Interview with Tahl Leibovitz

By Larry Hodges

U.S. #1 Fan Yi Yong serving to Tahl at the recent 2001 North American Teams. Fan won in five, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4. Photo by Csaba Nagy, copyright 2001.

How old were you when you first started to play and how did you start?

I started playing Table Tennis when I was 15 years old at the South Queens Boys Club. The club was a place to keep young kids out of trouble. I saw a few people playing Table Tennis. I thought I could play ok. They had wood rackets. At first I loved to play with wood. I played with wood at least my first two years at the Boys’ club. The best player was about 1400. They finally made me play with sponge and I hated it. I had a lot more fun with wood. Sponge was so boring but, I had some new friends there and they all played with sponge so after a while I started to like it. The people I started playing with were Santo Vasquez, Glenn Brown and David Fernandez. David was the most serious of us.

Who were your coaches when you started out? Who are your coaches now, if any?

When I first started out my coach was Glenn Brown. He was rated probably 1200, but that was far better than me. We went to junior high school together (the six weeks that I actually went) and one day Glenn decided to give me a report card in Table Tennis. I failed almost every area especially the wide backhand. About three years later I found this place called Lost Battalion hall. The players there were like nothing I had ever seen. They were rated about 2000 and there were probably 30 of them. I was totally amazed at the level of play. That’s when I met Erol Young. He changed what Table tennis meant to me forever. He showed me some things about the game. I was unable to get a lot of coaching from him but, the coaching I got made an incredible difference. I didn’t have time to train a lot because of my living situation but I played as much as I could. During the summer, I didn’t play a lot. I have to say that Erol Young has helped my game a lot and his motivation for my success has pushed me to levels I never thought possible.

Tahl at the 1998 World Disabled Championships in Paris.

What disabilities do you have?

My main disability is benign bone tumors in most areas of my body. I have a bone tumor in my playing arm. In disabled table tennis, along with the bone tumors in both my knees, that makes me a Class Seven. There are 10 classes in Disabled table tennis. 1-5 are wheelchair classes with different disabilities, and 6-10 are standing disabled table tennis. Being a Class 7 would make me more disabled than a player who was playing with artificial legs. It’s a weird system. In the 1998 world championships they moved me to Class 10.That is the hardest class. I lost most events but I was able to make the quarters of the open, and I won a bronze medal in the team event, dropping only one game to a Chinese player.

I also have problems with my toes, which are pretty twisted. The main physical problem I have besides my knees and limited movement in my playing arm is my spine. I have very little space between the disks in my lower lumber region. That causes a lot of the muscles to tighten up. I also don’t have much movement in my hips.

What major Paralympic and/or Disabled Teams have you been on, what major events have you competed in, and what were your best titles or finishes?

I was on the U.S. Paralympic Team for The Atlanta Games in 1996. I also played on the U.S. team in the Czech Open, the 1998 World Championships, and I have played on the U.S. Maccabiah World Team with Randy Cohen and Dickie Fleisher. I had about 3 or 4 very good tournaments where I was able to play very well. I think my best tournament was the 1998 Disabled World Championships where I got a Bronze Medal. I also played very well in the 1996 Paralympic’s to get a Gold Medal in individual competition and a Bronze Medal in the team event. The Czech Open was a good tournament for me because I was able to win my class and help the team to 3rd place. They gave us some really nice Czech Bohemia Crystal. I did play well in the 1997 Maccabiah World Games, at least in the mixed doubles and the teams. We got a Bronze Medal in the teams. I was down 19-14 in the third game against a player from Ukraine and came back to win it. Actually now that I think about it I was down 20-14 against a player from Spain in the disabled world championships and I won that also. That’s pretty lucky. I still think my best overall play was in mixed doubles where a girl from Slovakia and I were able to get a Bronze medal, upsetting some very strong teams from France and Holland.

How close did you come to making the U.S. Team last year?

I think I was one match away from making the Team. I had a really good chance against Mark Hazinski. I was leading 13-7 in the second and I had won the first. I think my main problem was that when I serve I sometimes drop my hand. It’s a bad habit that I have been trying to fix for years. I don’t play many competitions and when the umpire started calling my serves I couldn’t adjust and had to serve with my backhand. I am not used to playing like that. When I was leading 13-7, I served three balls in the net, trying to make my service legal. I had also been playing with long pips for three months before the trials. I changed back for the trials and was unable to play my backhand smash consistently. With the 38mm ball I was sometimes able to raise my level very high. I think with the 40mm ball the maximum level I can play is 2500. I still feel I am playing solid 2400 at times when I push myself. I think the main reason I didn’t make the team is because I am too inconsistent and I don’t get to play good players very often. If I would have played with better players perhaps I could have played at a 2450 level and that might have been enough to make the team.

Who is your main rival in table tennis or the player you have the hardest time against?

I’d have to say Paul David. I have had some of the best matches with Paul. He is an incredible player with so much control. I have a lot of respect for his game and I feel if he would play more he could easily be a 2550 player. The only thing he lacks is some confidence in his game. I hope his recent win over David Zhuang will change that.

Whose Table Tennis game in this county do you most admire? And why?

This might seem like a tough question for some people but my answer is pretty easy for this one. I have seen a lot of players in this country and I feel I have somewhat of an understanding of this game. I think with my understanding of the game the obvious choice would be Barry Dattel. I think he is one of the most amazing players I have ever seen in this country because of the limitations he has and the things he does with the ball. Some of his play could be considered brilliant. I’m not too sure about his personality, that’s kind of like talking to a lamp, but as a player he is really great to watch.

Who do you practice with and how often?

I would like to say that I train six days a week five hours a day, but the truth is that I hardly play. Not because I don’t want to but because there aren’t many people to play. In our table tennis club a lot of times the club is empty. I try and play at least two times a week. I think in the last three months I have played at least that. I stopped playing for about six months and I think that took my game down a bit. I haven’t really played with a passion for the game in about four years because of my spinal problem. I try to play a match with Paul David whenever I can. I mostly practice with Jerry Vasquez. He is the best practice I can get. If I play with him once a week I can maintain my level.

Have you ever trained overseas?

I have never trained overseas. I would have liked to. I think that would help my game a lot. I have never really trained. I don’t mind training but I have so many problems doing drills. They just become frustrating and I don’t have fun doing them. I have more fun playing with my left hand or chopping.

Who are your sponsors/supporters?

Michael Lalvani from Spintech, my sponsor, has been very helpful to me. I am very happy to be sponsored by such a great company. Michael is an extremely giving individual and I have never had a problem in regard to lack of equipment. I used to use samba rubber and then Michael came out with Spin Power. I liked it so much that I asked him to sponsor me. As far as supporters, I support myself, but I would not have been so successful without the help of two individuals. The first is my beautiful wife-to-be, Christina Tonyes. She has been very helpful to me and loves watching the game. The second person is my twin sister Maja Leibovitz, who has been very supportive as well. Maja also made the 2001 World Maccabiah Games last year in table tennis.

You have a reputation as being one of the “Bad Boys” of table tennis. Why is that?

Maybe at times I am not so good. Who’s to say what’s good or bad. I think people perceive me as a bad person at times because of the things I do in table tennis. I have done a lot of crazy things when I was younger but that was just youth, I guess. I think table tennis sometimes needs things to pump it up. To make the game more exciting. I think certain conflicts help entice the game. I do feel, however, that I am good person. I don’t do things to upset people, I think I do them more to create conflict and have a bit of fun.

Who is your favorite Player and why?

I used to love to watch Applegren play on tapes. He used to be my all-time favorite. Then, like everyone else, I started liking Waldner for a few years, but that was until I met him. We didn’t get along too well, but that’s another story. I really like the way Kreanga plays from off the table. He is really incredible. So many players to choose from … I guess I will have to stick with Waldner because I like following the bandwagon, and he is able to adjust in adverse conditions so to speak. So yeah, Waldner is still my favorite player even though he is a conceited $!#%!

Outside of table tennis, what do you like to do? Hobbies, sports, etc.

I really like reading. I enjoy running. I also like museums, good depressing poetry and some detailed art. There are some other things I like also. The one thing I do a lot is read. Music can be OK at times. I think that’s about it.

Are you a full-time table tennis player? Student? Have a job? Or something else?

I wouldn’t consider myself a full-time table tennis player. I know where my job is right now. The only problem is someone else is doing it because I don’t work there anymore. That’s what seems to happen with most of my jobs. I don’t work well with authority. I have tons of useless degrees. I have my series 7 & 63  (state & city) real estate licenses, and just recently MCSE for computers. I have problems holding jobs. I make money now through the Internet. We live in a very materialistic world so I go and buy stuff and then sell it on Ebay and other places.

What are your table tennis goals? Both short-, intermediate- and long-term?

My short-term goal is to make the U.S. Paralympic Team this year. My intermediate goal is to win a silver medal at the Greece Paralympic’s (because I have a gold and a bronze). My long-term goal is to make the USATT Hall of Fame. Maybe I should call Tim Boggan now and see if he can get me in.

How about your non-Table Tennis goals?

I would like to marry my cute girlfriend some day. Maybe when she quits smoking and learns how not to carp. I would also like win a Nobel prize. I’m not sure how I would do that but, it would be cool and I’m sure the chicks would like it. Maybe I could get one for writing. Of course I would probably have to move up to a junior high school reading level. Finally my last goal is to write some table tennis books and perhaps do a video also.

I heard you are writing a book. What’s the status of that?

Actually I am in the process of writing two books right now. One of them is about my life story and table tennis. The other is about teaching table tennis. I am about halfway through both. I am not sure when they will be completed. I think I will put out the one about teaching table tennis first. The other book will require a lot more work to finish. I am hoping to get the first book done within the next six months.

Any advice for new players who would like to someday make the USA Olympic Team?

The game of table tennis is 95 percent mental. I would recommend you always try and have confidence in yourself and feel you can beat anyone. Never get down on yourself in a match.  Always feel you’re the best and you’ll play the best you can play. Play as though there are no limitations in table tennis in regard to your game.

Anything else you’d like to say?

Just wanted to thank all the people that have helped me in Table Tennis. Especially Christina Tonyes, Santo Vasquez, Barney Reed Jr., and my coach Erol Young. I will continue to try and play up to my potential. I would also like to say thank you to Dennis Taylor for all his help, as well as one of the best coaches ever, Clark Mitchell. Clark is an incredible coach and an amazing motivator. Clark has showed me how to step around and take it down the line. I would also like to thank Larry Hodges for this interview and the incredible things he has done for table tennis, which are endless. The last thing I want to say is for all the kids who are practicing table tennis in the Glen Cove Boys’ and Girls’ club. Keep training hard and I know someday you will all be champions. Also I think Sheri is the best president and the best looking.