Karolina Pliskova: “Wimbledon run gave me confidence”

Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova says reaching the final at Wimbledon last month has given her renewed confidence that she can compete for a first Grand Slam title this fortnight.

The Czech, who reached her first slam final at the US Open in 2016, eased into round two of this year’s event with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Caty McNally. The fourth seed will play American Amanda Anisimova in round two.

Pliskova’s superb run to the final at Wimbledon was the first time she’d been to a semi-final or better at a slam since the Australian Open in 2019 but there’s nothing like achieving a first to boost the confidence.

“It gave me a lot of confidence, of course,” Pliskova told reporters. “It’s been a couple of years since I made the final of a slam. It made me a bit more relaxed today. I can still lose, but I was more relaxed.”

Memories of 2016 flooding back

Pliskova was within a few games of winning a first slam in 2016 when she led Angelique Kerber 3-1 in the deciding set in the final only to be worn down by the German. But the memories of her run still give her energy every time she arrives in New York.

“I still remember how well I played,” she said. “I had good matches here in a couple of years, too. I think I can play well here.”