Explore popular quotes and sayings by Kiki Bertens.
Last updated on December 21, 2024.
Kiki Bertens is a Dutch former professional tennis player. Her career-high WTA singles ranking was world No. 4, which she reached on 13 May 2019, becoming the highest ranked Dutch female player ever.
Her career-high doubles ranking of world No. 16 was achieved in April 2018. She won ten singles and ten doubles titles on the WTA Tour including 2018 Cincinnati Open and 2019 Madrid Open. Bertens was widely regarded as a clay court specialist, but also was successful on hardcourt.
I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.
Going through the tour every year and just focusing so intensely on tennis all the time was not working for me.
I know I can play good on clay.
I have always demanded the maximum of myself, but the tank is quite empty. The balance of the hard work I put in day in and day out and the satisfaction I get out of it at the end of the day is no longer there.
When people are talking - especially the media and everyone saying you're going to win it or reach the final, it can be tough. Because then it's like if I win then it's only good enough.
In the beginning I wasn't playing as well and had to feel the court and got better and better as I tried to play aggressively and it turned out pretty well.
I have realized it is more important to be happy and enjoying the life you are living - win or lose.
Why was I considering retirement at the age of just 25? Because I really wasn't having fun on court.
I can play well on grass. Everyone keeps on telling me that.
My confidence has grown so much in the past few years that even when I'm not playing my best, I still feel calm on court and find a way to win.
My first match on a Grand Slam show court was when I played Petra Kvitova on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2015. Petra was the defending champion and I think I was done in 34 minutes.
It's always a relaxing time before my match.
I started to do yoga. It helps for the body to be more flexible but also for the mind - it calms me down a lot, so I really like to do that.
I like to play a little bit of blackjack and a little bit of roulette but I'm not a big gambler.
I love games so we always play cards and board games to relax when we're on tour.
Once you move into the second week of a Grand Slam, you know you are getting closer to playing on some of the world's biggest courts.
It's unbelievable. To be in the semis, it's just crazy. To play Serena it will be a great match.
Even though I never really liked watching tennis too much when I was growing up, it is fair to say Kim Clijsters was my idol.
I like the clay courts more, everyone knows that.
There is always something that I want to do better.
If a couple of people are watching I feel better than in a full stadium.
I simply can't dance, so an opening dance at our wedding is a no-go.
That's how tennis is sometimes: You can have good days, you can have bad days, your opponents can play really well.
I'm competitive with everything I do!
Of course, I try to do my best every single week and every single tournament but I love playing on clay, so Roland Garros is my favorite Grand Slam.
Maybe I should take more acting classes or pursue a career in that.
It has been tough to get used to hard surfaces and adjust my game - I grew up in the Netherlands playing on clay, so I love that surface the most. For my game, it is the most natural.
On the clay, I am used to sliding so much and I move really well, but I can't slide on the hard courts.
If someone tests positive for coronavirus, our sport would be stained forever.
I'm just trying to do my best, and we'll see if it's enough or not.
I keep things mostly to myself. I'm more of an introvert.
Normally I'm really looking forward to the clay court season.
Well every year I'm saying I'm going to put in a lighter schedule, but every year it's not really happening.
I think I can play really well on grass when my serve is going well, when I really play aggressive, when I believe in it, then I think I can play well.
I told myself, you're in the Wimbledon third round, never reached the fourth round so you have nothing to lose so go for your shots.'
It is really exciting when I play someone I have never played before.
I would like to see a rule change - or at least a discussion around the issue - where you can have an injury timeout but then you lose a point. I think it needs something to make players consider if they really need the timeout.
I believe now that I can win tournaments, and before I was just hoping.
Melbourne is a great city and one of the favorites place on tour for many players.
I found my wedding dress about a week after we got engaged.
One thing I really love doing is an escape room.
I hate losing tennis matches, I hate losing in everything I do.
At the end of the 2017 season I was on the brink of retirement and I had a decision to make: quit playing or do things differently. I chose to do things differently - with my approach to practice, recovery, nutrition and many other things.
Once I got the Playstation I started practicing, because if I do something I want to do it right.