ITF

138 NICOLAS KIEFER & RAINER SCHUETTLER Germany N icolas: If you have a look at the draw from 2004, there were unbelievable doubles teams: the Australians, the Israelis, the US team. We beat very strong teams. In the semifinals, we beat the Indians, [Mahesh] Bhupathi and [Leander] Paes, which was amazing. We were just unbelievably happy. Before, we didn't think about a medal, honestly. That's the reason maybe why we were playing free, relaxed and just happy. We were up two sets to one and in the fourth set we were up 6-2 in the tiebreak. We had four match points for the gold medal and I still remember the points, I was serving twice. But we also have to admit that the Chilean guys [Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu] played unbelievable tennis. But if you have four match points and you are serving... I don't know how often it happens. Of course we were disappointed and it was very sad. On the other hand, we never dreamed about getting a silver medal. When I came back to Germany after the US Open, everybody was coming and they were so happy, saying, "Hey, it's unbelievable." But you still don't recognise it because it is a silver medal, you are still disappointed. Then week by week, months later, you realise what a great accomplishment it was. I think with how the match went with the four match points we had and lost, people talk much more about it. If we won gold, they would say, "You have won a gold medal," but just not talk about it. Now, because of this scenario, they talk about it and the drama attached to it. Even now, still many people are saying, "Unbelievable achievement, a silver medal in the Olympics." I won many tournaments in my career but this is by far my biggest success. R ainer: It was a great Olympics. We were pretty much the underdogs in all of the matches, and because at this time we didn't play so much doubles – we played individually with other partners, but not together. I have to admit I was never as sad after a match – before or after in my tennis career – because it's so important to win the gold. I would always say it's one of the worst moments in my tennis life and one of the best at the same point. When I came home to see my parents, my family said, "Hey, let's invite neighbours, friends." I said, "No, I don't want to because I'm really sad and not feeling like partying because we had a chance to win gold." Then my aunt came, and they made one phone call that I was home and within 30 minutes the house was full and everybody was partying. The silver medal went everywhere in the room and I realised how much it actually means for the people around me, and then I started slowly to be happy as well. For me, it was a fantastic experience. I played three times and my goal was to finish my tennis career in London, unfortunately I didn't make it. I got injured at the end of 2011 so I stopped before, but that would have been amazing to play four times. When I grew up, Olympics was always special and to be a part of this, to have this experience, was, for me, personally special and nobody can take this experience away from me. When people read what you've achieved in your career, of course, it's one of the highlights, a silver medal. When you have a medal at the Olympics, it's for sure always a highlight for every athlete. I would always say it's one of the worst moments in my tennis life and one of the best.

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