Boris Becker's are big shoes to fill in. And that's what German Nicolas Kiefer, tipped to take the baton from Becker and struggling through injuries has found out.

"If I knew an answer to why none of the Germans have won a Grand Slam after Becker and [Michael] Stich I wouldn't be sitting here," said the bemused 30-year-old.

If his precocious talent has been undone by a volatile temperament, the spate of injuries hasn't helped either. The latest, a wrist injury, put him out of action for more than a year and dropped to 404 in the ATP rankings. Only three months since his return to the tour, Kiefer has clawed his way back to 131.

"It's never easy coming back from an injury," said Kiefer, 30, on Saturday, in a pre-tournament press conference for the Kingfisher Mumbai Open.

"I had to start from zero. But I knew how to do it. I also knew that it would take time for everything to fall into place; it can't happen in a moment. Coming back from injuries is the biggest challenge for me; if I didn't have the fire I wouldn't be fighting back still. I have had many injuries through the career and have come back stronger every time."

Kiefer, sporting the cap of his favourite soccer team Hannover 96, reached the semi-final of the China Open, marking his best performance since injury.

On his first visit to Mumbai, Kiefer has been greeted with sporadic heavy showers but hopes to get some decent practice before the tournament begins.

"I didn't know what to expect in India," says Kiefer. "It's been an unlucky start with the rain but hopefully it won't affect the tournament and we will have lots of spectators coming in.

"I have been on tour for 12 years but haven't once toured India, so when they offered me the wildcard I wanted to take the chance. I don't generally go around the city but I want to go sight-seeing in India."

Kiefer, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2006, has also trained with champion pole-vaulter Sergei Bubka.

"It's a great experience. He has broken so many world records and is a great champion."

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