Czech Tennis Star Karolina Pliskova Makes Comeback
Karolina Pliskova, the Czech tennis star, is back in the competitive arena, marking her return with a win at the WTA 125 event held in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. This comes after a challenging period away from the game, primarily due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2024 US Open, where her tournament ended prematurely. Pliskova’s comeback was facilitated by a wild card entry into the event, where she faced 26-year-old French player Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, ranked just outside the Top 300.
Reflecting on Her Injury
“I was taken out in a wheelchair after my ankle broke. It was incredibly embarrassing. Upon arriving at the hospital, they discovered extensive cracking; the only thing keeping my ankle together were the bones. Surgery became necessary as a straightforward decision,”
– Karolina Pliskova
The Match Against Andrianjafitrimo
The match against Andrianjafitrimo started off rocky for Pliskova, who dropped the opening game and faced break points at 15-40 in the second. However, displaying resilience, she quickly recovered, winning six consecutive games to take the first set 6-1. The subsequent set saw Pliskova initially leading before losing ground and trailing 2-5, only to stage a comeback and tie the score at 5-5. Despite her effort, Andrianjafitrimo clinched the second set 6-4.
In a nail-biting final set, following an early lead, Pliskova found herself in jeopardy as she lost five games after going up 3-0. However, she rallied back, claiming three consecutive games to win the match with scores of 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Looking ahead, Pliskova is set to compete against the 21-year-old Polina Iatcenko, ranked 267th, in the upcoming round.
Aspirations for the Future
Following her initial victory after over a year, Pliskova shared her aspirations for the future with Press. She expressed her intention to participate in more tournaments, particularly in Asia, having received wild card offers for events in Tokyo and other locales in Japan and China. She emphasized her need to take it one step at a time; gauging her body’s response before committing to long-term plans.
“For now, it’s all about taking it day by day and seeing how I feel,”
– Karolina Pliskova
