Forgotten Top Tennis Player (34) Peaks at the Right Moment, Adds Another Big Name to Her Victories

The 34-year-old Pliskova has undergone multiple ankle surgeries in recent years and also battled arm and hand injuries that sidelined her for months of rehabilitation. The former world number one plummeted in the rankings but is now making a strong comeback. This was particularly evident after her resounding 2-1 set victory on Sunday against top Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens, who was ranked 21st in the world.

Despite her ranking, Mertens lost 2-1 in sets to the 34-year-old Czech veteran. Pliskova had to dig deep in both of her winning sets, securing them 7-5 and 7-6. In between, Mertens claimed a set 6-2 in the nearly 2.5-hour third-round match. Pliskova will now face Argentinian Solana Sierra (21) in the fourth round, the round of 16, of the Mutua Madrid Open.

On the Spanish clay, Pliskova had already defeated Maria Sakkari and Sinja Kraus, both of whom were ranked significantly higher than the Czech. With the elimination of the Belgian, she has now sent home her second seeded player of the tournament. Pliskova could potentially face her next major challenge in a hypothetical quarter-final. After Sierra, she might encounter the world number two, Elena Rybakina.

However, the victory is already a significant achievement for the Czech, as she returns to the world's top 150 after years of struggle. She is currently virtually ranked 149th, having started the tournament at 197th. By reaching the last sixteen, she has also secured over €92,000 in prize money, a sum that could still increase.