Tennis Player Karolina Plíšková Tells Us What It Takes To Be World No. 6!

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

6 years ago

Karolína Plíšková is a Czech professional tennis player. She is a former world No. 1 and is currently ranked No. 6 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Plíšková has won nine singles and five doubles titles on the WTA tour, as well as 10 singles and six doubles titles on the ITF circuit in her career. On 31 October 2016, she peaked at world No. 11 in the doubles rankings.

She reached her first Grand Slam final at the 2016 US Open, where she was runner-up to Angelique Kerber in three sets. As a junior, Plíšková won the girls’ singles event at the 2010 Australian Open, defeating Laura Robson in the final. She has also played for the Czech Republic in Fed Cup competition.

Follow her journey with us in an exclusive interview for our March Issue, with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Currently ranked No. 6 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), you have won nine singles and five doubles titles on the WTA tour, as well as 10 singles and six doubles titles on the ITF circuit in your career. Looking back at the incredible journey that you have had, share your experience with our audience?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

When hearing it like that, I must say my career has already been amazing. Playing at the biggest tournaments and winning trophies, that’s a dream for every starting tennis player. When looking back at the journey I’ve had from the beginning of my career in the small town of Louny, it’s incredible. But I’m definitely not resting on my laurels. I want to keep winning and I believe the biggest successes are still yet to come.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Your passion for tennis is clearly visible. Well then, when did you decide that you wanted to take up your passion for the sport forward and pursue it professionally?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

Basically, it was quite clear from my early childhood. With my twin we’ve been playing tennis competitively from the age of four. Everything was subordinated to tennis. We even moved to Germany so that we could practice in a tennis academy there. We had individual study plans at school. Tennis has been a number one choice and a priority for me since childhood and I actually never thought about doing anything else.

Full Interview on Next Page!

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

With the extensive energy required for the sport you have to keep up your fitness levels too. What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

I really take care of my health, it’s the most precious thing I have. Therefore, I invest a lot in it. I mean, there’s always my fitness coach with me at all my tournaments as well as practice sessions; my priority is a good warm-up, stretching, compensation and stabilizing exercises. My team also includes a physiotherapist from a prestigious Spanish clinic, who looks after me during the most difficult parts of the season. Tennis seasons are extremely long, so you often experience some aches and pains, but prevention is essential. I don’t want to speak too soon, but so far I’ve avoided serious injuries.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Good Nutrition is needed for energy & survival, more so to pursue at international competition. Do you follow any special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

I’d say that I still have space for improvement in nutrition. But I’ve already improved a lot in this respect too. With a bit of exaggeration, not too long ago I was still eating only unhealthy meals like pizza etc., plus I ate irregularly and not enough. But we’re working on this in our team too and it’s already much better now. Mainly during practice periods and tournaments I eat regularly and I try to make sure my diet is balanced and varied. My nutrition also includes carbohydrate and protein drinks.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What other activities do you like pursuing besides tennis ?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

I try to enjoy the precious moments without tennis to the fullest. I like spending time in Monaco where I reside and where I like to relax in good weather. With my boyfriend we go out to have a good dinner, to the cinema, or I read a book. I also like visiting historical sites.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You became the runner-up at the 2016 US Open, share with us what all went into the preparation for the match?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

My participation in the final of this prestigious Grand Slam tournament has been one of the biggest successes of my career so far. I played great matches in New York, beating both Williams sisters in front of a sold out crowd. It was my first Grand Slam final, so I was nervous at the beginning. But still I was quite close to the triumph. It didn’t work out, but I believe I will make good use of this experience in the months and years to come.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

On July 17, you reached the WTA world No. 1 ranking for the first time in your career. You became the sixth player to reach the No. 1 position without having won a Grand Slam tournament and the first female player representing the Czech Republic to achieve the feat. This we believe has been the greatest victory of your career, share with us the emotions felt while reflecting back on the year 2017?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

Unfortunately, I didn’t win this position on the court by winning a match, but it basically happened during my holiday in Monaco, where I was having a rest after being eliminated from Wimbledon. It was great news, I was really happy. Being the best in the sport that I love and in which there is such a huge competition, that’s something indescribable and I’m not sure if I realize it properly. But these milestones are the biggest drive for me. Not the money earned, but the trophies and achieved goals. I will never forget that day; with my boyfriend Michal we celebrated it with a bottle of the best champagne.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

We all have a role model to guide us through success. Who has been your greatest inspiration and motivator in your success in the field of tennis?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

I’ve never had only one role model or idol I would look up to. But I tried to take something from the best players, a bit from everyone. For me as a Czech this of course included the legends Jana Novotná or Martina Navrátilová.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

While playing professional sports, athletes often face injuries and other challenges both on & off field, would you like to tell the audience about coping skills and how to make a comeback after an injury?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

It’s always difficult to get back to the top level following an injury. It requires a lot of patience and no rush. Very good rehabilitation is essential and then you can start getting back to the desired form little by little. It really requires mainly patience and great mental toughness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Advice and motivational words to inspiring and budding female tennis players who all are your fans, what they should do to achieve desired goals in the field of tennis?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

There’s no universal advice here. It’s already a great thing that the kids practice sports; in today’s world of computers and tablets it’s becoming increasingly rare. That’s why I really appreciate every young sports enthusiast. The main thing is the love for sports; you have to be happy from the game itself. Fame and money must never be the main motivation; all this will come itself and only in case you really love tennis.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Message for our readers at Womenfitness.net for the New Year 2018?

Ms. Karolína Plíšková:

To all your readers I would like to wish good health and the best of luck in 2018, because that’s the most important thing in the world. Love each other, care about the right values, and be strong as a family because your loved ones are the only thing that you will be left with in the end. Everything else is transitory.

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