Sam Bakker: Carlos Alcaraz’s Dutch Hitting Partner

It is Saturday afternoon, around two o’clock, when Carlos Alcaraz starts training. More and more spectators flock to the court, hoping to get a closer look at the Spanish superstar, and Court 1’s stands are filling up nicely. For top players to shine at the ABN AMRO Open, hard-working individuals are needed behind the scenes. Take Sam Bakker, who is Carlos Alcaraz’s hitting partner this week.

"Actually, it seems like I get more and more nervous during the training sessions with Alcaraz," admits Sam Bakker, the Dutch number 82. "During our first training session, I was quite tense physically, and today I was very nervous. Fortunately, after five minutes, I loosened up a bit. So, it was another great warm-up session."

The Spanish world number three performs his daily rituals on the training court. "The players want to feel the ball during training and go through everything. Such a session has a fixed pattern. First, you hit straight, then cross, then volleys, and then serve and return. Today, we paid extra attention to Hurkacz’s serve. Regardless of the player, I want to show that I am doing my very best,” says Bakker.

Besides Bakker, hitting partners at the ABN AMRO Open include Joris Hoogland, Elgin Khoebal, and debutant Wout Vermeer, who are invaluable at the Netherlands’ largest tennis tournament. "We have a great group,” beams Bakker (25), who trains with Tjerk Bogtstra. "I live for the sport and am passionate. I was a late bloomer and only started playing tennis when I was twelve. Now that I have completed my education, I want to play on the Futures circuit and start the hunt for ATP points.”

Days are long for Bakker. "That means short nights. I sleep at home in Utrecht every day. It all depends on the training schedule, but sometimes I have to be in Ahoy at nine o’clock. I am right-handed, and fortunately, Alcaraz has only faced right-handed opponents. For the last two years, I have trained in Ahoy with Medvedev and De Minaur, who both reached the final. You won’t see me as a sparring partner at other tournaments. I think this is enough, and during Rosmalen, I am in the middle of my clay season. I will never forget this experience. The training sessions with Alcaraz are the best of my life.”