'I already feel better': Karolina Pliskova remains optimistic of returning 'soon' despite going through another ankle surgery

Former world number one Karolina Pliskova has undergone another surgery. The 33-year-old announced the development in a post on Instagram and expressed optimism that she will return to the court soon.

"Here we go again,” she wrote in a post where she can be seen laying on the hospital bed. “Due to constant pain, I had to undergo another minor operation on my ankle. Everything went well and I already feel better. I hope to return to the courts soon. Thank you for your support and all your messages."

Pliskova has not featured in any match since the US Open 2024. Her last appearance was in the match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the fourth Grand Slam of last year, where she was forced to withdraw because of an ankle injury. She defeated Mayar Sherif in the first round of the competition in September last year. That was not the only injury she suffered last year, as she was also forced to withdraw from the Qatar Open because of a fitness concern.

Overall, 2024 was not a good year for Pliskova, who managed to win just 20 matches out of 36 and suffered defeats 16 times. Her best surface last year was the indoor court, where she won five and lost none. Pliskova became the world number one back in 2017. Interestingly, she reached there without winning a single Grand Slam title in her career. She has finished as the runner-up two times in a major event. In 2016, she lost in the final of the US Open to Germany’s Angelique Kerber with a score of 6–3, 4–6, 6–4. Five years later, in 2021, Pliskova came second-best in the final at Wimbledon against the former world number one, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, with a score of 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3.