Karolina Pliskova is still looking for that form shortly before the US Open (starting Monday) which brought her to the final of Flushing Meadows in 2016. The world ranking night surprisingly engaged former Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez for her coaching team.
I’m sure she’s already had to listen to one or two funny words. Fact: Since her wedding in mid-July, Karolina Pliskova has not really gained momentum on the court. But the 26-year-old has long gone from laughing at one or two jokes about the reasons for this.
Pliskova have recently suffered the three early defeats in Cincinnati, Montreal and New Haven. And the Czech reacted. After separating from her coach Tomas Krupa before the event in “Cincy” and working with former Australian player Rennae Stubbs since then, a renowned coach joins the team in the days of New York.
Conchita Martinez arrived at the Big Apple on Thursday and wanted to be on the training court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the first time with her new protégé on Friday. The 46-year-old Spaniard had looked after her countrywoman Garbine Muguruza twice in recent years – and led her to the Wimbledon success of 2017, among other things.
According to Martinez, she was in California last week, where she received a call from the Pliskova team. The 1994 Wimbledon winner, who also coached the Iberian Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams, agreed to support Pliskova during the last Grand Slam event in 2018.
After the separation from her compatriot Tomas Krupa, Pliskova said as a reason: “I had the feeling that I needed someone in my team who was a little more positive. He is always a bit negative – and so am I, because I always go to court very hard with myself. Somehow it didn’t fit.”
In 2016 Pliskova had reached the final of the US Open – and lost there in three sets against Angelique Kerber (Kiel). Since then she has been waiting for a similar success from Louny.