"No Pain, No Gain" Keinath Lives up to His Favourite Line

Thomas is an energetic and successful table tennis player who has had a lot of success in Eastern Europe and the United States over the years, including having 2 victories at the US Table Tennis Open and frequently appearing in the Challenger Series where he has had great success. On his site he confesses to being one of the craziest players in the top 100 World Rankings, a real character and great to watch! Thank you Thomas for the interview.

Full Name: Thomas Keinath

Age: 34

Date of Birth: 31.08.1977

Nation Represented: Slovakia and Germany

Highest World Ranking: 53

Equipment Used: Joola

Blade: Sting FL

FH Rubber: Haifu

BH Rubber: Joola Explore Max

Your Career:

How long have you been playing table tennis, when and how did you start?

 I started when I was 8 years old

What is your biggest and proudest moment in table tennis to date? 

The Brazil Open. I was 3rd place. I beat 3 Top 20 WR Players. And the US Open. I won that two times.

What is your next big goal for table tennis?

I want to play the Olympics next year.

Why do you think the Chinese are so dominant in the sport? Who do you think will be the next country to rise and start beating them?

Nobody. Maybe Japan. Many young player come up.

What do you think the sport of table tennis is lacking around the world? What could be done to improve it from an international player’s perspective? 

Practice in China. 

Thomas works towards developing the sport already and has a table tennis school and a table tennis shop under his business Keinath Sport. He also has his own site at http://www.thomas-keinath.de/thomas-keinath/

Thomas also has a forum at www.tischtennis-community.de/forum

Who is you favourite international player?

Timo Boll and Wang Tao

What do you think is the hardest thing about playing table tennis internationally? 

Service and return and counter loop. You must pratice these 3 things very much.

What do you think is most important in creating a successful international player? 

Pratice very hard and train many balls and try to play many tournament

If you are winning 10-0 do you give a point or try and win 11-0? 

In very very important tournament I try to win 11-0. Everything is possible that you can lose.

Do you feel the Challenger Series is good for developing your game and do you enjoy the competition?

 Yes I enjoy this tournament and I can try more things that I learn in pratice.

Off Topic Questions

Favourite food: 

Chinese food and Slovakian food

Favourite Movie: 

All funny movies

Dream Car: 

BMW X6

If you were stuck on a desert island, which table tennis player would you have with you there?

My girlfriend. She playing also very good. And my best friend Torben Wosik and Zoltan Feyer-Konnerth

First thing you would do if you won $1 Million:

I will buy a new house.

Thomas' US Open 2010 Final against Sharath Kamal Achanta