Boris Becker, 40, visited the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP on Tuesday and had a chat with the media about his current activities, old times and the future of tennis in Germany. The three-time Wimbledon champion won the World team title in 1989 and 1998 at the Rochus-club.

...the German team's chances at this year's World Team Championship: "If Philipp Kohl-schreiber is playing well, the German team certainly has a very good chance. They have a very good doubles player, Philipp Petzschner, and will be even stronger with a fit Nicolas Kiefer. I think they have a good chance to reach the final."

…his memories of his matches at the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP: "It was a really good time. When you arrive here in such beautiful weather seeing the crowds on Center Court, you really wish to go back 15 years. But when I then see the youngsters play, I'm quite happy that I'm no longer playing."

…his present professional activities: "I am running to capacity (laughs). I have my own tennis collection and a stand here on the site. In addition I'm working a lot for television. I have my show 'Boris Becker meets…' on Pro-Sieben interviewing international stars. In Wimbledon and at the US Open I'll commentate for the British and American TV. And I'm often at the headquarters of my company, Boris Becker & Co GmbH in Zurich."

…a possible tennis career on the Champions Tour: "I'm not that often on the tennis court nowadays. I play about ten exhibition matches per year. My body doesn't take more. If I were to play on the Champions Tour, I would have to practise at least as much as in the old times. At some point you will feel your age. However, I shall play the senior doubles together with Cedric Pioline during the second week of the French Open, and I'm very much looking forward to that."

…his future as a professional poker player : "Poker is one of my great passions. I recently played my first professional tournament in Monte Carlo and to my own surprise I finished seventh. There is also prize money to be won there - more than in tennis by the way."

…German junior tennis: "Though we currently have two very good players among the world's best with Philipp Kohlschreiber and Nicolas Kiefer, the distance to further players is much too big. I for instance, wouldn't know at all who the best German juniors between 19 and 21 years of age are, because they are not present in the media. We have great tournaments in Germany, and I'm worrying a bit that the players fail to use these wild card opportunities to achieve the next step. But I don't know the exact reasons. Davis Cup team captain Patrik Kuhnen will be better informed. He is doing an excellent job in my opinion."

…the great strain on tennis professionals on the ATP Tour: "The season on clay is very short and very intensive. There is currently a major tournament almost every week. That's a strain nobody can bear. If you look at the players' feet and hand after four or five of such events, you would see only blisters. We played much fewer events at my time. The stars must have time to prepare for their highlights. Otherwise nobody should wonder when they don't perform at their top level."

…the battle for survival of the Masters Series Tournament in Hamburg: "If any tournament deserves to retain its status it is Hamburg. Last week I could see the excellent organisation with my own eyes. And 100,000 spectators during the tournament weeks and the excellent field of entries speak a clear language. We now simply have to wait for the outcome of the legal battle between the German Tennis Federation and the ATP in the United States."

-Duesseldorf (pps)