The comeback trail for Karolina Pliskova just hit a bump. The 33-year-old Czech player, out of action for more than a year due to a serious foot injury, faced a tough exit. She couldn’t get past the second round of the WTA 125 Caldas da Rainha tournament. Her opponent was a much younger player, proving to be a challenge the veteran couldn’t overcome in a grueling match.
Pliskova, a former World Number One, eventually lost to Polina Iatcenko from Russia. Iatcenko is currently ranked 267th in the WTA and is only 21 years old. The final score was 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, after a draining battle that lasted more than two and a half hours on the court. It shows just how difficult it can be to return to top-level competition after a long time away.
Home Talent Shines in Setúbal
While one story closed, new ones opened up elsewhere. Over in Setúbal, a trio of Portuguese players made their mark. Francisco Rocha, João Graça, and Daniel Batista all earned their spots in the round of 16 at the ITF M25 Setúbal event. These players are showing promise on their home turf.
Rocha, ranked 774th by the ATP, had a dominant performance. He beat his fellow countryman Guilherme Valdoleiros, who is ranked 2194th, in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-0. João Graça, ranked 1497th, also secured a win against a Portuguese opponent, Diogo Marques (ranked 1032nd), with scores of 6-3 and 6-4. Daniel Batista, ranked 1494th, found himself in a much tougher situation. He fought for two and a half hours to defeat Spain’s Pablo Aunion, eventually winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Their continued success offers a bright spot for local fans.