‘I just try to take the positive out of it,’ Karolina Pliskova’s positive mentality helped her comeback from a bizarre arm injury
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Karolina Pliskova
Former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova is up and running as she comes back on tour after a freak arm injury that forced her to remain on the sidelines for a few months. It was a depressing period for the two time Grand Slam finalist as this was her first major injury in her career and she had to postpone her start of the season for two months.
The Czech missed her favourite Australian Open but came back ahead of the Indian Wells. However, she was knocked in the opening round from Indian Wells and also from Miami Open. Pliskova finally found her joy as she won the first round clash against Katarina Zavatska 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in the Charleston Open. This was her first win of the season since coming back from injury.
Pliskova has been the other name of consistency as she hardly has faced injuries in her career and has been very regular in the top 10. But a freak incident at the gym resulted in her broken arm. But now with things getting back in motion, the 30-year-old wants to get past it with a positive mindset.
“I feel good. I have to say the wrist is quite holding up. I didn’t really expect it because I didn’t really practice full. I would normally practice for a month but I just had a couple of days of really good practice before coming to Indian Wells. The serve was the biggest issue,” Pliskova opened up to WTA Insider ahead of the Charleston Open.
“But yeah, I think things are going quite well. I just try to take the positives out of it, that I’m able to play after a couple of months. It’s been too long for me because with the offseason together, I missed four or five months. I know I’m not the player which can have five months at home and then I come in and win a tournament. I need some time to go through the feelings and the matches. I know it’s going to take time, but just happy to be back,” the 30-year-old added.
‘It was quite a difficult time for me.’ Karolina Pliskova opened up on her injury layoff
The two time Grand Slam finalist highlighted how tough it was for her having experienced nothing like this for so long in her career then suddenly, she had a long break due to covid and when things started opening up again she picked up this injury and had to wait for longer than others to get back on the court. Also, she could not train as she had a cast for a couple of months and it was truly a very difficult period for her.
“It was tough because people who follow tennis or me, they know I don’t really have injuries. Even if I feel something, I still play. I never skip anything, not even practice or a tournament. The only break I had was this Covid break and I don’t think that helped me. This injury was a bit more serious because I could not use my arm. I had a cast for a month or two. So it was quite a difficult time,” Pliskova emphasized the effect of a longer break.
But Pliskova was thankful that she did not need surgery as then her break would have increased her stay on the sidelines. The 30-year-old shared how she became mad during training and was exerting too much pressure, more than her body could take.
Pliskova was sad to miss the tournaments in Australia in the follow up to the Australian Open. She highlighted how hurt she was as the Grand Slam Down Under is her favourite but she had no other choice but to skip the first Grand Slam of the year.
“It was no fun at all because if it’s the end of the year or even the middle of the year, it’s different. It killed me that I was not in Australia because it’s my favourite part,” the 30-year-old shared.
Lastly, when quizzed if she feels that bad luck has ultimately caught her with injuries after a relatively injury-free career till now, she highlighted how none of the players goes through a 20-year-career without any up and downs.
“I don’t see it as bad luck at all because that’s just how it is. I suppose the career goes like this. I think there is no career that just goes for 20 years without any ups and downs. I missed it because I know it takes me some time to get back. I don’t feel the tournament rhythm immediately. But anyway, I think that’s how it is. I could find some positive things from it,” concluded the former World No. 1.
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Atrayo Bhattacharya
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