Q: Hello Seve, how is the team spirit?
A: Very good. In the last years we've had very good team spirit and a very good and motivated team. This is very important for us and we try to maintain it. This morning we made a team breakfast and played ping pong. Playing cards is also very important for the team spirit.
Q: We are fans of Jean Claude Scherrer and live near his place. Why isn't he in the DC team even though he is #1 doubles player and has better results than Allegro?
A: We are very happy about Jean-Claude's results and hope that he will improve further. The doors are not closed for him. However we don't look at the rankings and throw out a player from the team immediately if he has been overtaken by another player. Yves has had good results for the DC team for years. He plays a very important role in the team and deserves our full confidence.
Q: Who is the best at ping pong?
A: (thinks a lot...) It's a very delicate question because I don't want to snub anyone. The winner is not always the same. We still have to see who is the champion. Chiudi, Stéph and Rog are usually in the group of the leaders but Stan and me are making it difficult for them.
Q: Good afternoon, a very effective tactic against the double-handed topspin game of Nadal would be the precise deep slice with different length and speed. I think that Federer can hit this stroke better than anyone. Roger didn't use it so often in Melbourne. Topspin duels against Nadal aren't a good tactic. What do you think?
A: Maybe from outside it looks easier than it really is. But try to play an aggressive slice to Nadal's topspin. When the slice is too passive, Nadal starts dominating the point completely.
Q: Hello Mr Lüthi, what would you do if you weren't a tennis coach?
A: That's a difficult question. I have an economics related education. However I am very happy with what I am doing at the moment. The connection with sports is very important for me. I can't imagine to sit the whole day in the office.
Q: Roger Federer refused to play for the DC. Is this the right decision?
A: It's the right decision for him because he must take care of his body for preventive reasons so that he can have top results for many years to come. Being a DC captain I am sorry that he can't be here but everybody in the team understands his decision.
Q: Hello Severin, do tennis players use doping?
A: Of course this possibility can't be dismissed. However I haven't seen anything in this respect until now. I have never seen a player who's been offered something or any kind of a tangible proof about doping.
Q: Do you believe that Roger can win the French Open?
A: Yes of course!
Q: Who has the best trumps when you play cards?
A: Stan and me!
Q: What did you like practicing the most? Which was/is your favourite drill? And when you play a match against Federer do you have any chances?
A: I like playing points the most. When Roger plays for real I can't win a game.
Q: Do you believe that Nadal can sustain physically the season?
A: Nadal shouldn't be underestimated. People have been saying for years that he will have physical problems. But he wins his matches to some extent easier than he did before and can save energy this way. It is clear though that his game is very tough for the body.
Q: How big are the chances of Switzerland to beat the USA and advance to the next round?
A: We are not the favourites but I believe that we have chances in every match and that we can take the maximum. I believe that we will win.
Q: It has snowed in this part of the USA. I hope that you can take advantage of this similarity with Switzerland. Do the players feel well there?
A: We feel very well here. We are staying at a super nice hotel and we have a Swiss chef who fulfills all our wishes.
