Former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova announces comeback, but it's already in doubt

Karolina Pliskova has revealed which event she intends to return to after being absent from the WTA Tour for over a year, but whether she will be fit is uncertain.

The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up's last appearance was at the 2024 US Open. She defeated Mayar Sherif in three sets before retiring against Jasmine Paolini in the second round because of a left ankle injury.

Pliskova has been missing since then. In May, she had a second surgery for that problem. Despite being out for so long, the 33-year-old was optimistic about returning to the professional circuit after the operation.

Next week, the Caldas de Rainha, a WTA 125K tournament in Portugal, is scheduled. Pliskova is on the entry list for what would be her first appearance in over 12 months if she competes at the event.

However, Pliskova's chances of appearing in Portugal have been thrown into doubt. In an appearance on the Rakety Podcast, the 2016 US Open finalist revealed she was dealing with back pains, a new physical issue.

Reporting from Sport.cz generated additional concerns. The publication stated that Pliskova limped out of the TK Sparta Praha complex, where she was training, with her ankle iced and husband and manager Michal Hrdlicka carrying her equipment.

That development occurring just a few days before Pliskova's scheduled return to professional tennis is concerning. If there is an issue, recovering in less than a week after being out for so long could be challenging.

Hopefully, the icing around her ankle was just Pliskova being cautious. Having someone of her caliber would be a significant boost for the WTA 125K tournament in Portugal, since events at that level sometimes lack star quality.

Although tennis is better with great players like Pliskova fit and playing, the women's game has continued to thrill fans worldwide since the Czech began her time on the sidelines with that ankle problem.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have utterly dominated men's tennis since the start of 2024, splitting the last eight Grand Slams between them. By contrast, the women's game has been very open.

Four different women won Grand Slams this season. Madison Keys secured her first major title after several near misses with a thrilling final victory against Aryna Sabalenka. It was a moment widely celebrated since Keys is one of the nicest people in tennis.

Sabalenka suffered another brutal loss to an American opponent in a Grand Slam final at the French Open. Coco Gauff defeated her 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 after outsmarting the world No. 1 in the windy conditions at Roland Garros.

Iga Swiatek shocked many by winning the 2025 Wimbledon title. The Pole had struggled on grass more than any other surface throughout her career and had not won a title in over 12 months before reigning supreme in London.

Sabalenka bounced back from those defeats in Melbourne and Paris by retaining her US Open title, overcoming Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6. Anisimova also lost to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final.