career

14-18 years

The time at Bollettieri's Academy

1992. I had already been at the Tennis Academy in Bradenton for one year. I enjoyed living there and was allowed to do what I liked best: playing tennis.

In those days, Andre Agassi was practicing at Bollettieri's Academy, too. I was the only one who was allowed to watch them practicing from time to time. At very rare occasions, I even played some balls with Agassi. Sometimes, I went on Tour with him and acted as his buddy when warming up. Of course, this was a completely mad feeling.

The contact to good players from the ATP Tour motivated me a lot. Simply watching them practicing. Sampras quite often played at Nick's during that time. David Wheaton, the world class double Flach/Seguso as well. And I gradually improved. In 1992, I won the Orange Bowl, the unofficial World Championship for juniors under the age of 14.

Playing in the German tennis league

In order to take part in international youth tournaments I regularly spend time in Europe. Sometimes, I played for the teams of Stuttgart and Grosshesselohe in the German Tennis League. Francisco Clavet was playing for Grosshesselohe at that stage, too. A very nice guy who quite often practised together with me.

Sabine follows me to the Academy

Half way through 1992, my older sister Sabine came to Florida to live in the Academy, too. She also tried to become a professional tennis player but retired at the age of 23. Back then, we lived together in an apartment outside the campus which was really nice. Life on campus can be fairly restricted and one-dimensional. Sabine was already 17 years old. She looked after me and it was great to have someone from my family around all the time.

I slowly started to compete in Satellite or Challenger tournaments. My dad had hoped that through the many contacts of IMG and also Nick Bollettieri, I might not have to play the qualifying rounds all that often. In deed, I got some wild cards. But I never ever lost in the first round when I had one.