|
Post by Lee on Mar 9, 2004 15:15:25 GMT -5
Well said, Rainer, good for you for speaking up! He's good at interview IMO, he's too diplomatic about this And I really love to hear what Dirk may say about this? May be the editor has to edit out the part? :lmao:
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Mar 9, 2004 15:19:25 GMT -5
Yeah, Rainer seems mature, level-headed, reserved, well brought up -- just a nice guy. Too bad the players didn't get together and bring their grievances to ?? someone ?? during/after TMCHouston. Rogi, Juanqui, Carlos, Nalby all were treated unfairly and made their views known... to no avail. Who knows if Coria objected??
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Mar 9, 2004 16:08:55 GMT -5
Since he didn't spend that much time on tennis court recently, he had more time to give interview Schuettler Looks Forward to German Resurgence While suffering the ignominy of Germany’s relegation from the Davis Cup World Group in 2003, Rainer Schuettler was otherwise enjoying the best year of his career. In 2004, whatever happens to his individual season, he is desperate to put his nation back in the World Group where he feels they belong. “I am very motivated,” said Schuettler, who ranks Germany’s loss to Belarus last September as one of the biggest disappointments of his career. “Last year, for us to lose in Davis Cup, to go down, it was a nightmare. We wanted to stay in the World Group and we are going to try everything to play good this year and get back to the World Group again. It’s tough to do because there are so many good teams, but if we have the chance to play with our whole team we definitely have a good chance.” Germany’s quest to do just that will begin on the 9th of April when they face Israel at home. If they win, then they will face a Play-off tie in September for the right to re-enter the World Group. Schuettler concedes that Germany’s hopes depend largely on the fitness and application of his compatriots Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer. Haas had been out for over a year with a shoulder injury, while both he and Kiefer had, at one time or another, not played for various reasons. Schuettler now believes that those issues are a thing of the past and all the German team needs is a bit of luck to enable them to stay injury-free. “There is definitely the team spirit there,” said Schuettler. “I have a good relationship with Tommy and Nicolas. With Nicolas I played juniors together, with Tommy I met him a couple of years later but we are good friends. I think the team spirit is there but the whole team has to play together for not just one or two matches, but for three or four years, and then I think it’s just a matter of time before we’re successful. “In the past it was often the case that somebody was injured and couldn’t play, somebody didn’t want to play for whatever reason, but if we have a chance for our whole team to play I think we have a strong team and can go very far. When I was young I followed the Davis Cup. It was one of the biggest things on TV. To be successful in Davis Cup is one of my goals this year and the first step is to beat Israel and then have a chance to get into the World Group again. Haas made his comeback last month and Kiefer has reached finals in Memphis in February and in Scottsdale last week, so the omens are good. For many people, the meteoric rise of Schuettler last year came as a surprise. Haas and Kiefer had received most of the German headlines in the post-Boris Becker and Michael Stich era, but it was Schuettler who reached a Grand Slam final first – the 2003 Australian Open. He may have lost in the final to Andre Agassi, but with some of the most consistent play anywhere on the ATP circuit, he reached No.6 in the world and qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup. “There was a very good reaction in Germany after Australia last year,” said Schuettler. “There were so many people watching me on TV and supporting me – in my home town they were putting big screens up when my matches were on. It was surprising but fun to see so many people supporting me. During the year after I had so many good results, people in Germany recognised me and were happy that another German player was coming up.” Now he faces the task that so many athletes find difficult – to follow a breakthrough year with another equally good one. Schuettler remains undaunted. “I had a great year last year and it will be really difficult for me to do the same again, but I think actually my tennis is better than it was before,” he said. “I’ve practiced hard in the past few months and I don’t see why I shouldn’t have the same level of success as last year.” And that can only be a good thing for his country’s Davis Cup team as well. www.daviscup.com/news/newsarticle.asp?id=12813
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Mar 19, 2004 19:40:15 GMT -5
Rainer retired from his doubles match with Kiefer in IW. He has pulled left calf muscle and tournament doctor prescribed 3 days rest. Has he hit the bottom yet?
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Mar 24, 2004 13:47:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Mar 24, 2004 13:48:41 GMT -5
Look at how well the wet suit fits Rainer's body. Nadal and Coria have a long way to catch up.
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Apr 9, 2004 15:05:41 GMT -5
German Rainer Schuettler returns a shot to Noam Okun of Israel, 09 April 2004 in Aachen, during their first game of the Davis Cup Europe/Africa group 1 tie. Schuettler won in three sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. AFP PHOTO DDP/TORSTEN SILZ
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 15:19:01 GMT -5
I miss this kind of pic this year. Rainer Schüttler ballt im Match gegen Noam Okun die Faust zum Jubel
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 15:21:25 GMT -5
Der Deutsche Rainer Schuettler jubelt beim ersten Spiel der Tennis-Davis-Cup-Begegnung zwischen Deutschland und Israel in Alsdorf bei Aachen am Freitag, 9. April 2004, in seinem Spiel gegen den Israeli Noam Okun. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)---German player Rainer Schuettler celebrates during the first match of the Tennis Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 between Germany an Israel in the German town of Alsdorf near Aachen on Friday April 9, 2004 against Israeli player Noam Okun. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (Bild 1)
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 18:59:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 9, 2004 19:05:48 GMT -5
Mmmm :ass:
Okay, but now he needs to, like, win some damn matches. Because this year has been pathetic!
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 19:07:26 GMT -5
Mmmm Okay, but now he needs to, like, win some damn matches. Because this year has been pathetic! This DC tie will be great. Like, playing the challenger to get some wins, boasting his confindence, but not really played in a challenger event.
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 9, 2004 19:18:54 GMT -5
I hope you're right!
I haven't seen any of the DC scores yet. I completely forgot about them.
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 19:19:44 GMT -5
I hope you're right! I haven't seen any of the DC scores yet. I completely forgot about them. Rainer won easily 6-2 6-2 6-1 vs Okun
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 9, 2004 19:25:05 GMT -5
Well, if he starts losing to Okun, that would signify a huge problem. I want that scoreline against, say, Canas.
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 9, 2004 19:25:39 GMT -5
I like those last pictures of him from today's DC match. Arms
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 9, 2004 19:30:29 GMT -5
Well, if he starts losing to Okun, that would signify a huge problem. I want that scoreline against, say, Canas. Just give him some time to get his confidence back. When he addressed the audience after the match, he said he was not playing badly so far this year, just lack of confidence in closing out matches because of the terrible start.
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 22, 2004 10:51:12 GMT -5
I can't help but steal this from MTF. :lmao: German tennis player Rainer Schuettler takes a picture to protest against a point given by the referee to his Australian opponent Lleyton Hewitt during their Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters third round match, 22 April 2004 in Monaco
|
|
|
Post by TennisHack on Apr 22, 2004 11:00:46 GMT -5
LMAO!! :lmao: Who gave him the camera? It would be hilarious if someone from the crowd threw it out to him or something First QF of the season!
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 22, 2004 12:45:50 GMT -5
LMAO!! Who gave him the camera? It would be hilarious if someone from the crowd threw it out to him or something First QF of the season! I read from German yahoo that Rainer had the camera in his sport bag. He's a true Scout.
|
|
|
Post by Kiro on Apr 22, 2004 12:49:43 GMT -5
I read from German yahoo that Rainer had the camera in his sport bag. He's a true Scout. Rainer
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 23, 2004 0:14:08 GMT -5
This report from tennisweek.com is funny www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=10834&bannerregion=Photo Finish: Schuettler Snaps Monte Carlo Win Over Hewitt By Richard Pagliaro 04/23/2004 Perhaps more than any other top 10 player, Rainer Schuettler's success is predicated on preparation. Devoting countless hours in the gym pushing weights around and spending sweat-soaked training sessions on court preparing his body for the grinding style of play that requires such stamina it makes a triathlon seem as strenuous as a trip to a nail salon in comparison, Schuettler seems ready for anything for anything when he steps on court. Still, it was slightly surprising to see just how prepared the sixth-ranked German was when he made the shot of the match with his camera rather than his racquet. Outraged by what he believed was an incorrect call when a Hewitt serve that looked long was ruled good in the second set of today's Tennis Masters Series-Monte Carlo match, Schuettler didn't get frustrated — he got focused. Taking a page from famed Tennis Week photographer Susan Mullane's tennis handbook, Schuettler walked over to his racquet bag, pulled out a camera and, like a police photographer carefully chronicling a crime scene, he bent over the ball mark that was still visible on the red clay and snapped several shots of the mark, which was in fact beyond the service line. The photo finish came in the middle of the match, but Schuettler was far from finished. After taking his spontaneous photo op, the former Australian Open runner-up was the picture of perseverance in capturing a win worth framing: a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 triumph over Hewitt that propelled Schuettler into tomorrow's quarterfinals against Tim Henman. Clad in his familiar Fila red t-shirt with splashes of a white print pattern that make it resemble a Rorschach test, Schuettler showed his mental strength in staving off the former No. 1 in two hours, 22 minutes. This clash of counter-punchers was a break-fest with penetrating service returns from both men producing 10 service breaks in 39 break-point chances. Hewitt, whose slice second serve can sometimes stray long or find the net on clay, actually won 46 percent of his second-serve points, but committed eight double faults as he labored to find his range on serve at times. Despite occasional service struggles, Hewitt fought off a break point to hold in the opening game of the final set then broke serve before consolidating to take a seemingly secure 3-0 lead. At that point, fatigue appeared to be a factor as Schuettler seemed a bit worn down by the longer rallies, but the German dug down deep to tap his inner-reserve of strength and save two break points to hold serve with a crisp crosscourt forehand winner. Still up a break, Hewitt's hold on the match began to slip as he argued a line call to no avail and suddenly found himself facing break points. A distracted Hewitt hit a double fault to drop serve and Schuettler responded with a routine hold to level the set, 3-3. Unable to refocus on the task at hand, Hewitt surrendered serve at love to hand Schuettler a 4-3 lead. In the next game, it was Hewitt's turn to apply the pressure as he reached triple-break point at 0-40 on Schuettler's serve, only to see him stubbornly dig in and win three straight points to get to deuce. Strengthened by his struggled, Schuettler slammed an ace down the middle to hold for 5-3. Two games later, Hewitt had a sitter near the service line, but flailed a forehand wide as Schuettler reached match point. The fourth-seeded Schuettler slammed another strong serve down the middle and watched Hewitt hit a harmless return into the net as he advanced to his first quarterfinal of the year. The 27-year-old Schuettler, who had lost his opening match in seven of the eight tournament's he played prior to Monte Carlo, raised his record to 7-8 on the season. The sixth-seeded Henman has won 3 of his 5 matches with Schuettler, but tomorrow's quarterfinal marks their first meeting on red clay.
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Apr 23, 2004 21:07:07 GMT -5
Rainer! So precise!! Let me be the first to wish Rainer a Happy 28th Birthday on Sunday, April 25! zum Geburtstag gratulieren!! [or sth like that... ]
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 24, 2004 14:42:06 GMT -5
Congrats on the Monte Carlo final!! Too bad we'll never get to see it in the States Just win it, sexy ;D And HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 24, 2004 21:14:44 GMT -5
Congrats on the Monte Carlo final!! Too bad we'll never get to see it in the States Just win it, sexy ;D And HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!! This is just unbelievable. There's a one hour highlight for the final on late Monday night/early Tuesday morning on ESPN.
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 25, 2004 9:25:43 GMT -5
Happy Birthday Rainer! (I'm on a different computer and too lazy to find all those delicious birthday cakes)
Even though you didn't win the final, reaching the final of TMS event is great and more so, have a winning record this year.
:kiss: :kiss: :kiss:
|
|
|
Post by DBBN on Apr 25, 2004 11:22:57 GMT -5
Great job this week, Rainer!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY
|
|
|
Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Apr 25, 2004 11:28:37 GMT -5
Alles Gute zum Geburstag!!!
|
|
|
Post by Kiro on Apr 25, 2004 19:32:30 GMT -5
Happy birthday Rainer! Good luck in Munich too!
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Apr 26, 2004 11:45:38 GMT -5
Rainer's interview after TMC MC final. 2004 TENNIS MASTERS SERIES MONTE-CARLO April 25, 2004 G. CORIA/R. Schuettler 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 RAINER SCHUETTLER THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. Rainer, what happened today? RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think he played a very good match. I mean, he didn't miss a lot of shots. I was trying to go for the shots. And especially in the first and third set, I had a lot of break chances, but I just didn't make them. That's the difference. I mean, I had Love-40 in the third set, first service game I had 15-40. So, yeah, I didn't make them, and that was the difference. If I get more confidence with the way I am playing and then I make some of the important points, then I'm getting back into the match. But second set was really not good. And if you miss so many balls against a solid player like he is, then it's really difficult. Q. What makes him so much more difficult to beat than players like Hewitt or Moya? Is he more complete? Is he quicker? RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think right now he's just playing unbelievable good tennis. That's it. I mean, if you see, it's not a big difference from the tennis point of view. I mean, everybody in the Top 100 can beat each other. So it's not a difference, I think, from a tennis point of view. It's just, I mean, right now he's very confident. Last year he had a very good season. He's right now on top of his game, so that's why he's playing that successfully. Q. Which is the best souvenir you take back after this week? RAINER SCHUETTLER: The best souvenir, of course, are the memories. I mean, I will never forget the way I played here. I will never forget the experience to play center court with a lot of people. I mean, even though I lost today, maybe it sounds strange, but I will never forget that. I hope I will forget the result, but not the atmosphere out there (smiling). Q. You said at the beginning of the year you lost very important points in matches. Do you think that's what happened at the beginning of the third set? RAINER SCHUETTLER: Yes. As I said, I had a lot of breakpoints. I had Love-40 at the first game. Then, I mean, if I am leading with a break, then maybe the third set can turn around quickly. I had another, I think, two breakpoints - was at 2-all, I think - yeah , so if I don't take the chances, that's what makes the difference. I mean, if I am leading 4-1, what could happen if I just make two more points? Then it's 4-1 for me in the third set. So then, yeah, maybe because he was a little bit -- he had problems with his leg a little bit, so maybe he's getting more tired, and the match can turn around. But it didn't happen. Q. Physically, how are you feeling? You called the trainer in the first set. RAINER SCHUETTLER: Yeah, just because on three fingers I had blisters, but that's normal. That's not a big deal. Q. Which present do you give to yourself? Which present do you give to yourself now after getting in the final? RAINER SCHUETTLER: You mean birthday present? Q. Yes. RAINER SCHUETTLER: To be honest with you, I don't know what -- if I could buy something, I don't know what I would buy. I am very happy with the way I live. I have everything. The only thing I hope, that I have some time - maybe tonight, or if not, tomorrow - to spend with my family. I invite them for dinner or for lunch or whatever, and then I am happy.
Q. You are going back now?
RAINER SCHUETTLER: I am trying to get the plane, yes (smiling). A real family guy
|
|