Interview with Mark Hazinski

By Larry Hodges 

Mark, a member of the USA National and Olympic Team at age 19, is training and competing full-time in Germany. He made the final of Men’s Singles at the USA Nationals in 2003, and was USATT’s Player of the Year that year.

Tell us about the German Bundesliga (the German League).
I am playing for Oberalster VFW in the 2nd Bundesliga north. We had our first match Sept. 4 and the season ends April 24. The level of the players is very strong. I am playing the #1 spot on my team and I think the average rating of the players I play against is around 2700. 

Any good overseas results so far, either in the Bundesliga or tournaments?
I haven’t had very good results over here in Germany. My record for the first half of the season was 1-14 in singles and 4-5 in doubles. I lost quite a few close matches because the players here are so strong in the end of the matches because they are so used to being in that position. 

What’s your upcoming tournament schedule, both in the U.S. and overseas?
The tournament schedule for me is the Nationals in December, then the team matches I have almost every weekend here in Germany. Hopefully I will be able to play some Pro Tours here in Europe. 

What is your training schedule like? Who do you practice with?
I normally practice here two times a day, five days a week. I usually practice with someone from my team in the morning from 10-12. Then in the afternoon I play with my teammates on Monday and Tuesday from 6-8. On Tuesday I play with the Hamburg junior team and then I play matches with players from Hamburger Sportverien, which is another 2nd division team in Hamburg. On Wednesday one of the coaches in Hamburg gives me multi-ball. Then on Friday I train with Hamburger Sportverien from 6-8.

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