Tennis players Bart Stevens from Waalwijk and Matwé Middelkoop from Breda performed excellently at Wimbledon, although they were eliminated on Wednesday. The two are not only doubles specialists and fellow provincials, they also both have the same Brabant trainer: Willem Jan van Hulst. “Bart and Matwé are hungry and ambitious, they are doing an excellent job,” said the coach from London.
Van Hulst has been running Tennis Academy Henk van Hulst together with his father for many years. Bart Stevens and Matwé Middelkoop came to the tennis school in Valkenswaard when they were eleven or twelve. Especially with Matwé, Willem Jan has already experienced a lot.
“I remember well how, for example, he won his first national title, that he was in the top 100 for the first time and that he participated in a grand slam tournament for the first time. Those kinds of beautiful moments, that’s what you do it for.”
“It’s great to work with such an experienced tennis player.”
Matwé celebrates his 40th birthday on September 3. He is in top form, as it turned out this year at Roland Garros, where he reached the semi-finals in doubles. During Wimbledon he lost on Wednesday afternoon with the Indonesian Aldila Sutjiadi in the semifinals of the mixed doubles. Trainer Van Hulst: “He has an enormous drive and sets the bar very high for himself. He really wants to get everything out of it. It is great to work with such an experienced and hungry tennis player. That he is 39 years old and in the world top, says something about him.”
Bart Stevens does not yet have that experience, but the Waalwijker also made an impression on the sacred grass in London. He reached the quarterfinals together with Tallon Grepespur, also the final station. The trainer: “They also participated during Roland Garros, but as a substitute duo they only knew an hour and a half before the start that they had to take action. The preparation was far from optimal and they did not play a good match. Now at Wimbledon they were also reserve but It was already clear that they were going to play.”
“He is taking very big steps in his career.”
Bart is in the top 100 of doubles due to his Wimbledon performances. Van Hulst: “When I see him playing with Tallon, I think: wow! He had to wait for his chance at a grand slam and then does this. By reaching this level and performing, he is taking very big steps. is very important for his career, because this way he can be directly admitted to main tournaments more often.”
After a successful Wimbledon tournament, expectations will be very different. “Opponents do not always know him and do not take Bart into account. That will soon be the case and they will try to hurt him on his development points. The next phase in his career is very important. But we are confident, this tournament gives a huge boost.”