--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I was really a player who…" description: "\"I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.\" — Kiki Bertens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg" --- # I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to… ![“I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.” quote by Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg) > “I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.” [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on feeling out of place on big stages, revealing personal insecurities despite external success. **In simple terms:** Feeling uncomfortable in the spotlight despite success. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and address stage fright. Themes self‑doubt performance anxiety authenticity Mood reflective vulnerable Type personal motivational When to use this quote - sports competitions - public speaking - media appearances Key Concepts confidence building mental health Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your stage discomfort? - How can you reframe public performance? A Different Perspective Denial of personal growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“Your opponent, in the end, is never really the player on the other side of the net, or the swimmer in the next lane,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lichtenstein/your-opponent-in-the-end-is-never-really-the-player-on-the-other-side/) Grace Lichtenstein > [It is all well and good talking about it, but until you get tested and come out of your comfort zone a bit, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tino-livramento/it-is-all-well-and-good-talking-about-it-but-until-you-get-tested-and/) [Tino Livramento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tino-livramento/) > [I like dealing with people. I like being around people, and that side of me can try to get the best out of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/i-like-dealing-with-people-i-like-being-around-people-and-that-side/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [As a younger player, I never really thought about where I should be on the field. It was just about doing a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/as-a-younger-player-i-never-really-thought-about-where-i-should-be-on/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [I think it is rare that one player really hates another player on a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/i-think-it-is-rare-that-one-player-really-hates-another-player-on-a/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [Mookie is a special player. I really love that guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/mookie-is-a-special-player-i-really-love-that-guy/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [Whereas a good player might do something really good in a game, a great player might do something two or three times in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/whereas-a-good-player-might-do-something-really-good-in-a-game-a/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [I never said I had to be the highest-paid defensive player. That really wasn't the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/i-never-said-i-had-to-be-the-highest-paid-defensive-player-that/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) > [Griezmann is a brilliant player. I really hope he has a career full of successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-carvajal/griezmann-is-a-brilliant-player-i-really-hope-he-has-a-career-full-of/) [Dani Carvajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-carvajal/) > [If you're a senior player, and you really want to make an impact in the dressing room, it's difficult if you have players there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/if-you-re-a-senior-player-and-you-really-want-to-make-an-impact-in/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [Nowadays, it's hard to know if a player really deserves the money spent on him, because transfer values are high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rivaldo/nowadays-it-s-hard-to-know-if-a-player-really-deserves-the-money/) [Rivaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rivaldo/) > [In futsal, you see whether a player is really talented. You notice the small details in quality, class and tactical understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavi/in-futsal-you-see-whether-a-player-is-really-talented-you-notice-the/) [Xavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavi/) > [With the pressures on the game these days, you won't always get players who are exactly the same. Some have strong mentalities and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-woodgate/with-the-pressures-on-the-game-these-days-you-won-t-always-get/) [Jonathan Woodgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-woodgate/) ## More by Kiki Bertens > [On the clay, I am used to sliding so much and I move really well, but I can't slide on the hard courts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/on-the-clay-i-am-used-to-sliding-so-much-and-i-move-really-well-but-i/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [There is always something that I want to do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/there-is-always-something-that-i-want-to-do-better/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I simply can't dance, so an opening dance at our wedding is a no-go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-simply-can-t-dance-so-an-opening-dance-at-our-wedding-is-a-no-go/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [If someone tests positive for coronavirus, our sport would be stained forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/if-someone-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-our-sport-would-be-stained/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I like to play a little bit of blackjack and a little bit of roulette but I'm not a big gambler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-like-to-play-a-little-bit-of-blackjack-and-a-little-bit-of-roulette/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [It is really exciting when I play someone I have never played before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/it-is-really-exciting-when-i-play-someone-i-have-never-played-before/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [It has been tough to get used to hard surfaces and adjust my game - I grew up in the Netherlands playing on clay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/it-has-been-tough-to-get-used-to-hard-surfaces-and-adjust-my-game-i/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [My first match on a Grand Slam show court was when I played Petra Kvitova on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2015. Petra was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/my-first-match-on-a-grand-slam-show-court-was-when-i-played-petra/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [Well every year I'm saying I'm going to put in a lighter schedule, but every year it's not really happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/well-every-year-i-m-saying-i-m-going-to-put-in-a-lighter-schedule-but/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [One thing I really love doing is an escape room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/one-thing-i-really-love-doing-is-an-escape-room/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I found my wedding dress about a week after we got engaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-found-my-wedding-dress-about-a-week-after-we-got-engaged/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I started to do yoga. It helps for the body to be more flexible but also for the mind - it calms me down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-started-to-do-yoga-it-helps-for-the-body-to-be-more-flexible-but/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I'm competitive with everything I do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-m-competitive-with-everything-i-do/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [It's always a relaxing time before my match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/it-s-always-a-relaxing-time-before-my-match/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I hate losing tennis matches, I hate losing in everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-hate-losing-tennis-matches-i-hate-losing-in-everything-i-do/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) [Explore all 44 Kiki Bertens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kiki Bertens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-really-didn-t-like-to-be-on-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-really-didn-t-like-to-be-on-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/kiki-bertens-15019_big_i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-real_1063921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I was really a player who really didn't like to be on the big stage.” — Kiki Bertens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kiki Bertens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I was really a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-really-didn-t-like-to-be-on-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-thought-i-was-really-a-player-who-really-didn-t-like-to-be-on-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```