Endeavour Foundation tennis ace eyes the world

Endeavour Foundation tennis ace Alex Baker hopes to take on the world after a career best performance.

Alex Baker from the Endeavour Foundation is an elite tennis player.

“See ball, hit ball’’. And with those thoughts swirling in his mind, Corinda resident Alex Baker swept to his most successful tennis tournament of his career at the Special Olympics Australia National Games.

Baker, 32. returned from Launceston last week with two golds in tennis – singles and doubles - his best performance in 18 years when Baker was a 14-year-old.

Increasing his fitness and simplifying his game were keys to his success.

“I had a more relaxed composure throughout and focused on fundamentals which resulted in me playing my game,’’ he said.

Alex Baker from the Endeavour Foundation is an elite tennis player.

After his singles success, he joined his doubles partner and “my great mate’’ Tim Gould in what was also a commanding doubles performance.

“This was my fifth time, and now in the Open category, and I couldn’t be happier to have the golds back around my neck – I’m so incredibly proud to be a Queenslander and to do this for our sport and our State,” he said.

Tim Gould has always been a tennis ace. Here he is 15 years ago aged just 16.

In terms of his partnership with Gould, Baker added: “I love how we’re all out there, doing our best, supporting each other, competing for our State with pride, kicking goals, and if you can come home knowing you’ve done your best or even with a medal, then what else could you ask for.”

It is only the second time in his career he has produced the singles and doubles double - both in Launceston and on the first occasion when he was aged 14 on his Queensland debut.

So well did he play, Baker won 30 games in total, losing just two games.

Alex Baker playing during the recent tournament. Image courtesy Special Olympics.

Now the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin beckon. “A gold medal in singles means you are automatically considered, but not guaranteed, a place, depending on the size of the team,’’ Baker explained.

“It is something I have been striving to achieve all my tennis career.

“It is a tough target to reach. If I get chosen it will be the best thing to happen to me sports wise in a time. Fingers crossed. I am hopeful though.’’

He’s a wildly talented sports person too, having competed for state and national level in cricket where he is a batting all-rounder who bats No. 5 or 6, and bowls medium.
He thanked the Endeavour Foundation for its support to enable him to live his sporting dreams by representing Queensland in both tennis and cricket.

“I have the most sensational manager which allows me all these opportunities and to travel to all these special places,’’ said the Administration Assistant in the service design team.

“I really commended the Endeavour Foundation for giving me the chance at these wonderful opportunities.’’