Paul Schwieger (TuksSport High School) is a firm believer that hard work and dedication is the key to becoming a good tennis player.
And of lately his results are proving it. In April he teamed up with Jordan Cotinho to win the doubles at an under-18 ITF Tournament in Botswana. It was the confidence booster he needed.
Next month he is representing Namibia in an Africa Group Three Davis Cup Tournament in Nairobi. A month later Schwieger will compete in the African Youth Games Tournament in Algeria.
Getting the opportunity to play for his country is a challenge he relishes.
“To play for Namibia is truly an honour. Although we are a young team I think we will give a good account of ourselves,” said Schwieger who will be playing the singles and doubles.
If everything goes according to plan Schwieger hopes to reach the quarterfinals at the Youth Games Tournament at least. However, he is starting to think that in the long run, he might become a better doubles player.
Schwieger who grew up in Swakopmund said at first he was an avid football player, but somehow he and the coach of the team did not quite gel. In the light of it, he decided on the insistence of the tennis coach to switch sports. It is a decision he never regretted.
“I think my temperament is more suited to competing in an individual sport like tennis as there is no getting away from how good you are. If you play a bad game, you can only blame yourself while in team sports it is possible to play badly and still come away with a win because your teammates excelled on the field.”
Schwieger views the German player, Mischa Zverev as his role model.
“He favours serve and volley when he plays, and that is something I am also trying to do.”
After completing matric Schwieger plans to go to the USA to play College tennis. At the moment it seems he might end up at the University of South Alabama.
Kirsty Elliott (Tuks/HPC) who helps Schwieger with his strength and conditioning exercises can’t help but admire his work ethic.
“I work with a lot of athletes and can honestly say that Paul is one of the hardest workers. He always tends to push himself to the limit no matter what exercise he is doing. And he is starting to reap the awards as he is powerful at the moment.”
Elliott is of the opinion that Schwieger is a late developer and that he will keep on improving.
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