Pliskova’s emotional return: veteran ousts Tjen to reach Melbourne clash vs. Keys
Karolina Pliskova, aged 33, secured a place in the Australian Open third round for the ninth time on Thursday, delivering a disciplined 6-4, 6-4 victory over Indonesian rising star Janice Tjen. The win marks a poignant milestone for the former world No. 1, representing her first appearance in the round of 32 at a Grand … Continued
Karolina Pliskova, Australian Open 2026 | © PsNewz
Karolina Pliskova, aged 33, secured a place in the Australian Open third round for the ninth time on Thursday, delivering a disciplined 6-4, 6-4 victory over Indonesian rising star Janice Tjen. The win marks a poignant milestone for the former world No. 1, representing her first appearance in the round of 32 at a Grand Slam since 2023 following a grueling recovery from injury.
Pliskova’s presence in the 2026 draw is a testament to her resilience. The Czech veteran was sidelined for almost the entirety of 2025 after a catastrophic left ankle injury at the 2024 US Open required multiple surgeries and led to a severe post-operative infection.
Pliskova’s protected ranking
Competing this fortnight via a protected ranking and currently sitting at world No. 1057, Pliskova entered the match having played only three competitive matches in the last 15 months. Despite the lack of match rhythm, her trademark serve and flat groundstrokes proved too much for Tjen, 23, the world No. 59 and the first Indonesian woman in nearly three decades to reach a major second round.
In a candid post-match reflection, Pliskova acknowledged the twilight of her career with her signature “unflinching honesty.”
“OK, I know I didn’t win a Slam. But somehow, with the years passing by, I’m completely fine with that,” she stated. “I worked very hard to come back… You never know when it might be your last time there.”
Pliskova now advances to face a monumental third-round test against defending champion Madison Keys, seeded No.9.
