How to Stop Sabotaging Your Performance—Lessons from Former Top 100 Tennis Player - Jeff Salzenstein

In this episode of The Best You Podcast, Nick sits down with Jeff Salzenstein—a former top 100 tennis player in the world, now a leadership speaker and performance coach helping high achievers manage pressure and optimize their mental game.

Jeff takes us through the pivotal moment that changed the course of his athletic career, and what he did differently during the second half of his pro journey that made all the difference. He talked about the good and the bad of playing an individual sport vs. team sports. We talk about what it takes to compete in the world’s biggest tournaments, how to stop losing momentum in high-pressure moments, and how to know whether to keep grinding—or let go.

This isn’t just a story about tennis—it’s a blueprint for navigating ambition, identity, and mental resilience.

What You’ll Learn:

● The critical shift that turned Jeff’s tennis career around

● How pressure and stress impact performance—and how to respond better

● Tools for building momentum and avoiding the downward spiral

● How to decide whether to push through or pivot in your pursuit

● Why deep inner work is the key to sustainable success

In This Episode:

(These timestamps are based off of the video only version of the episode.)


10:15 – Facing Michael Chang at the US Open

18:44 – Injuries, Yoga & the Search for Growth

26:01 – Mental Shifts, Mindset & the Alter Ego Effect

33:26 – The Killer Mentality vs. The Modern Athlete

FREE Call

If you want to learn how to get your habits back on track, then book a FREE 30-minute Health Consultation with Nick today! Go to www.nickcarrier.com to book your FREE call today!

10 Week Transformation:

Join us for the next 10-WT from April 14th - June 20th.

Join today at https://www.nickcarrier.com/10wt 

Connect with Jeff:

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