Thiemo de Bakker

Full name is Thiemo Carsten Jannick de Bakker...Mother Carlieke, introduced her son to tennis when she would bring him to local club and he taught himself how to play...At age six he started practising with coaches from Dutch Tennis Federation...Earned his first swimming diploma at age three and started playing at a soccer club at age four...Ruud Thijssen, father of Nicole Thijssen (played for junior Fed Cup team) was coach at his club and recognized his talent...He let Thiemo join practice even though he was still very young...Has one older (Yori) and one younger brother (Kayo)... Finished as No. 1 junior in world in 2006, capping his career with title at Wimbledon juniors (d. Gawron)...Also won four other junior titles, in Costa Rica, Australia, Italy and Great Britain…Advanced to SF at Roland Garros (l. to Bester)...Considers clay his best surface and forehand as best shot...Has a 4-5 career record in Davis Cup play (4-4 in singles) in four ties...Coached by countryman Dennis Schenk.

2006 -- Won first ATP World Tour match in Amersfoort (d. Benneteau)…Secured first two Future titles in Portugal on hard courts.

2007 -- Reached QF at Alphen aan den Rijn Challenger (l. to Huta Galung)….

2008 -- Advanced to first Challenger final at Calatanissetta (l. to Huta Galung)…Won two Futures at home on clay… Reached SF at Scheveningen Challenger and QFs at Napoli, Manerbio and Alphen aan den Rijn Challengers…

2009

The young Dutchman became first player from his country to finish in Top 100 since Raemon Sluiter was No. 82 in 2004…Moved over 150 ranking positions from previous year highlighted by a 35-13 match record in Challengers with four titles…In March played in Davis Cup first round tie in Argentina and lost to Monaco in second rubber and Chela in dead rubber…Followed by qualifying at Caltanissetta Challenger in Italy and reached final (l. to countryman Huta Galung)…In May qualified in Munich and beat No. 30 Schuettler (l. to Hewitt)…In August, captured title at Tampere Challenger (d. Luczak)…From second week in August through first week in September, won three straight titles at Vigo, Spain (d. Ascione), San Sebastian, Spain (d. Krajinovic) and Brasov, Romania (d. Riba)…His 18-match winning streak ended with SF loss at Alphen aan den Rijn (l. to Russell)...Played in Davis Cup World Group playoff tie vs. France and beat No. 13 Monfils in first rubber and lost to No. 7 Tsonga in four sets in fourth rubber…Closed season with QF at Kolding and SF at Seoul Challengers…Earned a career-high $87,791.