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Apr/16

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John Patrick Smith discusses switch to Mizuno Tennis

Scoop Malinowski's photo.

Australian veteran John Patrick Smith was All American in singles and doubles for all four years at Tennessee (2007-2011). The six-foot two inch 27 year old Aussie lefty is beginning to crack the upper echelon of the ATP as last September he reached his highest singles ranking of 108 and this year recorded a win over ATP #25 Ivo Karlovic in Delray Beach. Currently Smith is ranked 157 in singles and 225 in doubles (two QF results this year – Brisbane and Key Biscayne. I spoke with the affable Aussie recently about his switching over to wearing Mizuno shoes and attire…

Question: How did you become associated with Mizuno?

John Patrick Smith: Mizuno decided to get into tennis a little more. I was fortunate to get asked to try them out and actually did like the shoes a lot. And actually the clothes are pretty good as well.

Q: Sent complimentary?

JP Smith: Yes, so far yes. Tryout.

Question: You are pleased with the comfort of the shoes?

John Patrick Smith: Yes. Very good. Very light. Very good for my feet. I have pretty flat feet. So it fits quite good for my arch as well.

Q: What shoes did you wear previously?

JP Smith: Babolat.

Question: How would you compare Babolat shoes with Mizuno?

JP Smith: I would say my feet are flat and probably Mizuno and Babolat are the best shoes for it. Obviously they’re both great shoes.

Q: This year you have achieved strong results – beating ATP #26 Karlovic in singles and two ATP quarterfinals in doubles. To what do you attribute the success?

JP Smith: I think it’s a multitude of things actually. Training. Obviously worked on my game a lot as well I think it all adds up.

Question: You give Mizuno shoes a thumbs up?

JP Smith: I do like them yes. You can quote that [smiles]. I do like them.

Q: Do you know who the last player was who wore Mizuno decades ago?

JP Smith: (With no hesitation) Ivan Lendl [smiles].

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12 comments

  • Moskova Moskova · April 26, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    I’d definitely have JPS rechecked out for PEDs….this guy’s too ripped up for tennis lol

  • catherine bell · April 26, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Lendl in his early years also wore black tennis outfits – a few of the more pretentious writers thought he was making some kind of profound statement ( the ‘black knight of tennis ‘ stays in my mind) but it turned out he was just lazy and didn’t think black showed dirt so much.
    (Of course when he grew more successful his laundry was done for him.)
    Can’t recall if his shoes were also black…… 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 26, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    The players today all train so hard and their nutrition programs are on point – you would be surprised if you train hard eat right and with discipline and do consistent weight and resistance training how strong you can cut up your physique – JP Smith is in top shape – as are all the other players – Even guys like Cuevas and Granollers don’t have a soft spot on their bodies – I was talking with an former three-time GS champ at Eddie Herr and he was impressed by seeing Rublev without a shirt and how he had no soft spots on his slight frame –

  • Moskova Moskova · April 26, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    safin had alotta soft spots….smoked, drank and danced too LOL

    how about the dent / calleri-types ?? they were kinda pudgy

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 26, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    The players today are different moskova. Even a guy like Granollers and Cuevas without shirts they are physical brute specimens. 90s players and early 2000s players were not like the fit players today.

  • Jg · April 26, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    You see the Florida State doubles team win a round at the Talahassee challenger, awesome!

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 26, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    jg: That’s quite a stunner. I don’t know what’s more stunning, that or Paes losing first round in a doubles challenger with Groth in China. Paes suddenly struggling to win even at Challenger level. Ever since Paes split with the great Rick Leach last year it’s been all downhill.

  • Thomas Tung · April 27, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Agreed, Scoop. Everytime I see the qualifying at the US Open there’s plenty of shirtless male players getting in a practice on a hot day, and they are all ripped and cut. No exceptions. If you didn’t know who Andy Murray was, simply by shirtless looks you’d think he was a power player …

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 27, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    Just about every pro tennis player looks like a pro hockey player without a shirt on TT – even Isner Ivo and Fed are built solidly –

  • Thomas Tung · April 28, 2016 at 12:09 am

    Yeah, practically every male player looks around 10-15 lbs bigger than they were from the 1990s-mid 2000s. But it’s extra lean muscle, so the proportions are good, not overbulked in any way.

  • Thomas Tung · April 28, 2016 at 12:10 am

    If anything, Nadal seems to have lost around 7-15 lbs (probably to reduce the weight on his knees and compensate for increasing inherent slowness due to age).

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 28, 2016 at 8:25 am

    Nadal does look lighter but then again it could be an illusion with those short shorts and tight shirt he wears now – How about Rafas poppa now with the all white hair? Just a year ago he was all black –

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