Interview with Ruwen Filus (TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell): “Our setback has made the play-off race very tight”

Despite its ambitions, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell has come under pressure in the battle for the four play-off places. In this interview, Fulda's defensive specialist Ruwen Filus talks about the importance of the upcoming “Days of Truth” for his team, the continuation of his career and his demanding family situation.

Ruwen Filus, your team from TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell seemed to have found its way back to success after an interim low around the turn of the year and to be heading for the play-offs. How deep is the shock of the unexpected 0:3 home defeat against TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt in your team's bones ahead of the showdown matches against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and Borussia Düsseldorf in the last week of February?

A little bit, actually. We were actually full of optimism for the play-offs after Kao Cheng-Jui signaled that he would be back for us in February. We really wanted to win with him against Bergneustadt, just like in the previous game at Werder Bremen. The 3-0 loss was a real damper for us. We still have a play-off place, but our setback has made the play-off race really tight.

Are the duels with Saarbrücken and Düsseldorf already small finals for your club?

As far as I know, Kao will definitely play in these two games again. If we win one of these two games, it could be enough for our remaining program, which is easier on paper. However, we haven't always been a confident team without Kao, as our 1:3 defeat at bottom-placed TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau in the first half of the season showed. So we probably need two points either against Saarbrücken or in Düsseldorf, which would be very important for us.

Their club has also developed higher ambitions with the signings of Kao and Dimitrij Ovtcharov. In the cup, however, the hopes of participating in the Liebherr Cup Final Four were not fulfilled. Does this create even more pressure for the minimum goal of the play-offs?

There really was more pressure at times. Then Kao's further appearances were temporarily uncertain, so that we even wrote off the play-offs completely for a short time. But with the constellation as it is now planned, we should be able to reach the play-offs - even though Saarbrücken in particular has been catching up recently and is also aiming for a play-off place.

The second half of the season has gone well for you so far. Your record so far is 5:1 wins after just two victories in ten first-round games. How did the knot burst?

It certainly sounds surprising, but I've actually been able to train consistently again. Unfortunately, I don't manage to train regularly these days and then I drop off. But it's just not possible for me for personal reasons. But then there are also phases when I can train and then I play better again straight away, especially as my self-confidence is immediately different after a win. So it's not just the training, but of course it's an important factor.

In view of this overall situation, did you sit out Bremen and Bergneustadt despite your upward trend?

On the one hand, of course, our two top players are set when they're here. In addition, Fanbo Meng is an up-and-coming player and should play a lot - he is also the son of our coach. On the other hand, I've been around for a long time and don't feel the need to play so much, and I also have a few opponents I don't like playing against. That's why it's mutually agreed that Fanbo should and can play in the constellation described. I can be relaxed about it, because I've proven throughout my career that I can do it, and that's why I have no problem with a place on the bench. For me, it's more important that the line-up helps the club and the team and that the team is successful.

You have just turned 37. Some of your colleagues are playing well into their 40s - is that also an option for you?

My contract expires at the end of the season. But we are already in talks for next season.

You're still a member of the DTTB's prospective squad. What ambitions do you still have at international level?

The Olympic Games are out of the question for me. I've always tried, but even at my best I was always told that I didn't fit into the team concept for the Olympic system with my defensive system. I would have had to be number two in Germany at worst to have any chance of playing at the Olympics, even though I've already won bronze at the European Championships in doubles and shown that I can also play doubles.

The prospects are different for the World and European Championships, where the team competitions are only held with singles?

Yes, exactly, I would be there if the coaches wanted me to play there. However, it's also become clear recently that the coaches are increasingly relying on young players, even if I wasn't any worse, but the change has to come at some point. I can only do my best and prove myself internationally, even if it has been difficult for me recently to play the necessary number of tournaments or to be allowed to play at all due to many private appointments. Even under these circumstances, however, not much was missing last year for me to maintain a significantly higher world ranking. But apart from individual phases, I can no longer manage the effort that would now be necessary again.

Do you already have a date in mind for the end of your career?

If I no longer have a place in the national squad, I will soon start planning the end of my career. Based on the world rankings, that could happen very quickly - I'm very realistic about that. But until then, I'm prepared to give my best.

You have already addressed your family circumstances with private appointments, reconciling caring for your daughter Marie, who was born with disabilities, with your career as a table tennis player. How is your family and how is Marie doing?

We have always tried to make everything possible for Marie and have also worked with therapies and rehabilitation measures. Marie now has a sister and a brother, which makes the organizational tasks even more challenging, especially as my wife also works three days a week. Everything has to be well planned. But what means the most to us is that Marie is a happy child and, despite all her limitations, she always makes small steps forward, which we are very happy about. But in general, someone always has to be with her.

Life situations like yours always present challenges. What have you learned from this situation so far?

The joy of small things that others take for granted. In fact, that you no longer take anything for granted. In my sport, it was important to learn to draw clear boundaries between private requirements and focusing on sport.

You have already hinted at thoughts of ending your career. What headlines would you like to read about yourself before then?

Ruwen Filus becomes German champion with Fulda.

Thank you very much for the interview, Ruwen Filus.

Interview: Florian Manzke