Tired and unwell Pliskova pulls out as busy schedule takes toll

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova pulled out of the Qatar Total Open, saying her body was in no condition to play a match.

The 26-year old, seeded two, was scheduled to play Belgium’s Elise Mertens yesterday but she informed the organisers about her illness. Pliskova arrived in Doha following her hectic Fed Cup matches against Romania.

“I just felt somehow exhausting after I played my (Fed Cup) match with Simona (Halep), which was super long and tough,” Pliskova said.

“From the first day, I was not feeling great and not ready. I have never felt this way actually. It’s normal that you are tired, of course, when you are travelling and playing a lot of matches. But I just feel somehow my body is not ready,” she added.

“I had a temperature for a few days. I don’t have any neck pain or something, but I just feel super tired. My muscles are just hurting from the morning without even doing anything. I’m just not able to compete 100 percent today,” the Czech star said while explaining the reasons for her withdrawal from the premier event.

Pliskova said she gave her best to get fit but could not recover.

“I tried till the last moment. Even today, I went on court. I just tried to hit full, at least 10, 15 minutes. I just said, this is not possible to play this level,” she said.

“And my draw was tough, so I think if I’m not 100%, I cannot win any match here. That’s why I decided to not play,” she added.

“Also, I’m not the type of player who goes on court and retire after two games. So I thought maybe it’s better that somebody else plays.

“But I was defending champion here last year, so I decided, like, this year I’m going to try again, because I like this tournament. Every time I try to come. But it’s a question mark for the next years,” she said.

Pliskova said she decided to withdraw to protect herself from her condition getting worse.

“I know there is a lot of viral illness going on, not just here but also in the Czech Republic and all of Europe. Maybe there is something going on in my body, so I hope I don’t get worse, that’s why I’ve decided to withdraw,” she added.

Pliskova said better scheduling could help players recover better at top events.

“I think it would be better. I would may be appreciate one extra day for traveling, because it’s super hard to always find connections for the tournaments, especially here, it’s not that close,” she said.

When asked if it was a good idea to change the format of Fed Cup, Pliskova said: “I know the Davis Cup (organisers), they did it. I know for sure everything is possible, but I don’t know how many players are fighting for this or not. I think it would help, but so far what I know the systems should be somehow changing from next year completely, so let’s see.”