in any way possible. "OohRah!"
💯
What a lovely guy and a great chat. Really looking forward to these matches! It's brilliant how showcasing the personalities of the people on and off-court can get us all excited about sport at any level, not just the elite.
Glad you enjoyed it, much more to come!
remarkably thoughtful answers! excellent probing qns too!
Only Ian could find another tennis opponent as humble and likable as him! Thank you for your service to our country Ben.
I thought MEP was in his mid 30’s. Looks young for 43. Good interview.
Thanks for watching G!
Ben is an awesome guy. This interview was fabulous. Can’t wait to see the matches.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As a former opponent (and loser) of Ben’s, I’m so happy to have learned a bit more background on him that you can’t necessarily get into during a match. He absolutely gassed me in our match in Atlanta in July 2019.
What an amazing guy. His closing remarks are words to live by. Thanks for posting Ian.
I completely agree!
Just came across this video and watched MEP play a few times. As someone who was nationally ranked as a junior and got offers from D1 schools, I applaud Ben. For someone to learn tennis and be true to his own style despite the purists and enjoy himself is fantastic. I quit playing competitively before college because of burnout and pressure and to be honest I am jealous of Ben as he just seems to enjoy himself. Bravo.
Wonderful post! Showcasing both Ben's funny yet down-to-earth personality, and Ian's brilliant interview style. I had been frustrated by the slow progress towards posting the MEP matches, but this episode now reveals Ian's genius in evolving his channel, bringing forth and exposing personalities that are more intriguing that those on the pro tour. Nicely done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I like seeing players like this at higher levels, because it sets the stage of reality very quickly in a match and becomes a litmus test for where YOUR game is really at.
Great words of wisdom from Ben here. Congratulations on a wonderful family. Best words ever spoken from Ben "Anger takes energy". In life more than tennis, anger does actually take physical and mental energy and really has no good end. At 55, I have seen this and experienced this over my life. Thanks for the reminder Ben.
Semper Fi, Ben! Great to see you out and spreading our Marine Corps vibe throughout tennis. Absolutely brother, mission is priority so stay determined, keep focused, and have fun! I’m a Marine as well, I would say a steady 4.0 and 45, (and I had a decent jumper too) so we’re quite similar. You have a pretty awesome and complete game! Would love to hit or get a match with you some time.
The 10% are the 10%. The only advice I would say to you is to put your racquet in your non-swinging hand more often. It will totally allow you to balance and will keep you from sitting on your heels, putting both of your hands on your racquet any time you’re not swinging. Like BBall, this game is best played on your toes..
Keep swinging away and enjoying Devil Dog! Tennis is a game for life and fun for the whole family. OORAH!
Used to "hate" him (quotes because I struggle against his playing style all the time). Totally dig this interview.... plus learned this: "Anger and being angry takes energy, not just on the court but in life". Brilliant!
Glad you've had a change in perspective!
MEP has one of the best mindsets I've ever seen. Best regards from Brasil, guys! Great channel. I prefer to watch you guys play than ATP games, seriously. Way much more grassroots and also closer to our day-to-day basis.
Thanks so much for the kind words and support!
Good point, very grassroots. I believe in amateur sports where you strive to be better, but end of the day, you have a beer together. You love the sport and sportsmanship. Watching from Kathmandu!
What an inspirational guy on all levels! Also, not forgetting Ian and the team at Essential Tennis!
Thanks for the support!
This guy is pure believe and mind set great video
Great guy! must be painful to play against him (wining or loosing) but you have to respect the effort he puts when he plays.
Dude...Ben seems like an awesome guy! Appreciate ET for taking the time to let us get to know him 🙌
🙏
I like his mentality
I'm ready for the matches to come out. Ben seems like a really chill guy. His facial expressions to certain questions were cracking me up 😂
I do wonder if playing indoors will hurt or help Ben's game 🤔.
Stay tuned Richard!
This was such a great interview. Looking forward to all of these matches.
Thanks for watching Mitchell!
Excellent interview! Thanks Ben and Ian
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the support!
Ben has found a very efficient and effective way to stroke the ball and construct points. It frustrates players who want to play “pretty tennis”. I admire his lunch pail mentality of playing matches. Many competitive players can learn from his mental toughness
This whole MEP series is informative and surprisingly entertaining. Great idea!
What a remarkably nice guy! I love his perspectives, and I shall try to put into practice many of his thoughts. Even before hearing him speak, I had become a little addicted to watching his matches. Now, I am even more interested in watching him. I get the feeling that he rarely if ever talks shit about anyone. Well done.
Great interview. You've won me over, Ben! I'm now a fan of MEP.
What a nice guy, down to earth and straightforward, with a great attitude to tennis and life in general. Looking forward to watching the matches. Thanks for bringing this to us, there will be no losers here.
when I first watched this guy play, I thought (as many others have thought) "there is no way this guy is a 4.5." I understand the rating is calculated based on wins but still. Then I thought "why do I care?". Ben's super chill and seems like a great guy who loves tennis. Ben, just remember, Haters are your Motivators!
nice table!
Thanks!
Such great content, bravo Ian and Ben!
Thanks for the support Jonathan!
Great interview! Ben has a great message of there are many ways to be successful, we just need to find out what works for us. Just like Ben, I'm hoping my daughter will grow to like playing tennis as well 🙏
Great job Ben!!!
❤
Thanks Craig! See you out there again sometime soon.
3 things strike me about MEP after watching this: 1. He did 5 years in the marine corps; 2. He played basketball for years before switching to tennis; and 3. He’s a very smart guy. Marine corps explains the mental/physical toughness. Hoops explains the ability to change direction, stop/start, anticipate (many hoop skills transfer well to tennis). And the thoughtfulness. As he points out, he plays this way bc it’s effective, but he has the ability to adjust and play differently. Most of us could really learn from him
do you know what his full name is?
Love this guy, he is a real class act. I consider myself a pretty good tennis player, but he would drive me nuts in five minutes on the court. And I would quickly realize how out of shape I was to play a longer point. Great content, really looking forward to the matches. His dropshot is pretty special.
Love that military mindset. "Get to work. No excuses. Complete the mission (match)".
💪
6:40 is a great question. Mindset of a soldier!
""You've got a mission to complete, and it doesn't really matter how you feel about it". wow, interesting viewpoint, heavy stuff.
Well, I never thought I'd be looking forward for a Monday so much, can't wait to see the matches. Great interview with a lot of good insights for the tennis community. Congrats ET team and MEP!
Glad you enjoyed it
Holy Moly! I know Ben, we used to play matches back in Virginia. So weird seeing him on UA-cam. Great all around tennis game and more importantly a fantastic guy! 💪✌️🎾
he seems like such a likable guy. looking forward to the matches
Ben is a great guy!
Just great stuff! Nice to see someone with perspective and humility, while still being rather above average in a sport
Couldn't agree more!
Respect to this legend
🙏🙏
So much respect for the both of you. This is what tennis is all about.
Thanks so much Woody!
Well done Essential for putting this together and for MEP for putting himself out there! Can't wait for the matches
Great job. I would like to show this to mi kids (a bit difficult to get for a kid), the mental setup is amazing.
Hello Ben. I really enjoyed your interview with Ian. I wish you much success on and off the court.
Great interview with MEP Ian!! Can’t wait to watch the matches!!
Coming soon, glad you enjoyed it!
I started playing tennis in 1995 and always had good footwork and picture perfect ground strokes but no mental game at all. . . I read Brad Gilbert’s book “winning ugly” to really start to focus on the mental grit aspect of my game, and I’ve made a ton of progress but it’s still something I struggle with 20ish years later. MEP plays strong tennis and I think watching him on here really drives it home for me how important the mental aspect of tennis is.
Two great guys. Equally friendly and competitive. Loving the journey and can't wait to watch Ben's games
wow, MEP is just a genuinely a great humble guy... learned quiet a bit on the interview not just for tennis, but for life. ..
🙏
i just became a huge fan, respect his attitude and character, good job Ian for introducing us to Ben !
Congrats on doing this Ian, I really applaud the way you've both given Ben an opportunity to present his side of the hype surrounding his style and also allowing all us viewers to "meet" Ben and form our own opinion on his approach. Moving him away from the "MEP" tag (with it's inherent slightly negative connotation) and more towards "Ben" has been astute and I feel the right thing to do. Well done!
Wow, I must say: I'm impressed with his intelligence, his eloquence, his thoughtful personality - I like this guy! I wasn't expecting that. I think Ian likes him, too. His obvious affection for his daughter is endearing. Overall, what a nice surprise. Good on ya MEP, you're a good egg!!
MED Most Exhausting Daughter.
We're here for it!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
She’s going to be really good (in hs college) if she can overcome him eventually.
Interesting guy. His Marine background explains a lot about his mental game and desire to stay in games and compete hard. His basketball background explains his athleticism and ability to stay consistent with his shots.
💯
This was an excellent interview, Ian. You really get such a clearer understanding of MEP after this. Can't wait to see the match!
MEP is da 💣💣💣. Hope he doesn't lose a set. GO BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very inspiring Mr. Ben. Great attitude! Wow I feeling like I’m watching the real life Forrest Gump. Amazing!
16:45 MEP is asked about why he agreed to play 4 matches in three days. The way they talk about this is one the most screwed up part of the tennis playing community. They treat his schedule like he’s going to run back to back marathons. Playing matches indoors on a fast court is not best of five at the French Open. This attitude about his match schedule points to the fact that most tennis players have no understanding of what being in good shape is and what it allows you to do. I give Ben credit, he is the only person in the matches played here that displays any kind of real sports stamina. During the on court talks between games Bens breathing is like it is during this interview. His opponents on the other hand are breathing heavily at best. I half expected a heart attack from one of his opponents who was breathing in such a labored manner. They should be embarrassed to be breathing so hard while Ben looks like he’s taking a stroll at his local mall.
Best guys ever! Thank you Ian for showing this side of Ben
You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
MEP has an amazing attitude! Wow... KUDOS.. I learned from him!
I'm so glad to hear that!
I love the way that Ben approaches tennis (and life). He boils it down to the essentials, and I can't wait to see how he does in the matches. I really connected with his comments on the guy who complained about drop shots and quit. I play a similar style to Ben's (though not as effective), and I've been told that losing to me made someone want to quit tennis, among other things. This is going to be great!
What a guy this MEP. Lots and lots of respect!
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He's like a spiritual tennis guru 🙏 🎾
Yes he is!
Humble on and off the court. Hope I get the pleasure to play him again one day soon! Bring home the title Ben!
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Much respect to MEP. Great attitude on how to play any sport. Great outlook on life.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Two impressive guys there. Looking forward to watching the match!
Absolute delight listening to you Ben, giving your time to explain your outlook, your approach and your experiences. When you're Number 1, they come gunning for you. Everyone wants to do their homework on you and give it their best shot to beat you. So, big kudos to you for putting yourself out there. You are a master at making the best out of your tool box and leaving plenty in your wake. Looking forward to the matches and hope the publicity helps the Troll channel make some more funds for your charities.
Loved the last statement. Inspiring outlook.
Great guy with a great outlook on tennis and life.