Beat the Pro Tennis Challenge is CANCELED 🚫 

Get 10% OFF on the TOPSPIN PRO topspinpro.com/discount/intuitivetennis10/

I totally understand this. We had a coach in high school who was 70 years old but had been playing 50 plus years, and even against fit 16-18 year old he could destroy all of us by simply placing the ball exactly where he wanted it. So completely understand!

Good judgement Nick! You will always get trolls out there hiding behind a keyboard and being abusive but when it comes to challenging them they seem to all disappear. I think just keep doing what you're doing and ignore the haters. Keep up the good work!

This is back when Sampras was first starting to play again for fun, around 2007, but he did this exclusive thing where he'd allow people to try to return 1 out of 10 serves from him. A friend of mine who was a very solid 5.5 player got his racket on one and was extremely proud of himself. Pros are just on another level, and the greats another level beyond.

I was at about 4.0 level at my best, but when I played against a former D1 player, and I was in my 30's while he was in his 60's, and I couldn't even handle his second serve. And he was only doing second serve because there's no chance for me to return anything if he did a first serve. I had never faced a serve that kicked that high. So believe the coach. There's absolutely no chance for you against these high level player if you play at rec level. Also, there's a wide range among D1 college players. I saw a match between Richie Reneberg against the number 1 player at Texas A&M University, and that guy would cream any 5.0 rec player. Yet Reneberg looked like he just had a walk in the park, did not even crank up his serve and still won 6-1 6-2. I knew Reneberg was just taking it easy then because when he turned pro later and faced Ivan Lendl, his pace was significantly faster. The difference in level is huge, even among high level players. I can't fathom rec level players talking crap without knowing a thing what's going on.

Loving all the new ideas and changes to the channel. Keep up the experimentation. It’s the only way you grow!

Funny I was watching some vids of Brian Scalibrine ex-NBA player and the quote he said was “I’m closer to Lebron than you are to me”. There’s levels to every sport. I mean just look at John McEnroe playing at 60+ just destroying dudes that none of us would get close to.

I especially like these type of Nic's videos, they give a different perspective into the tennis world that many don't get to see.

Keep doing what you are doing nick, i learned alot from your contents. Played tennis since covid, all in all i learned more from youtube contents than from the local coach.

Don’t let the haters doubt you. You’re a highly intelligent individual with an archive of knowledge. From what I can see you’re at the very least trilingual on top of your already impressive skills. One day I hope to play you, but as a fellow tennis player and not some deranged lunatic. Anyway, all the best!!

One think, when I came to your channel there was ~180k and for today it's 190k+ subs, Nick please keep doing what you're doing people really love that, the numbers will not lie, your channel growing because people whant to know really Intuitive Tennis that you showing to us! Hope some day I'll shake your hand and say to you Thank you for all what your are do to me personally through you videos! PS.: now I know that Tennis isn't so expensive - you change it, for many of us (I think)! Thank you!

Was waiting on this one, unfortunate that it got cancelled. Thank you for the honesty.

You’re a good person, Nick. Unfortunately, this world is filled with trolls who are so dissatisfied with their lives that they need to inflate themselves verbally behind a keyboard. Keep doing what your doing, stay positive…

Thank you Nick! I I have learnt a lot of tennis skills from your channel. This is my go to tennis learning site. Really appreciate your effort and the great content. Looking forward to see more from you!

Great attitude Nick. Thank you for your integrity and energy you are putting in your YoutTube videos.

I love your channel, Nick! Typically I'm not crazy about videos where it's just talking, but I find you very engaging and fascinating to listen to. There's no reason for me to find myself in Florida with a few hundred extra dollars for a lesson, but that would be awesome. Anyway, I love your channel!

Nick vs Karue would be awesome to see.

Classy move. I like it that you were open to challenges (unlike low level coaches in fear of being exposed), but had the decency to save the kid from humiliation. Spirit of real tennis player.

You did the right thing, much respect. Keep up the good work!

You have a great RU-vid channel, great instruction, wish I lived closer so I could take lessons.

playing the max is showing respect for your opponent.

Nick, I thinks it’s cool that you’re reading comments and interfacing with people, but I really think you have to just completely ignore these ‘haters’ and trolls. It’ll cause you nothing but stress to even acknowledge their existence, and it can be a slippery steep road once the feedback loop begins of acknowledging the trolls and in so doing feeding them. This is a tennis channel so just play tennis and keep it positive, no matter what. I’m not trying to be critical just saying it how I see it, and I’m a huge fan of this channel. Your recommendation of a stiffer racket and more powerful strings saved my ulnar wrist pain and I’ll always be thankful for that. Keep up the great content man.

Nick, some can only talk the talk from a hidden place - you talk the talk and boldly walk the walk with grace, humility and professionalism. Gordon

Well said, I’m between 4.0 and 4.5 level, but I’m not delusional of my level. That’s why my aim is to become a 5.0 player, cream crop of recreational level

Nick, love your non bs form of instruction. It would be fun to watch the other RU-vid instructors battle it out…Karue, Brady etc. keep up the great work!

What about playing Karue Sell? You both make great tennis content, that’d be a fun great match to watch

Hey Nick, I appreciate your introspection and I trust your judgement here. Best wishes with your content going forward.

Hi Nick. I knew that I knew u from Rockford.. I was the tennis coach at HCC in Freeport!! I love your videos and your instruction. Keep it going. I'm a high school tennis coach and I use your videos for my kids. I played for ISU in the 70s. #1 dubs and I would get destroyed by u. But I am very very competitive according to my wife... thanks. Jim S.

Gute Entscheidung, Nick. Aber traurig, dass sich so viele Leute selbst so überschätzen und Dich so unterschätzen.

Some of us don't feel humiliation when we get beat 6-0, 6-0. I have beaten people 6-0, 6-0 and I have lost 6-0, 6-0. If there is humiliation, that's the ego talking. And the ego is what holds us back in life. Think about it...

Good on ya Coach. Very honorable thing to do for him. Tons of respect.

Hi nick, we love you and what you are doing for us and for the sport of tennis. Keep it going and continue doing the good work. Best luck :)

You're the best Nick, keep up the great content.

I joined a open tournament at 3.0 and got destroyed. I knew It was going to happen so the experience was inspirational for me.

That's when Nick plays Karue. It's the YT tennis master clash. 🤣

There was a video of a 2017 match between Berretini and Tsitsipas, and some of the comments were along the lines of "how are these guys even pros". Goes to show how out of whack people's abilities can be when it comes to gauging skill level.

Thanks for all the things you do, I can't imagine actually playing a player of your caliber I don't think I would even score a point.

Great to see matches ! My tennis HQ has some great ones. Love you both. And the serve is kind of a throw 😬

Darn I really wanted to see you whoop some rec players' behinds!!! Let us know when you bring it back. 😉😉

haters gonna hate Nick. I really thinkyou are doing wonderful job posting coaching and life lessons on youtube. will continue to support your channel for sure..

man thats it, im suscribing to your premium channel, not specially to watch this match, but because i love how you talk about the tennis, i have a very similar philosophy to the game than you, obviously a very different tennis background, having started in my 20s ( i had some lesons when i was 5, but then the trip to the club on weekends became too much for my parents) but im in love with the game, i hate when i see coaches that are supposed to have very good reputation and such, and they take it so much as a job, they dont watch matches, they dont like to talk about tennis in fact, i understand that it is a job, but not a regular one, its a passion for many people

I knew you were good and a top 20 D1 player, but dang. Didn’t know you were top 200 and had a win of Bobby Reynolds. That’s tight. I would’ve loved to have a chance to play, maybe one day I’ll get a lesson and happily pay for a chance to get “beaten by the pro” :D

Thank you for the update. I agree.

Damn, I was really hoping to see Nick’s game regardless of the match result

Good decision Nick. No point humiliating someone needlessly and opening them up to potential abuse. And as for the trolls, unfortunately they will always be there and best ignored as all they want is a reaction and to make their small egos feel better👍

Big fan of your work and your attitude, Nick. Would there be any chance of you collaborating with Karue from My Tennis HQ for a video? Maybe even a set? I learn from you guys on a weekly basis. Thanks again for sharing all you share!

play Karue!

Classy, classy, classy... Well done. You really are a COACH. Just fantastic stuff.

Good judgement Nick … you are sensible and a good guy 👍

Nick, you are such a great person! Never listen to the haters, love your videos keep it up!!

Nick, you know your worth, you're an amazing coach, and a great player and simply an inspiration, I'm so grateful for your videos. Keyboard warriors are simply losers whose offensive comments are the only way for them to get noticed. Keep up the good work!!!

I think the best thing to do is just ignore people like this, you shouldn’t let them get under your skin, because at the end of day most of their criticism is based on nothing and it’s just petty insults. I think that’s a very important thing to keep in mind that’s what I respect about you, that you’re humble, and you’re not overly confident or cocky.

My father was a high level player, won many tournaments when he was younger, but never pushed his career farther. He is 67 now I still can't beat him lol.

Nick, non dare retta a certa gente! Tu sei bravo sotto molti aspetti sia a livello tecnico, tattico ed umano, chi scrive minchiate su di te e' assolutamente un idiota ed invidioso! Bravo Nick👍🏻

Watching this from germany, I learnt a new word. Yeah, you did the right thing. I don't think anybody sitting on the other side of the screen can estimate how well you might have been in your youth. There are trolls every where, sad you have to explain yourself. I honestly haven't come across a more technically aware coach than you across sports. Keep up the amazing work. Love this channel.

In my experience following tennis since the early 80s, just considering your serve I would rank you at 200 ATP level, back when you were at your prime. Even now at "old age for pro tennis" you could serve a lot of young guns at college level out of the court. Anybody who says otherwise is a hater and probably don't know anything about tennis.

Hi Nick, immer wieder guter Content den du hier lieferst! Bleib wie du bist :). Grüße aus dem Münsterland. Hi Nick, good content as always. Stay as you are. Greetings :)

Beautiful decision Nick, I celebrate it. His challenge had caught my eye and while I suspected it was a clever marketing move, I always knew exposure to the challenger would come that could hurt them. You have been empathetic and it shows you as a great human being as well as an extraordinary player and coach. I confess to you something intimate almost stupid: your decision made me feel proud to be a subscriber of your channel. Well done PROFESSOR!!!

Very good decision, much respect on protecting the player. Please keep up the good work, Nick. Your channel is the best tennis channel in the world. Love all the videos and contents you share with us. Don't let those haters or keyboard warriors influence you.

I love you Nick, please never change

Hey Nick love the content, will we ever see a match between Safin and Shamir?

Those haters are so dumb..teaching people how to play tennis well and playing well is totally different thing! Coaches don't need to play well that's why they're called a coach not a player.

You should humiliate a 4.5 - it would be a useful reference video to link the haters to.

People underestimate how good you are because you look a bit slow. But at 45 its totally normal. At a true 5.0 many years ago, I played a guy in a mini tournament at club med who was closer to 50 and got destroyed 6/0. Turned out he was 170 in the world at one point...the difference in levels is massive.

I think in the long run it will also benefit your channel. People are vocally enthusiastic to see tennis youtubers compete but lose interest quickly because at the deeper level they are more interested in your "unique selling proposition" which in your case is professional individual coaching at various levels.

First and foremost I believe you are one of the very best online and amazing coaches out there with true passion and knowledge on the game. I really respect your teaching methods and experience . Having said that, I do not agree with you on this and the notion of humiliation is a bit disturbing to me . I am currently a 4.5 C in my late 40s and play a lot of USTA OPEN, Nationals and ITF seniors tournament and have played and trained with former ATP pros and some of the best ITF seniors on the world (former ATP pros) tour and have never got a 6-0 6-0 . I even once played a guy in a tournament who played challenger ranked ATP 700 three ago and lost 6-2 6-3. I know a lot of guys in the northeast that are a 5.0 C who played college and futures or challenger tournaments younger that I guarantee would not be “humiliated” . All pros and players I know would agree saying that tennis is an evolution . It is not because you were that you will be forever and not because you are not that you can’t be . If you stop playing competitive matches and tournaments you drop your level despite how “good” you were. That is a reality. Out of respect for a former ATP player we know ( would not mention his name) in his late 40s, no longer being fit and stopped playing tennis in a while, he no longer plays at the level he used to despite having good hands and looses against strong 5.0 . On the other hand , some former pros who keep playing competitive tournaments keep killing. In my book let always the “racket do the talking” .

Hey Nik! I would love to watch Shamir vs MEP on the tennis troll channel. That would be an excellent match for sure.

You may want to consider a future as a Jedi Master. I got serious Liam Neeson vibes from that indoor club pro pic

love your videos. would like to see you in a competitive match.

I highly respect your advice and opinions Nick!!!! But.... I think you could beat me in 15 min. or less. I'm a pretty good 3.5 player. But... the 4.0's destroy me. Love your videos bro!

Could you just leave his name out? Apart from this, I completely understand your choice, good on you Nik!

It would be a good lesson for the challenger, a lesson in humility. Why would anyone think a recreation player who play few times a week can beat someone who does it for a living? I do wish I can take some personal tennis lessons from Nick though. He seems a good coach. One thing I do want to comment is the coaching style. I personally love Nick's coaching style: direct, honest, and efficient. I do not spend money just to have a coach feed me balls and give some encouragement. But I also have friends who have lessons 4 hours a week and spent most of the lesson time chatting with the coach on non tennis stuff. For people people just want to have some hitting time with a coach, and Nick can be too blunt.

I just had a rare opportunity to play with my friend’s son, who is a current D1 college player, last weekend. He just casually beagled me without any sweat. As I always believe, amateur will never beat the pro in any sports. It was fun though.

Nick, dont bother with the haters. i have had great progress in 2 years of playing tennis with always going back to your videos and re watch to teach myself the basic shots. Great coach! Weiter so Nick, lass dich nicht ärgern ;)

Hi Nick, Can you do more videos and settings on your slinger bag and a good variety settings to get a good workout and shots. Maybe you can do another talk thru match with Anna or the other girl who you are teaching or another match play with Shamir vs someone. I feel alot of your fans fall into the beginner category or an advance and this type of coaching during play really helps. Keep up the good work. Also what ever happen the Dampners during December?

It doesn't matter how many hp has your engine on paper just how many fast laps you can do without making mistakes with that engine. Anyway we all know Nick's secret...his legendary orange overgrip...;)

Super cocky to think you could beat a 5.0 level player 0 and 0 🤔

Noble of u coach! Greetings from Greece

This is all nice and great but I only don't understand one thing - WHO DARES TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT A GREAT PLAYER AND A COACH??????? How can people be so rude? You are a FANTASTIC PLAYER and a FANTASTIC coach but even more important you are a true, unselfish teacher and a beautiful, intelligent, funny person!!!! RU-vid is a great place, yes, but at the same time it allows small, pitiful people to comment about someone who is an amazing and successful as much as you are. Shameful!!!! Enjoy your life, have a great day and PLEASE keep making more intuitive tennis videos!!!!! Zakon si Nikola, samo napred i ne daj se!!!!! 💕

Komplett nachvollziehbare Entscheidung. Einfach weitermachen, beachte die Trolle nicht. Du hast einen tollen Kanal und tolle Videos. Bitte weiter so!

And this ? Yeah, Nik, I had to say it because one of the things that bothers me the most is injustice, even when it has nothing to do with me. I would love (I'm the Portuguese) having lessons with you: you have what I like about a coach: wisdom, patience, but it also requires commitment, intensity and determination from the student and that has everything to do with me. Another thing that I would also love to see, was all those who speak badly about your technique and that you are a level 4 4.5 player play a game of tennis with you; the vast majority at least already had transport home, beautiful bicycles.... Now I add this: I have a perfect sense of my strengths and limitations. But the vast majority of tennis players, think they are much better than they actually are, and tend to underestimate others, based on half a dozen videos they see, say they see very poorly, as in your case Nic. Only your service, which is amazing, sorts them out quickly, not to mention a fundamental issue such as the mental part and the stuff to play painful matches .....

Tennis always look less impressive through a camera. I was at a challenger earlier today and the pros were playing basically at public courts, so you can stand like 10 feet away from the doubles alley, court level and see them hit. Not only do they hit insanely hard, but their ball control is out of this world. A 5.0 is a clumsy right handed 8 year old playing lefty compared to that... and you use to defeat much better players than that. I'm pretty sure you could play most 5.0s with a one handed backhand and only hitting second serves and it still wouldn't be fair.

Im a big fan and dont live in the US and even if I would lose its not easy to come across someone at such a high level who would openly play with others. Some of the very good tennis coaches are just so expensive here

Sorry. I like your content but didn't buy this one. I don't understand why you repeat the word "humiliate" so many times. I play a set with my former pro teacher every other week and it's 6x0 or if I'm in a lucky day it's 6x1. I don't feel humiliated. I feel honored and grateful that I get to play someone at such a high level. I'm absolutely sure you could find many fans of yours who don't have such a fragile ego that makes then hurt if they lose 6x0 6x0. I'm sure many would love the experience.

An average recreational player who never tried to play with a player who can advance only one round of eliminations {!) in an ITF tournament cannot even imagine what level it is and how many years of training it cost to have this level :)

Sad. I was looking forward to these matches

Good decision Nick!

Get your A - - beaten by a pro is more like it. Nick rocks and is the real deal. And the trolls know it.

Coach Nick, as the trolls are not there we are still excited to see you playing recreational players. It is not a humiliation, but rather an experiment. I played a semi-pro girl (ITF) and I lost to her 0-6, 1-6. I would not say it was a humiliation for me, it was rather an honor to play a semi-pro, and an interesting benchmarking. So please do play one of those wannabes and let us see the result! Cheers!

Those palm trees in the back look like 3.0 level 🌴

Could have required a minimum UTR to challenge you as well. Nik, what do you think your current UTR level is?

thats too bad would love to see you play any of these matches against anybody that takes you on.

I just don’t understand the point of people being so negative for literally no reason. I understand the challenging the pro or a coach but just the negativity is so unnecessary and unhinged. Go put all that energy and make it a productive thing.

Wow, all the “fair but negative” comments are deleted. It tells who you are Nick

How do you think you would you stack up against Simon from Top Tennis ?

Why didn’t you go by UTR when picking someone? Way more accurate. At 45 as I am it would be difficult for you to beat a 12. I played at Auburn and had atp points.

Hey Nick have you thought about playing Karue (My tennis HQ)? I think he is too strong for you to beat him now (Karue beat a current top 70 guy in a practice set recently) but your serve is good enough to win some games and make it a good match maybe. Everyone looks bad on camera except for Federer Wawrinka , Tsitispas, shapo, and nadal so it's not surprising people don't know.

I am just starting and would be happy with a 3.5 or 4 over my lifetime

Coach nick , you bring your tennis racket down on edge but coach Rick macci says to bring racket back face down to get into the “pet the dog “ pose , which is better ? Most pros nadal , fed , joker all reach the pet the dog stage wit racket

Love the honesty, Nick. Keep it up.