Courtside Capital

Can you learn confidence—or just fake it till you make it? Mischa and Shanka dig into how real confidence is built, where it turns into arrogance, and why the quiet ones often win. From locker rooms to pitch rooms, they compare swagger in sport with presence in business.

They discuss:
•Building confidence over time vs. “fake it till you make it.”
•Quiet confidence: why top performers talk less and listen more.
•Federer’s grace, Nadal’s intensity—and what brands actually want.
•Practical ways to get more confident (and stay grounded).

The Million Dollar Question:
When was the last time you faked confidence—and did it work?

In the second part of their deep dive into mental health, Mischa and Shanka explore how pressure, purpose, and balance shape both performance and happiness. From growing up with little to losing deals worth millions, they share how setbacks can fuel resilience—and why even success can feel overwhelming.
They discuss:
• Why staying busy and having purpose can protect your mental health.
• How “work-life balance” looks different for athletes, entrepreneurs, and families.
• The danger of turning every feeling into a diagnosis.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa opens up about the personal sacrifices behind his career—and what he regrets most.

Mental health is no longer a taboo topic in sports—but are we really getting better at understanding it? In this first part of a two-part conversation, Mischa opens up about his own experiences with pressure, sleepless nights, and performance anxiety on tour. Shanka adds his perspective from the business world, exploring how mindset, upbringing, and self-awareness shape resilience.
They discuss:
•The fine line between mental struggle and true mental illness.
•How reflection can be more powerful than “mental coaching.”
•Whether teenagers should really have mental coaches—or just better mentors.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka share how friendship can sometimes be the best kind of therapy.

In part two of their conversation on relationships, Mischa and Shanka go deeper—into dating culture in tennis and family expectations. From locker room stories to four generations on one court, this episode blends humor, honesty, and surprising life lessons.
They discuss:
•How tennis players are perceived in the dating world.
•Whether stability or freedom leads to better performance.
•Why parenting styles in sports are rarely “normal.”
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka reveal what they really look for in a partner—and how honesty changes everything.

Relationships are the most important investment you’ll ever make—but can they survive the chaos of pro sports and modern life? In this first part of a two-part episode, Mischa and Shanka open up about marriage, family, and the reality of trying to balance love with the demands of tennis and business.
They discuss:
•Why picking a partner may be the biggest “investment decision” of your life.
•The sacrifices behind marriage, kids, and careers.
•How touring athletes struggle with love and logistics.
•Shanka’s surprising algorithm for relationships.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, they reveal what really keeps a relationship strong—long after the honeymoon phase.

From wearables to AI, tech is everywhere in sports. But does it really make athletes better—or just add noise? Mischa Zverev and Shanka Jayasinha break down where sports tech helps, where it falls short, and whether they’d actually invest in it.
They discuss:
•Injury prevention and performance tracking.
•Why tennis still lags behind in using data.
•The line between useful innovation and gimmicks.
•How fans could engage with way more stats than they see today.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka open up about what it feels like to lose—and how they bounce back.

Professional tennis delivers global tournaments and packed stadiums—but behind the scenes, the system leaves many players struggling. In this episode, Mischa and Shanka explore how the structure of the ATP and WTA Tours shapes careers, opportunities, and the sport’s future.
They discuss:
•Why strict schedules and ranking rules can hold players back.
•The financial reality outside the Top 100.
•What it would take to make tennis more sustainable for all players.
•The debate over merging men’s and women’s tennis.
•Whether a new tour could ever challenge the status quo.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka share the biggest misconceptions fans have about life on tour.

From Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans to Kobe Bryant’s BodyArmor deal, athletes are often called “entrepreneurs.” But are they really building businesses—or just lending their names?
In this episode, Mischa and Shanka debate what it means to be a true entrepreneur. Mischa shares his perspective from inside professional tennis, while Shanka breaks down how equity, risk, and branding really work in the business world.
They discuss:
•Why most athletes struggle to balance business with their careers.
•The difference between investing quietly vs. building your own brand.
•What artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs all have in common.
And in The Million Dollar Question, they reveal the one quality every athlete-turned-entrepreneur must have.

Retirement doesn’t just happen at 65. In this episode, Mischa and Shanka dive into the challenge of transitioning into life after sports—or any high-performance career. Mischa opens up about moving on from professional tennis, while Shanka shares how an early injury pushed him into business and investing.
They discuss:
•Why financial discipline starts with truly understanding your lifestyle.
•The traps of trying to maintain a “pro athlete” lifestyle after the paychecks stop.
•How planning two to three years before retirement can make all the difference.
•The role of luck and timing in both business and sports success.
Plus, in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka reveal how they really behave under pressure.

In the very first episode of Courtside Capital, Mischa Zverev and Shanka Jayasinha dive straight into one of the biggest questions in sports and business: should athletes also be entrepreneurs?
They discuss:
•⁠  ⁠Why athletes are drawn to startups, fashion, and restaurants.
•⁠  ⁠The difference between being an investor vs. a founder.
•⁠  ⁠How business education during a career can make or break the transition.
•⁠  ⁠What sports and business share—and where they completely differ.
And in The Million Dollar Question, Mischa and Shanka ask which athlete they’d back in business today—and why.