Nick Matthew Interview

Nick Matthew takes time out of his schedule to talk to the team at Metaphorics about becoming World number 1.

 

 

 

What does it feel like to finally be the World number 1?

SLIGHTLY SURREAL FEELING! YOU WORK ALL YOUR LIFE TOWARDS SOMETHING AND THEN WHEN ALL THE EUPHORIA DIES DOWN, NOTHING REALLY IS DIFFERENT! I THINK THAT I ACHIEVED IT AT A GREAT TIME; LAST TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON, SO I COULD HAVE A BREAK AND COME BACK HUNGRY TO ACHIEVE MORE. 
 

What aspects of your mental training have been the most useful to you?

LOOKING AT TURNING MY STRENGTHS IN TO SUPER STRENGTHS.  SIMPLIFYING MY THOUGHT PROCESS IN MY PREPARATION AND POST MATCH ANALYSIS. HARNESSING MY ENERGY/EMOTIONS ON COURT WITHOUT LOSING MY EDGE
 

Can you tell us about the importance of focussing on strengths?

MASSIVELY IMPORTANT. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD UNLESS YOU HAVE MATCH WINNING STRENGTHS? I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN GET OVERLOOKED AS EVERYONE IS ALWAYS LOOKING AT IMPROVING THEIR WEAKNESSES
 

What do you think the keys are to a winning mentality?

THERE ARE SO MANY ANSWERS TO THIS, AS EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT, BUT STUBBORN AND UTTER BELIEF IN YOURSELF IS CRUCIAL FOR STARTERS. BACKING YOURSELF WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL. I THINK ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS MASSIVE, AND THOSE DETAILS WILL VARY PER PERSON
 

Have you learnt anything about yourself that has surprised you about your mentality?

MY ABILITY TO NOW STAY COMPOSED UNDER PRESSURE AFTER BEING A BIT OF A HOTHEAD AT VARIOUS STAGES OF MY CAREER! ALSO, MY CONSISTENCY THIS SEASON HAS BEEN BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS
 

What are your future ambitions in the game?

TO STAY AT WORLD NUMBER 1 FOR A WHILE YET. AND TO WIN COMMONWEALTH GOLD AND BECOME WORLD CHAMPION