Tim Pütz never actually wanted to become a tennis professional, but now the 37-year-old is a double world champion. But life on the world’s tennis courts also has major disadvantages.
In Tim Pütz’s culinary tennis world rankings, Munich currently leads ahead of Vienna and Madrid. “The best food on the tour is there,” revealed the doubles specialist, who was born in Frankfurt and grew up in Usingen (Hochtaunus), on Monday evening in the hr-heimspiel!. It remained unclear whether the 37-year-old would opt for white sausages, schnitzel and greasy tapas at the buffet, as is typical for the country. Either way, a life as a tennis professional sounds like a dream come true. Play tennis, see the world, eat delicious food.
For Pütz, the father of two small children, life in the tennis bubble also has major disadvantages. He rarely sees his family, who still live in Usingen not far from his first tennis club. Friendships also have a hard time. “There are maybe 100 days a year when I wake up at home and fall asleep,” says Pütz. The rest consists of packing the bag, unpacking the bag, serve and volley. “It’s annoying to be away so much. You start to question the meaning of it.”
Pütz becomes double world champion
At least in the past few weeks, all the traveling has been worth it for Pütz. Together with his partner Kevin Krawietz, he became the first German duo ever to win the ATP Finals in Turin in mid-November and was thus crowned double world champion. There was also a joint prize money of over 800,000 euros and a lot of recognition. “It’s only afterwards that you realize how much a title like this is valued,” said Pütz. “But it’s nice when everyone pats you on the back and tells you what a great pike you are.”
An extraordinary success that becomes even more extraordinary when you look at Pütz’s CV. Because: The fact that the great Hessian pike would one day actually become a tennis professional and cause an international sensation was not in his life’s plan for a long time. “It wasn’t Plan A, it wasn’t even Plan B.”
Pütz turns a hobby into a career
Although Pütz always played tennis exceptionally well, in the early years he used it more as a means to an end. Thanks to a tennis scholarship, he was able to study in the USA after graduating from high school, and when he returned he simply enjoyed it. “If I wasn’t a professional, I would just meet up with friends to play on a regular basis.”
The decisive push towards professional tennis was given – albeit involuntarily – by the Goethe University in Frankfurt. Pütz, who had a bachelor’s degree in economics after his stay in Auburn, Alabama, actually wanted to add a master’s degree in Germany. His applications in Mannheim, Munich and Berlin went through. However, since Pütz wanted to stay close to home, he canceled each trip and waited for the decision from Frankfurt. “The Goethe University didn’t accept me. I still don’t know why.”
Three million dollars in prize money
Pütz then filled the free time he gained with what he loved to do most: playing tennis. “I had nothing else to do. And yes: I played quite well, that’s how it started.”
From then on, Pütz focused on tennis and quickly gained a foothold in the professional circuit. First in singles, later and much more successfully in doubles. According to the publicly available prize money, he has earned more than three million US dollars in his career on the ATP tour, and there are a total of ten trophies from tournament victories in his home showcases. “I never applied for a master’s degree again after that,” said Pütz. World champion on the second educational path.
Tennis into old age
And the family? At the age of 37, you don’t have to be a prophet to say that, the end of the career you never wanted is not too far away. Court 7 in the Usinger Tennis Club, where Pütz once tried his first shots, still exists today and is waiting for new talent. It is quite possible that Pütz will soon be able to perfectly combine tennis and young talent.
