What is new with your foundation Children for Tomorrow?

We are proud to have inaugurated the first kindergarten in Eritrea in August 2008. The kindergarten has capacities for approx. 300 traumatized and underprivileged children. Our next big project is the opening of an ambulance for traumatized children in Uganda. Furthermore we are currently working on building a new trauma center for refugee children in Hamburg. There are so many children in this world who have to live under sad and unfavorable conditions. There is so much left to do and we do our best to make a change.

When will you be back in Germany?

I am happy to go back to Germany very soon. During my travel to Germany I will of course visit my foundation „Children for Tomorrow“ in Hamburg and will do some business meetings too. Among others there will be a photo shoot with Mrs. Sporty and I will visit Teekanne, where I will meet the winners of the Teekanne-casting.

How often do you visit Germany?

Usually I travel to Germany once or twice a year. Visiting Germany is always something very special – it is my home and I am always thrilled to see my family and friends again.

Do you still play tennis on a regular basis?

Unfortunately I don’t find the time to do so very often. My children are first priority for me and they determine the details of my everyday life. Besides that, my business activities and the work for my foundation Children for Tomorrow take up a lot of time. Whenever I play, I try to link it with charitable reasons for my foundation, for example the charity-tennis-exhibition in Mannheim, where I played against Justine Henin. Also the exhibition game last year in Tokyo, where I played with Martina Navratilova and Kimiko Date was a great experience. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to visit one of my most favorite cities and to see my Japanese fans again. But tennis is not at the forefront anymore. I had a great time during my tennis career, but I don’t regret bygone times.

What role did your family play in your tennis life and in your today’s life?

During my active tennis career my family was the most important support for me – I would not be where I am today without them. Today I have my own family, who is the center of my life. I like having family and relatives around me. There is nothing better than to spend time with my family. It gives me strength and brings so much joy into your lives.

How often do you exercise per week?

I try to work out 4-5 times a week on things such as riding the bike since it is joint-protecting. I also do some weight training. I need this time for me to get away from it all and to recharge my batteries.

Who was your role model during your tennis career?

I have never really had a role model. But there were several players which impressed me by their achievements. For example I always respected Martina Navratilova  highly for her athletic achievements. But she did not only impress me with her performance in tennis but also mentally. I have always admired and respected her strong will and her drive for continuous improvement.

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