Tennisser Bart Stevens (27) from Waalwijk played on Sunday, after a difficult year, the biggest game in his career to date: the double final in an international tournament in Montpellier, France. A competition in which important points for the world ranking could be earned. Bart and his occasional partner Tallon Griekspoor lost, but Bart is full of confidence about the future: “My goal is still becoming the best double -player in the world.”
Bart made a name for himself in 2023 by getting the Wimbledon quarterfinals in the doubles. The expectations a year later were high, but the results were disappointing. “It was a year in which I went looking for a regular double partner with whom it clicked. That did not work and it became a period in which I lost a lot. Due to the difficult year I dropped out of the top 100 of the ranking. I never thought, but I regularly wondered what I was doing. “
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In the course of last year, the performance got a bit better, but he could not extend the good line to the end of 2024. “I was out for six weeks because of a belly injury. So I started the new season a few weeks ago You get shape by playing competitions.
“I had signed in advance for this result.”
The American Vasil Kirkov is now the regular double size of Bart, but last week the Dutch top player Tallon Griekspoor in Montpellier, France, was by his side. “Tallon is very relaxed and a good friend of mine. On the track it always clicks well. He helps me occasionally, so that I can climb on the world ranking. Together we made the final after a nice week. We played well in that But Robin Haase and Botic van de Zandschulp were just a little better.
In the coming months, the double specialist will return to the track with Kirkov by his side. “The doubles is not interesting for Tallon, it focuses purely on the singles. With Kirkov there is the feeling that we can improve further. Sometimes it is good to briefly split, that makes you even stronger.”
Due to the final in Montpellier, Bart returns to the top 100. “Last year I defended my quarter -final place at Wimbledon and lost a lot of points there. And so there were even more bad results that cost me points. This year I have few points about To defend and I hope that I can rise further than my current 93rd place. “
“Eventually I want to be at the top.”
Bart sets the bar very high for himself. “With my 27 years I am young in the field of participants. In the coming years I want to participate with my regular partner in the four large grand slam tournaments and push through towards place 30 to 40 in the ranking. In the end I want to be at the top, a goal that I am completely for go. “
To achieve this goal, he travels around the world. For example, he leaves for a tournament in Bahrain on Friday: “Then we will continue for two weeks in India. Everything for doubling, I completely dropped the singles.”