Age does not protect against tennis.
Taufkirchen - For the first time in the 50-year history of the Taufkirchen tennis club, a men's 65 team started this year.
The pensioner gang has nothing in common with a “Hacklsteck-Fraktion”.
Even if their oldest player is already 74, the eight men are still driven by sporting ambition on the pitch.
It may be that there is a pinch somewhere during the matches and the speed was better, but the joy of playing has not been lost over the decades. Bernhard Weindl has been playing tennis in Taufkirchen for over 40 years. “I'm still quick on my feet,” he says, and explains: “We all started playing without a coach.” You've got used to one or two wrong strokes. He is quite happy with his career. "I won a few trophies when there were still such trophies." His motivation for playing in the men's 65 team is primarily because he wants to stay fit and it's just fun.
Alfred Irber came - like some of his comrades - to tennis through football.
He played at SC Moosen until he was 43.
Hip problems led to the relatively abrupt end of his career.
His doctor prophesied that his hip would not last long.
Not even close.
Sometimes it twists a bit, but when he's on the court, he doesn't have time to worry about it.
His first and biggest tennis success was 15 years ago when he became club champion in the men's 50s.
He had been a leisure champion several times before he started in the men's 50 team.
"With the men 40 they hadn't needed me yet."
At that time he was even more active with the ice hackers at ESV Gebensbach and had no time for tennis training. “The condition was always my strongest point. I wasn't able to learn the finer points of tennis. ”But that is no longer decisive for the team captain of the men's 65s. “In terms of technology, we're all pretty much the same.” What he doesn't need to train himself is ambition. This has always distinguished the 67-year-old from Schlegelsreit near Gebensbach. His orthopedic surgeon would prefer to play more cycling and less tennis. "I'll listen to the doctor from 80 onwards," says Irber with a laugh.
Erwin Liebl played through everything. The 67-year-old has been with the TCT since 1973. “As long as I come out onto the pitch without a walker, the game continues,” he says. He is the most experienced on the team. "Team sport has always fascinated me, the camaraderie, the solidarity and the successes that often emerge." Everyone plays singles and doubles. “At our age and in our class, however, I see it a little more relaxed. In the past everyone wanted to win their matches. ”He used to be much more flexible and ambitious. Today, having fun in sport is paramount.
Liebl also comes from football.
The "Schlak", as his friends call him because he is so tall and slim, has an enormous range on the Internet, which still benefits him today.
The speed has decreased, as well as the punching technique.
But with so much experience you can make up for a lot in building the game with an overview and tactics.
"You anticipate more."
Liebl was largely spared the bad luck with injuries.
Tennis seems to be the best and fastest therapy for him.
“As soon as I'm on the field, as soon as the yellow ball flies, I'm free of pain.” After the match, the beer and the snack are the highlights, and you look forward to the next training session and point game.
“As long as we can feel it, we won't hang the bat on the famous nail.” The team-mates have nothing more to add to that.
FROM BIRGIT LANG
