My Level
Wesley Koolhof: A farewell to tennis
Dutchman pens a My Level essay reflecting on his profession through the Nitto ATP Finals, his final ATP Tour occasion
November 12, 2024
Final 12 months at Wimbledon I skilled as near euphoria as I think about is feasible in tennis. I used to be enjoying doubles with Neal Skupski, who’s from Nice Britain. It was a dream of mine to play on Centre Court docket and it was unbelievable to have the chance to compete on such a grand stage within the championship match.
To raise the trophy in entrance of Neal’s dwelling followers at The Championships made it much more particular.
Profitable a Grand Slam title was one of many large issues I actually needed to attain in my profession. In 2020, I received the Nitto ATP Finals with Nikola Mektic. I’m a six-time ATP Masters 1000 champion. In 2022, I turned the No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings and was a part of the year-end No. 1 staff. Lastly, I used to be in a position to name myself a significant titlist.
There was a lot media consideration again dwelling and different issues that went with capturing the trophy. I keep in mind going to the Wimbledon Ball on Sunday night, eager about how few gamers earn the possibility to do one thing like that. It was simply an unbelievable feeling.
For the subsequent three weeks I used to be dwelling with my fiancee, former WTA participant Julia Goerges, and actually loved that point. Lower than two months after profitable Wimbledon I used to be sitting in my lodge room in Cincinnati considering, ‘Okay, what am I going to do now with my life?’
I had achieved every thing I needed to attain, and profitable the title on the hallowed grass was mainly the very last thing to tick off. In the future I’d love to start out a household. You see quite a lot of doubles guys touring with their little ones, or want to go away their children as a result of there’s a match to play. I do not see myself doing that.
It was not that lengthy after that second after I determined that the 2024 season can be the final of my profession.
I’m actually glad that I used to be in a position to make the Nitto ATP Finals yet another time and whereas I’ll compete for The Netherlands in Davis Cup, that is my ultimate match.
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2023 Wimbledon champions Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski. Photograph: Getty Photos.
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I started enjoying tennis like many children, hitting towards a wall aged three. My dad and mom, Monique and Jurrie, loved tennis and would take me to a membership known as Columbae in Duiven, my hometown.
I additionally performed soccer — my father was knowledgeable, which made it simpler to take up the game. However there was one thing in regards to the individuality of tennis I preferred extra. I started taking classes at 4 and fairly early on native expertise scouts picked me to practise with higher gamers.
Rising up, I appeared as much as Andre Agassi. I cherished how he performed. He had a tremendous baseline sport, was returning tremendous stable and his tempo in rallies was actually excessive. That model attracted me.
That was additionally my sport after I was youthful. After I was enjoying singles, I used to be solely hitting forehands from the again, slightly bit like Rafael Nadal, working round backhands on a regular basis and solely hitting forehands. I used to be okay on the web, however not very snug throughout my singles profession.
Andre wasn’t identified for his finest volleys, both. He solely got here to the web to shake fingers, mainly. Possibly it is a bit ironic that my idol performed that method and I’ve had my success enjoying doubles.
My dad and mom took me to the Rotterdam match yearly, however I used to be not one of many children chasing autographs and attempting to satisfy the gamers. I simply needed to look at tennis, regardless of who performed.
A dream of mine was to carry out as soon as on centre court docket in Rotterdam, to attempt to be nearly as good because the gamers I watched. It got here full circle earlier this 12 months after I received the title there.
After I was younger, I used to be solely eager about singles, not doubles. However the longer you play, the extra you dream, and the extra you attempt to problem your self and make it very far.
In singles, I reached a career-high World No. 462 in 2013. Two years later, I gave up on that dream of being a terrific singles participant and shifted my focus in direction of doubles, not realizing how that was going to go.
I knew play it. I preferred it. I assumed I had a fairly good eye for it. I had some anticipation expertise and knew what was occurring. I at all times performed each as a result of I preferred the doubles sport, and I additionally thought it was good for my singles as properly, to enhance myself on the web.
In 2019, my profession started to take off. I performed some with Stefanos Tsitsipas, which helped my rating lots, and we made my first Masters 1000 ultimate in Miami. I made two extra Masters 1000 finals that 12 months with Robin Haase and whereas I didn’t win any of these finals, it modified my trajectory.
Since then it has been a dream, profitable tournaments just like the Nitto ATP Finals with Nikola — and we hope to do it once more this 12 months. That occasion was our final collectively earlier than this season.
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2020 Nitto ATP Finals champions Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic. Photograph: Ella Ling/ATP Tour.
However I used to be in a position to fortunately have extra success. Neal and I started our partnership in 2022 and it went by the roof. I turned No. 1 on the finish of the 12 months after profitable Paris and ending on the year-end No. 1 staff was extraordinarily particular.
After I made the choice to retire I needed to go yet another 12 months, for the Olympics, Davis Cup and attempting to earn as a lot glory as doable. I’m nonetheless pleased with the choice and we have had an unbelievable begin and finish of the 12 months.
I’d wish to additionally thank Julia, whom I believe most individuals will know, particularly the tennis followers. We met in 2019 on the marriage ceremony of one other WTA participant, Kiki Bertens. She reached the Prime 10 and beat the perfect gamers on this planet, so she has a lot expertise on the higher ranges of tennis.
Since I met Julia, my profession has been on the rise. She helped me make choices with my tennis and most significantly is an unbelievable human being. She has performed such an vital half in making my desires come true.
We’re getting married on the finish of the 12 months, which is a good way to finish issues. That is the top of my profession, and the beginning of a brand new life. After we get married and take our honeymoon, I stay up for simply stress-free at dwelling collectively and simply having fun with life.
I don’t know what shall be subsequent, however after taking a while off I’d love to remain in tennis. On this world, you meet so many individuals, and tennis has at all times been a part of my life. I’m additionally open to issues aside from tennis, too. I’ll simply wait and see what comes across the nook, and you may see me someplace.
For now, I’m excited for one final trip on the Nitto ATP Finals.
