Meet Marijn Bal, the big-time tennis agent who would not be denied

Marijn Bal knew tennis was the end goal, he just had to figure out how to reach it.

He grew up in the Netherlands, hooked on the global game as a player and a fan, and his enthusiasm never waned. A lot of athletes view their playing careers as the destination of their dreams, but Bal saw things differently. Playing tennis was the vehicle that could transport him to higher heights. After a college career at the University of North Georgia, Bal threw everything he had into making it as an agent. And he succeeded mightily through dedication and willingness to devote himself completely. His talent roster at IMG includes gold medalists and some of the most recognized champions of the sport, but the agent’s commitment hasn’t changed.

As Bal explains on the Inside-In Podcast, he continues to embrace the lifestyle he has chosen, and finds joy in elevating those around him.

The journey to becoming one of the most respected men in the industry began at the place that remains his place of employment. Bal took an unpaid internship at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and he had the singular focus to outwork everyone to remain in the game.

“I worked I would say, 19 hours a day during that internship. I said, 'I’m in the door and I ain't leaving,' that’s for sure," Bal recalls. "I was doing absolutely everything I can to give myself a chance."

On the final day of his internship, he was offered an assistant’s position that gave him the foot in the door he so passionately desired.

“It was the same attitude I took in tennis as a young kid. I will outwork, I will work as hard as I can, I will get there. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, but I will get to that position of ultimately becoming a tennis agent.”

While most careers require on-the-job training, the life of a tennis agent is a different beast entirely.

Bal has showcased a tremendous ability to adapt to unpredictable variables that accompany the world of tennis, and he has remained particularly skilled at harnessing good relationships with every client he works with.

“When a player wins a big tournament and lifts a trophy, that’s ultimately what we all work for," Bal explains, "and in my humble situation, I try to play as big or small a role in that as I possibly can."

Each player requires a different type and level of support, and the elite agents are the ones that can read the room and treat each client on a unique basis.

“Sometimes you’ve got to push a little bit, sometimes you’ve got to pull back, and you just have to understand the situation. I think with all my clients I have a good personal relationship, so I think there’s a lot of trust,” he continues. “Then it becomes a lot easier. You understand how to communicate, when to communicate, what to communicate.”

Bal’s dedication to his clients has created some lasting bonds of friendship that go beyond tennis. He lauds Petra Kvitova as one of the best people he knows, and somebody that always makes him better each day.

Bal, in fact, holds the uniquely impressive accolade of representing the last two female gold medalists in tennis, with Monica Puig and Belinda Bencic standing atop the podium at the conclusion of the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, respectively. Puig’s run from barely qualifying for the Games, to Puerto Rico’s first gold medalist, was one of the most improbable stories in sports, and her agent did quite literally everything in his power to witness it in person.

“She walks off the court (after her semifinal win) and she says to me, ‘You better be there tomorrow when the final is.’ And I’m like 'Oh my god, I’m in Florida,'” Bal recalls with a smile on his face. He packed the bare essentials, furiously searched for a flight, and was on his way.

“I jumped on a flight overnight to Rio and got there in the morning. I had no credential, nowhere to go, and I didn’t speak Portuguese,” the agent detailed. “I was there for that gold-medal match which was an amazing experience.”

Bal’s authenticity shines bright on the Inside-In Podcast. He details what qualities he looks for in prospective clients, the work ethic it takes collectively to help a player reach their goals, and why his line of work is more of a lifestyle than a career. The vice president of WME Sports also shares why surfing and snowboarding are his favorite hobbies when he gets those rare respites from the office.

With all his accomplishments in the last two decades, there’s a lot for Bal to look back on with pride. But what would the respected agent say to a sixteen-year-old tennis diehard who is ready to embark on a similar path?

“Never take no for an answer," he says. "You can be rejected 99 times, but if you try 100, there’s at least going to be someone picking up the phone and saying yes.”