Interview with Stefan Feth

Former German Team Member Dominates USA Tournaments But Focuses on Coaching

Date of Birth: 03/27/1980

Hometown: Lahnstein, Germany

Current Hometown: Mountain View, California

Home Club (USA): Palo Alto Table Tennis Club

Height/Weight: 150 cm (5'9"), 68 kg (151 lb)

Equipment: Blade: Joola Stefan Feth Cross; Rubbers: Joola Mambo C max

Sponsor: Joola

BEST TITLES

USA

·        2006 SoCal Open Champion

·        2006 Berkeley Open Champion

·        2006 San Diego Open Champion

·        2006 Western Open Champion

·        2005 Lafayette Open Champion

·        2005 Western Open Champion

·        2005 Newgy Robo-Pong Open Champion

·        2004 & 2005 Golden State Open Champion

International

·        2006 U.S. Open Men’s Doubles Runner-up

·        2005 Slovenian ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Doubles Runner-up

·        2003 U.S. ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Doubles, Third Place

·        2002 Austrian ITTF Pro Tour Under 21 Men’s Singles Third place

·        2001 Slovenian ITTF Pro Tour Under 21 Men’s Singles Champion

·        2001 English ITTF Pro Tour Under 21 Men’s Singles Third Place

·        1997 European Junior Champion

German Titles

·        2002 & 2004 German Nationals Men’s Singles Third Place

·        2003 German Nationals Mixed Doubles Third Place

·        2002 German Nationals Mixed Doubles Runner-up

·        2001 & 2006 German Nationals Men’s Doubles Third Place

·        1997 German Junior Champion

How did you get started in table tennis?

My brother started playing table tennis first and I became interested after watching him. After a while, I started going to the club with him at the age of six.

How and where did you train as a junior, and how did you become a top player?

I was on the cadet and junior national team from 1991 to 1997. Every month we had a training camp, where I would miss a week of school but it was important for me to still be able to do well in school. When I turned 16, I decided to attend a special high school for Elite Athletes, this is where I had school from 8 AM to 2 PM and TT practice  from 3 to 5 PM and one more session from 7 to 9 PM. I was at that sports center Monday to Friday and on the weekend I had either league matches with my team or other tournaments to play. In my opinion, that was the best combination of TT and still be able to have my school education, which remained a top priority for my family and I.

Most German top players quit school at 16 to become Pro. In my case, I wanted to have the highest academic education as well.

One of the most important factors for me to become a top player was to participate in the German Leagues. I played my first league match at the age of eight for the local junior team in my area.

At that age, I attended nearly every match of my favorite team, Grenzau, which always played for the German Bundesliga Championship Title. It was always my dream to play at this level, play in that arena and compete against the best of the world.

From very early on, I had these goals in my life.

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