Heilpert, playing to keep busy

Soccer was his first love and Hilpert saw himself playing club soccer for Germany like his father had many years ago. He was even told by his German coach in Indonesia that he was good enough to be in the German under-18 national side. But after that injury, he was given a choice some other sport or no sport atall. Some doctors even suggested that he may not play ever again but things turned out different.

Tennis was an option, since Hilpert had played a little before. But it was really in college, University of Arkansas, that he honed his skills and finished No 2 among collegians in ’94.

The appetite was whetted and even if Hilpert realised that it was too late to do something really big, he just wanted to go out there and enjoy. “I am a sportsman and I just wanted to play,” said the Delhi-born athlete.

Club tennis for Nurnbrg in Germany gets “his bread and butter”, plus money won from tournaments sustains him. He may or may not use his degree in Psychology and Business Management but has his options open after he is through with tennis.

“I am not too eager to play singles anymore. I will concentrate more in doubles,” said Hilpert, who spent his childhood in Sudan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia before returning `home’.

He could play the Nationals because his mother is an Indian and the tournament is anopen affair but is not eligible to play Davis Cup for India, according to the All India Tennis Association rules, as he does not hold an Indian passport.

“I am open to the suggestion but I will not jump to it,” he said, on whether he would like to play Davis Cup if selected. “Anybody would love to play Davis Cup but that is not something I am thinking about,” he said, before he embarks on another trip to Europe where he will spend summer playing European Circuit.