Rainer Schüttler welcomes Roger Federer in Geneva: "Roger's goal is the lawn season"
Rainer Schüttler was once number five in the world. Today he is tournament director in Geneva, where none other than Roger Federer will start the clay court season in the coming week.
by SID
last edit: May 13, 2021, 06:18 pm
He skipped the two Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome, but world tennis star Roger Federer will start the clay court season at the comparatively small 250 in Geneva next week. Why Geneva of all places? "You'd have to ask Roger yourself," said tournament director Rainer Schüttler in an interview with SID.
However, the postponement of the French Open certainly played a role in Federer's deliberations, Schüttler suspects: "The week break between our tournament and Paris certainly contributed to this decision."
Federer's goal is clearly the lawn season
However, and of course Rainer Schüttler also knows that, success on clay is not the big goal of Roger Federer, who will be 40 in August and probably doesn't have too much time at the very highest tournament level. "His big goal this year will be that he can play fit for the grass season", says Schüttler, who finds it remarkable again and again, "how uncomplicated Roger is and how highly professional he does his appointments".
Schüttler, once number five in the world, played against Federer, who was five years younger than him, most recently in the 2002 round of 16 in Dubai. That was almost 20 years ago, and Schüttler hung up the bat a long time ago.
With COVID: More time for the family
But his passion for the sport that shaped him has remained. The job as tournament director in Geneva is just one of many, among other things, Schüttler is team principal of the German team in the Billie Jean King Cup - and he is a family man of two.
Corona, of all things, has given the 45-year-old unexpected freedom in the past few months. "Due to the pandemic, I have a lot of time for the family and can spend a lot of time with my children," says Schüttler. Professionally it is of course "a very difficult time for everyone, but a very nice time for my private life without much travel stress".
Schüttler plans with Kerber and Siegemund
However, it should definitely be traveling again soon, after all, the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup is scheduled for the end of the year, in which Germany will meet group opponents Czech Republic and Switzerland. It is of course difficult for his team, says Schüttler, but: "I have a lot of confidence in my team and we will give everything in the group games to make it through."
Schüttler is planning the final round with Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund, both of whom have already "signaled their readiness". In addition, it is nice to see "that there are some very good young talents again. I am sure that the gap can be closed in the next few years and that we will hear a lot from the youngsters."
"Kerber is playing better every week"
From Kerber, who had a difficult start in 2021, Schüttler expects a lot in the near future: "She plays better from week to week, she will get her rhythm back through matches and victories."
Whether his sons Noah (4) and Leon (1) will one day continue the family tradition on the center courts, father Rainer is not yet able to judge. At the moment both of them are "not very interested in tennis, but that's not that important to me either. You are welcome to try everything and should go your own way."