Karolina Pliskova has admitted that she struggled with the pressure placed upon her throughout the Australian Open as she crashed out in the quarter-finals to Croatia’s Marijana Lucic-Baroni.
The Czech fifth seed had been heavily tipped as a title contender following her success on the tour in recent months. Last year she reached her first grand slam final at the US Open, losing in three sets to Germany’s Angelique Kerber. Leading up to the Melbourne major, Pliskova also won the Brisbane International earlier this month by dropping only one set throughout the entire tournament.
“It’s also not easy just to play another Grand Slam (after reaching the US Open final). And I was kind of favored in every match here, so it’s not easy just to take it.” Pliskova explained.
“There was not even one match where I would play up with someone who is better than me. So sometimes this is tougher I would say than to play someone who is better.”
Pliskova’s grand slam bid was crushed by 34-year-old tour veteran Lucic-Baroni, who has progressed to the last four of a major for the first time since 1999. The aggressive and speedy play of the Croat saw her hit 35 winners and nine aces on route to the victory. The play disrupted Pliskova’s rhythm as she struggled to contain her nerves throughout.
“There’s always some nerves, not only in the quarterfinal.” Said Pliskova. “I think I could have played better, serve better and return better. But it’s also about her game (Lucic-Baroni), it’s not only about me this time.”
“I think she played just a little bit better, and I was just unlucky in the end. But overall on the serves and on the returns she was more aggressive. That’s why she won.” She added.
Following her exit, Pliskova can take some solace from her run in Melbourne. In her fifth appearance at the tournament, the 24-year-old progressed to the last eight for the first time in her career. Prior to this year, the Czech had never gone beyond the third round at the Australian Open. Reflecting on her start to the new season, Pliskova is remaining cautiously optimistic.
“I think it is a good start of the year. Not always you start as you want after one month of preparation.” She said.
“It’s always tricky to start a new year. So it’s the best start ever, what I have done so far ever in a new season.”
The next tournament for the Czech player will occur in the second week of February at the Qatar Total Open in Doha.
