Mischker is at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah this week

Felix Mischker, the man behind the YouTube channel tennis Brothers, has taken an unconventional path in professional tennis. Unlike most young players who rise through the ranks quietly, Mischker has chosen to document his journey, sharing the highs and lows of his tennis career with an ever-growing online community.

What started as a way to crowdsource his journey into professional tennis has evolved into something much more meaningful: a channel that not only inspires fans but also gives them an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a budding pro. This week, the Briton is producing content at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, underlying the progress of his channel tennis Brothers in recent years.

Mischker’s story began nine years ago when he was still in school and had a budding YouTube fanbase of around 25,000 subscribers from tennis content he had produced as a junior.

“I was at a crossroads,” Mischker told ATPTour.com in Jeddah. “I had the choice to go to university and follow a more traditional path, or I could take a leap of faith and give tennis a go.” 

Choosing the latter, the 21-year-old decided to forgo university and pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. However, there was one hurdle: financing.

The world of professional tennis is expensive. Travel costs, coaching fees, and tournament entries quickly add up. Mischker turned to his YouTube community for support, using ad revenue and sponsorships to fund his career. It was a bold decision, but one that has paid off both personally and professionally.

"I spent about 70 hours in the first week creating my first video," he said, reflecting on the early days of the channel. "I then asked my dad for ideas for the name of a series on the channel and we thought about 'Road to One ITF Point' but we thought, let's go bigger and we came up with 'Road to One ATP Point'. A crazy goal at the time. It resonated with people, and the channel exploded from there."

Mischker’s YouTube channel quickly gained traction. Navigating the complexities of the tennis world, his fans followed along, cheering him on through each victory and setback. The name of the series, "Road to One ATP Point," suggested a journey of great ambition, but also one filled with challenges. Mischker admits that the expectations were high and he even received a message of support from four-time ATP Tour titlist Alexander Bublik, who invited Felix to practise with him at Queen's Club.

“I think a lot of people got the impression that I was better than I was, and that was a lot of pressure at the start.” Felix reflected.

A series of injuries, including elbow surgery, derailed Felix’s progress in his first year, a period that he describes as ‘pretty tricky’. Yet his struggle became part of his story. His fans, many of whom were also passionate about tennis but struggling in their own ways, found his honesty and openness about setbacks to be relatable and inspiring.

"It taught me a lot about myself and about the tennis journey. I think a lot of people relate to their own struggles when they see me go through it,” Mischker said.

One of the unique aspects of Mischker’s journey is the balance he maintains between his tennis career and content creation. Managing both worlds can be challenging.

“Being outcome-driven as a tennis player, with a focus on ranking, improvement, and tournament schedules, comes with its own pressures,” Mischker said. “On the other hand, I love the brainstorming and creative side of making videos.

“You can’t just play great tennis on one day and expect to be a top player. It’s about consistency, day-in, day-out discipline. Balancing the pressures of professional tennis with the demands of YouTube and social media can be overwhelming. But at the end of the day, tennis and creating content are what motivate me. The community I’ve built around Tennis Brothers is a massive source of inspiration for me."

Mischker is currently No. 796 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings and has reached a career-high No. 1747 in singles, having earned an ATP point at the 25K Monastir in 2023. Mischker’s YouTube journey has brought him closer to some of the biggest names in tennis. He hit with Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Nitto ATP Finals last month and this week has practised with former Next Gen champion Hamad Medjedovic and US Open Boys’ singles winner Rafael Jodar.

"Playing with Tsitsipas was an unbelievable opportunity. We had a great chat afterwards, and he praised my level, saying it was a testament to how high my highest level is,'" Mischker said. "It gave me confidence and belief that I can climb higher. I have the foundations there.

"It is just putting it all together. At the lower levels, players often neglect the mental aspect of the game. The top players, like Tsitsipas, they work hard on every aspect of their game and they are strong mentally. It’s about handling the ups and downs, learning from your losses, and being disciplined day in, day out. That is one of the great things about making the videos. I watch back all my matches and learn what I need to improve on, rather than just putting my head down after matches and moving onto the next match.”

Mischker’s ability to inspire others has become one of the most rewarding aspects of his YouTube channel. He regularly receives messages from parents whose children have been inspired to pick up a racquet after watching his videos.

“When people ask for autographs or say their kids started playing tennis because of me, it’s an incredible feeling,” Mischker said. "It reminds me why I do this: not just to play professionally, but to inspire others."

As his journey continues, Felix plans to broaden his content heading into 2025.

“Next year, I’d love to share more about my life outside of tennis,” he said. “I think people are curious about what the Tour looks like beyond the court. I want to show more of the behind-the-scenes stuff, the struggles, and the triumphs that happen off camera.”

In a sport where most players are defined by their PIF ATP Ranking, Mischker is building a community. His journey, from a schoolboy with a YouTube channel to a professional tennis player who successfully achieved his original aim of earning an ATP point, is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the ability to connect with others.

So what does the future hold?

“The best is yet to come, results-wise and personally,” Mischker concluded, looking out across the running track at the King Abdullah Sports City.