Status: Former ATP tennis player reached a career high ranking of #11. He won nine career ATP singles and six doubles titles and $5.192 million in career prize money. (Note: This interview was conducted at the 2004 U.S. Open.)
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 185
DOB: Sept. 8, 1976 In: Weert, The Netherlands
Tennis Inspirations: “Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander.”
Hobbies/Interests: “Old vintage cars. And I like to have some spare time [laughs]. That’s my big hobby – because I play a lot. Always on the road. See the family now and then, that’s a big hobby.”
Favorite Movies: “I like The Godfather movies, and I like Once Upon A Time In The West.”
Favorite TV Show: “Discovery Channel. Not watching much TV.”
Musical Tastes: “I like the pop or rock music from the 1980’s and Dire Straits.”
First Job: “I’m still in my first job.”
First Car: “Was, oh, I bought it together with my dad – the Morgan. That was actually my first car. Green with beige interior. Hand made in 1996.”
Early Tennis Memory: “Driving my parents and neighbors nuts, imitating Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander against the wall for like 5-6 hours a day. From like three years old to like 15 years. Playing against the wall all the time.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “Focused. Go and sit somewhere where I can focus. Always a little nervous even though I played, I don’t know how many matches already. You never know what to expect. So you have to be ready for everything.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “It happened to my trophy. Actually, they sent it over to me in Monte Carlo. It was a nice glass thing. And I got it in 100,000 pieces, completely glass rubbish. It was in the box. Something went wrong with the traveling. So then I went to the store and bought my own trophy. Because I like to have a trophy for the tournament. (Which tournament did you win?) That was Boston, before the U.S. Open 1997 it was. I beat Rios in the final.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Reaching the semis of the U.S. Open in 2002. That was big. And the rest – three quarterfinals at Wimbledon (2002, 2003 and 2004).”
Most Painful Moment: “Ah, so many. Too many [laughs]. There’s every week a tournament, you lose every time. Except sometimes you win and it’s extraordinary. So I have nine titles, so all the rest I lost somewhere. And many times you have a painful loss.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “The Dutchies. I see the Dutchies as my friends. Van Lottum, Sluiter, Verkerk and also the older ones like Haarhuis and Eltingh. I’m good friends with them.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Many different guys. I like Julien Boutter. I like him. I also play doubles with him. He’s also a very funny guy. I have to see the rankings in front of me to tell you more names.”
Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I think the top players. The top ten will never give any shot away. They all have their extraordinary things. Many are very mentally tough. And the farther you go down the rankings, you see many times they are mentally weaker. Most of the top ten guys are mentally tough and you won’t get one point from them.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “They have to be honest. That’s the most important thing.”
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco.
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Michael · July 25, 2011 at 9:51 pm
I saw his QF match at the USO (I think it was 2002 or so). But what I remember is < 100 people were watching. It came after 3-1/2 days of rain and the schedule was all messed up. So where he should have been on Ashe in front of a huge crowd, they put some other more attractive on paper QF on Ashe at the same time.
Big serve as I recall. Not very flashy game to say the least. I don't remember any Dutch players with a flashy game since Okker. The opposite of the French where it's unusual to find one that doesn't have a flashy game (maybe Mahut comes to mind).
Scoop Malinowski · July 25, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Schalken was like Ljubicic, very good players who just were not embraced by tennis fans, or lacked charisma, personality or flair on the court. But still they were excellent players.