Two top players on the women’s tour believes the new year provides them with a golden opportunity to claim their first ever grand slam title.
World No.2 Karolina Pliskova, who reached the final of the 2016 US Open, is hoping that she can go one better with the help of her newly constructed team. The Czech has joined forces with renowned Venezuelan coach Daniel Vallverdu. Who is best known for working with men’s players such as Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov. Along with the 33-year-old, Pliskova has also enlisted the help of friend and former player Olga Savchuk.
Pliskova will be somewhat of a test for Vallverdu, who had never worked with a top player on the women’s tour before. However, she is confident that the two can make a winning combination in the coming weeks.
“I think it’s also new for him, new for me. But hopefully I think or I feel he can add some good things to my tennis,” she told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.
“We will see how everything goes in tournaments. I think it’s going to need some time for him, also for me to get used to it.
“But he’s a clever guy and it’s still tennis. It’s not a different sport. Of course, sometimes it looks like it, but it’s actually not. So I think he will adapt (to the women’s game).
“I think I’m quite easy, like, tough on one hand to work with, but on the other hand easy, so I think he’s not going to have problems with me,” she added.
The changing of coach caught some off guard. Pliskova had previously been working with former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez. Under the guidance of the Spaniard, she won four events last year. Including the Brisbane International where she will be defending her title next week.
“I didn’t want to stay where I was,” she explained.
“Of course, the year was great. I played some good tournaments, so many good matches, and I finished actually like so close to the top.
“But I felt that there’s no way she (Martinez) can maybe help me more, so that’s why I changed.”
Svitolina gaining in confidence
Another player hoping to claim major glory is Elina Svitoliva. Unlike Pliskova, she is yet to contest a grand slam final. Although in 2018 she reached back-to-back semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open for the first time in her career.
“Making semi-finals definitely brought me the belief that I could take one step further,” she said.
“I had the chance to play on the biggest stages and that gave me lots of confidence at that particular point.”
It has been almost 15 months since the Ukrainian last won a title of any sort. Doing so at the 2018 WTA Finals. In a bid to revive her chances, she recently added former player Marcos Baghdatis to her team. Baghdatis retired from professional tennis last July.
“As an ex-player he sees the game from his point and it’s something different that I was looking for to add into my game,” Svitoliva commented on the appointment.
“For sure we improved massively with Andy for the past years I’ve been working with him and he knows me very, very well.
“(But) for me it’s important to add the small things that can improve my game and that’s what I’m looking for.”
Both Pliskova and Svitolina will start their season in Brisbane ahead of the Australian Open. Pliskova, who has a first round bye, opens up against either Pricilla Hon or Ajla Tomljanovic. Meanwhile, Svitolina faces Danielle Collins in the first round.
The Australian Open will start on January 20th.
