Waldner was already 37 at that time and did not have too many playing years left ahead of him. Boll's arrival on the circuit was like a whiff of fresh air and many Europeans expected him to continue Waldner's legacy.

But in next World Championships Boll was upset in the second round by the then world No 38, China's Qiu Yike.

In a highly emblematic singles quarterfinal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Boll failed to outsmart Waldner, losing to the Swede in the men's singles quarterfinals.

Since then Boll has won many tournaments and championships. He has bagged more than 20 singles titles on the ITTF pro tour. He has won two World Cups (he also won in 2005).

Boll says his biggest goal is to win individual medals at World Championships and Olympic Games. He has so far played in six World Championships and three Olympic Games, but never won a singles title. Chinese paddlers won seven of these titles, while Austrian Werner Schlager and South Korean Ryu Seung-min also emerged victorious.

Boll's fans were surprised that their hero was unable to win any medal in all these outings.

"It is not so easy. You have to be really fit at the right moment. I was a little unlucky with some injuries. Sometimes I just played too many tournaments, and was not mentally prepared," says the left-handed player.

Boll's modesty comes to the fore when he admits that most of the times his opponents were in much better shape. "Sometimes the opponents were in a very good shape. There is no big gap between the No 20 ranked player and me. Unfortunately, I never paid too much attention to keep my body and mind fit. That is something that I have to focus more on," he says.

"Sometimes my lackluster performance

had a lot to do with my pessimistic nature before major tournaments. It took a little bit of pressure from my side to overcome this feeling. Now I am more relaxed and confident and also have the hunger to win."

No one doubts Boll's commitment to the game. His grueling schedule has him criss-crossing across continents and various time zones. But the passion to win and stay fit for more tournaments is what keeps him going. "At the same time there are occasion when I fell that I need more rest."

After so many years of being a professional on the circuit, he also looks forward to spending some quality time with his family.

Boll lives in a typical two-story Bavarian-style country house near Frankfurt with his wife, Rodelia Jacobi, whom he married in 2003. Boll often makes three to four calls on days that he is away from the family.

His daily schedule comprises playing table tennis for two-and-half hours in the morning followed by rigorous exercise in the afternoon.

He spends his leisure time watching movies, taking walks with his wife and playing with his pet dog and cat.

"Some friends of mine work in the office the whole day. I find it extremely boring. Many pursue hobbies for fashion. But for me, my passion is already a dream-come-true," he says.

His biggest dream, of course, is the singles title at the 2012 Olympics. The legendary Waldner has already retired, while Schlager, the winner of the 2003 World Championship, will turn 39 next year. Europe has great expectations for Boll and he does not want to disappoint them.

"If I stay healthy it is possible (to play until 2016). But I will be 35, so it will not be so easy to stay on such a high level like I'm now. So it is my real last chance," he says.

"If I win? I won't stop after that. But, of course, it will be the biggest dream come true."