
Kim Clijsters highlights a shared mindset between Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, noting that opponents elevate their performance against them. Both athletes have acknowledged this phenomenon in their careers.
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Both Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have spoken about how players often seem to step up their game when facing them.
Williams, during Wimbledon in 2018, said that she âplays everyone at their greatestâ.
This year, Alcaraz made a similar comment, saying opponents play like âRoger Federerâ when they face him.
Former world number one Kim Clijsters has now explained how she approached the same situation during her career.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Speaking on the latest episode of âLove Allâ, Clijsters explained how she approached matches against lower-ranked opponents.
âMy mindset was, every match starts 0-0, and you have a 50% chance,â she said.
âThatâs what I always told myself. Also, when you get to the situation, weâve seen Serena [Williams] and [Carlos] Alcaraz talk about it. When you play a lot of lower-ranked players, which they play most of the time when youâre ranked number one in the world, everybody can have their best match of the year when they play against you.â
Clijsters won four Grand Slam titles during her career and spent 20 weeks as world number one. Williams and Alcaraz have also found success despite often facing opponents playing at their absolute best.
But how has Alcaraz performed specifically against lower-ranked opposition?
Alcaraz clinched his first major title at the US Open in 2022. Since then, Alcaraz has only lost 41 matches.
Of those 41 defeats, Alcaraz has lost to Novak Djokovic five times and Jannik Sinner five times.
But thatâs not to say he doesnât lose to lower-ranked players, too.
2026 â 3
2022 â 4
2023 â 12
2024 â 13
2025 â 9
Read more:
Serena Williams stated that she 'plays everyone at their greatest' during Wimbledon in 2018.
Carlos Alcaraz mentioned that opponents play like 'Roger Federer' when they compete against him.
Both athletes believe that their opponents tend to elevate their game significantly when facing them.

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