Pliskova: I have more trust, more belief to go in the next Grand Slams
After falling in three sets to Ashleigh Barty in Saturday’s Wimbledon final, Karolina Pliskova is upbeat about her future at the Grand Slams.
Karolina Pliskova, Wimbledon 2021
After reaching a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2016, Karolina Pliskova suffered a difficult three-set loss to Ash Barty in the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles final. Pliskova, a former world No 1 and a perennial top-10 talent that has finished five of the last six seasons in the WTA’s top-5, says despite the fact that she fell short against Barty the experience of getting back to a major final has been a true confidence builder.
Pliskova: I always believe
The 29-year-old was asked by a reporter how important her Wimbledon run was in terms of making her believe that she can still break through and win a major.
“I would say very important,” Pliskova said, hinting that she already has a good level of belief in her game. “But it’s not that I would never believe. Of course, me personally, with my game, with my team right now, with all the people which I really care about around me, and with my game, I always believe in that.”
Pliskova, who is in the first year of a new partnership with coach Sascha Bajin, had never been past the round of 16 at Wimbledon prior to this season. Now she has been to at least the semi-finals at all four majors – proof that she’s a threat to win on any surface, at any venue
“Definitely now I have more trust, more belief,” she told reporters on Saturday. “I mean, more of everything to go in the next Grand Slams. Also it’s been a while since I was actually in the second week of the Grand Slam. So I just hope everything’s going to be a bit better now, all the tournaments, and let’s see what’s going to be in the US Open. There’s still a chance. I played the final there, so it’s not impossible. I will always try, so let’s see.”
Wimbledon was never my favourite place
Pliskova admitted that she didn’t have a perfect relationship with Wimbledon prior to this season, but it appears she is now getting along with the Wimbledon grass – and the crowds.
“It’s not that I didn’t like Wimbledon, but it was never my favourite place,” she said. “I never, like, played well here. I never felt so good here. But this time I think it changed a bit the feeling about this tournament, the feeling about the people. I think the atmosphere there was just incredible today. Also, the matches which I played the last two, three days.
“I felt actually like super good after on court just to play in front of this crowd. It’s something what we play for. In the end the result is, you know, we both tried to win so somebody has to lose. You have to accept that. I will definitely. I know how to lose, believe me. I’m so good in that.”
The new element of synergy bodes well for Pliskova’s Wimbledon future. Perhaps this loss will one day be seen as a steppingstone for the hard-serving Czech. She hopes that is the case.
“I’m just going to, like, try to be back stronger. Of course there’s going to be next chances. I think plenty of them. I’m not going to give up on that. So let’s see what it’s going to be.”
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