Q&A WITH KIKI BERTENS ON HANGING OUT WITH BABSI

Key quotes below:

We know the US Open will now happen – what are your thoughts on this, will you go there and who will you take?

It’s tough, I’m still thinking how are they able to hold it? In the Netherlands at the moment we’re not allowed to travel internationally. If I go to the States now, I don’t have insurance and I think that’s a big risk you’re taking. A lot of places in the world, it’s still not safe. For me to go there [US Open] a lot of things have to change but it’s still a long way [off] so I just have to wait and see how the world is opening up and if it’s safe to go. It’s tough to make a decision on that right now. 

Do you think a lot of players will think like you?

The players that I’ve spoken to are not that positive about playing at the moment, which I think is fair. You can hold the US Open but it’s probably only the main draw and only 100 players can compete for points and the rest of the world cannot compete and earn points. For the rankings system, it’s not going to be fair. I think it’s not fair for anyone to compete in this moment, so they [USTA] have to find a solution for this.

I understand it from their [USTA] side as well but can you hold a Grand Slam if half the players cannot travel there? I think we have to see how the world is opening up and make a decision from there. 

Have you considered playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium with no crowd there?

I think it’s going be very weird. I can’t even image playing there but we have to deal with it if we want to play. I don’t mind playing not in front of a full crowd, I can just play on one of the outside courts and I am fine with that, but I know a lot of girls are not, which makes it really weird to play. 

The French Open must be one of your favourite Slams – you must be very excited to go there, albeit with a different temperature?

Yes, it [temperature] doesn’t suit my game as much. Once everyone is safe and able to compete and it’s fair competition for everyone, then I’m more than willing to play of course.

Who would you like to face on a tennis court you’ve never played against?

I always said I want to play Kim Clijsters one day and when her comeback was in Dubai, I was supposed to play her in her first tournament back. But I had to withdraw because I was so tired from winning St Petersburg, so I always said I’ll take the change again to play against her. 

To be honest, I never really watched tennis a lot but when I did, I always liked to watch Kim and see her play. Her style and how she’s hitting the ball is incredible. 

What do you think about her comeback?   

It’s amazing. I was like ‘you’re crazy!’ I don’t think I could have done it but so much respect to her for coming back because she doesn’t even have to. She’s had an amazing career so I have a lot of respect for her comeback.

What are you goals now? You’ve achieved your goal to be top ten and now it’s important to have your next one. What is it?

To become higher than I was before. It was number four in the world, which was unbelievable and not many places left, but I’m just trying to do that. 

Who would you like to team up with in mixed doubles?

It’s a really long time since I played - I think last time it was during the [Rio] Olympics. This year I was probably going to play the Olympics with Wesley Koolhof, the Dutch guy, as I said the next time I play mixed doubles it will be with you.

If not, with Roger [Federer] then I don’t have to do anything and leave it to him!

Did you ever have the feeling in lockdown that you should retire earlier or are you now planning to play later?

It’s tough for me to say that I’ll play for two, three, four more years. Every year I take it year-by-year and if I’m still enjoying it and willing to put in all the work I have to do, I will continue. I love to be at home but I still have that willing to compete. I know for myself I’m not going to play for five more years but I’m not retiring now which is a good thing.

Do you think there should be more female coaches on the Tour?

Everyone needs something different but of course [yes]. I have so many emotional feelings and sometimes for some men that’s difficult to understand. I think guys are very different which is also good for us but sometimes its also good to have a female there.

What is your coach [Elise Tamaëla] like?

She’s a very quiet and understanding person, really easy to talk to and she’s a really good listener, which to me is really important. I feel trusted by her. From the beginning it went very smooth and it’s been perfect for me. She is a very quiet, balanced person.

What have you missed from the Tour?

I quit school when I was 17 and for the last ten years I have been on Tour. The travel I don’t miss to be honest; it’s nice to be home! It’s always a great thing to compete every week and to have the feeling that gets the best out of yourself for that week… [I miss] the people on Tour. I have good contacts with a lot of the girls and it’s nice to hang out and have dinner with them.  

What do you do on Tour to relax?

On the Tour, I love making puzzles at tournaments. I always have 1,000-piece puzzles with me in my hotel room and it helps me calm a bit to not be with phone or your iPad or laptop. 

Why did you start to play tennis?

My parents didn’t really used to play, just a few weekends a year… I was staying with my Aunt and Uncle during the weekends and they were doing a lot at their tennis club. I got there and started playing some balls against a wall and the coach saw me and offered me a lesson. From then on, I started playing and I worked with that coach for 18 years as well which was really special. 

What do you think it takes to be a Grand Slam champion?

I don’t know because I am not a Grand Slam champion yet, but you have to be consistent for the two weeks and play great tennis. If you have an off day, you’re going to lose against anyone. So, to have that mental strength, focus and physical level, everything has to be completely good to win a Grand Slam. 

I think it’s one of the hardest sports. It’s so much mental and the weather is always changing. Every five minutes can be different but that’s interesting and makes it really challenging. 

How do you have to train to become such a star?

For me, it’s about trying to love what you do. You have to listen to yourself and your coach, because they want to help you and you can learn a lot from them. But if you don’t want to do something or if you don’t want to change anything, then it’s not going to happen. You really have to listen to yourself and believe in your own opinion. 

What would you like to do after your tennis career besides having a big family? 

We really look forward to that and just that quiet family life. I can just be home and taking care of the family and right now I see it like that. 

Who inspires you most?

For me, it’s my family. To see my parents and how they handled me always playing tennis, but having two other girls who were not interested at all in playing tennis… For me it’s really good to see that I’m just one of the three girls; we don’t even talk about tennis. Once I’m home I really feel part of the family and for me that’s something very important because if you go elsewhere it’s always about my tennis. Within my family, I’m just Kiki, which is really good to see.

I hear you’ve been playing table tennis recently?

I have, I love it! The last few weeks, I’ve been playing more than tennis.

Is there somebody you would love to meet?

Adele. I really admire her and her singing and I think she looks really fun! After my semi-final in Paris, I got tickets from the organisation and three or four days later I was there [watching Adele]. But I was so tired and exhausted I kept crying at each song! It was a special evening with my sister.