Kiki Bertens splits with her coach Raemon Sluiter to partner with her future husband Remko de Rijke

Kiki Bertens and Raemon

The off season is about to start, and we have already some change changes in the coaching teams. Kiki Bertens had a rather good 2019 after she reached a world no.4 career-high in May, and she ended the season in the 10th place. Kiki won the tournaments in St. Petersburg and Madrid; she was the runner up in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Palermo and Zhuhai. Probably the only disappointment was for her in slams as she has never managed to get past the 3rd round.

Changing the coaching team

It came a bit as a surprise her decision to end her partnership with her coach Raemon Sluiter. There was a bit of discontent after back in the days Raemon was unhappy with Bertens competing in doubles, and recently he didn’t follow her in Shenzhen for the finals. Eventually, she decided to continue with coach Elise Tamaëla and her future husband and sparring partner Remko de Rijke.

Raemon tweeted:

“I would like to thank Kiki for her trust, hard work, and dedication over the last four years. I wish her, Remko and Elise all the best for the future I would like to thank the WTA and my fellow coaches. Life on tour can be tough, but I really had the feeling that we were in the same boat. And a last thank you to everybody who was part of this journey, also before “my” time. There is no way all this could have happened without a strong base. All the best to everyone out there and see you somewhere on or near the courts! A #RaemonOut”

Kiki replied:

“Hi everyone, now the season is officially over, and what a great year it was! I would like to thank my team, sponsors, family, and friend for all there support! sometimes you also have to make tough decisions which you believe it would make you better.

Next year I will not continue to work with Raemon anymore. I would like to say thank you for everything you have done for me in the past 4 years. I have grown as a player and as a person. Without you, this would have been impossible. Thank you for everything! Next year I will continue to work with Elise as my coach. But for now, holidays!!”

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Hoi allemaal, het seizoen zit er nu echt op. Teleurstellend om het jaar te moeten eindigen met een opgave maar mijn lichaam wilde nu dan toch echt niet meer. Ik heb de laatste weken alles gegeven wat nog in me zat en ben trots op de grenzen die ik heb verlegd en de resultaten die ik nog heb kunnen boeken. Trots om weer in de top 10 van de wereld te mogen eindigen. Ik wil iedereen van mijn team, sponsoren, familie en vrienden bedanken voor alle support en steun! Helaas heb ik ook een moeilijke beslissing moeten maken en dat is dat Raemon en ik volgend jaar niet meer zullen samenwerken. Ik wil Rae bedanken voor de afgelopen 4 fantastisch jaren. Ik ben gegroeid als speelster en als persoon en had dit alles niet zonder hem kunnen bereiken. Nogmaals dank voor alles! Ik zal volgend jaar geen extra persoon toevoegen aan het team en ga dus verder met het huidige team. Ik voelde me de laatste periode ondanks alles sterk en denk dat het op dit moment in mijn carrière de beste keus is om het maximale eruit te halen. Ik heb er vertrouwen in dat als ik mezelf iedere dag probeer te verbeteren er nog veel moois gaat komen. Maar nu eerst, lekker op vakantie!! …………………………………………………………..Hi everyone, now the season is officially over, and what a great year it was! I would like to thank my team, sponsors, family and friend for all there support! sometimes you also have to make tough decisions which you believe it would make you better. Next year I will not continue to work with raemon anymore. I would like to say thank you for everything you have done for me in the past 4 years. I have grown as a player and as a person. Without you this would have been impossible. Thank you for everything! Next year I will continue to work with Elise as my coach. But for now, holidays!!

A post shared by Kiki Bertens (@kikibertens) on

Kiki Bertens’s ranking and performance in 2019

Kiki Bertens Stats info

Ranked no.10, the Dutch played her last match on the 31st of October when she was overcome by Belinda Bencic 7-5 1-0 ret. in the R in Shenzhen.

This year the Dutch has a 55-26 win-loss record. The Dutch has won 2 titles in 2019 in St. Petersburg and in Madrid. Bertens was the finalist in Hertogenbosch, in Palermo and in Zhuhai.