The American did not make the winning return that she would have liked to in Guadalajara, but Stephens still provided a positive fitness update<\/a> after the match.<\/p>\n Now another top WTA<\/a> player has returned to action, with the former world number one playing her first match in over a year.<\/p>\n Karolina Pliskova is a former world number one, who has won 17 WTA titles and been in two Grand Slam finals in her career.<\/p>\n However, last year at the US Open, Pliskova was forced to retire from her second round match against Jasmine Paolini<\/a> after playing just three points.<\/p>\n That was due to a left ankle injury, that Pliskova then underwent surgery on<\/a> and was unable to compete on the WTA Tour for nearly 13 months. <\/p>\n Pliskova announced that she would be returning at the lower-level WTA 125 tournament in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, and she has made a successful start.<\/p>\n In her first round match against world number 279 Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, the currently unranked Pliskova won, 6-1 4-6 7-5, to return to winning ways.<\/p>\n This is quite remarkable when you consider that Pliskova could not walk after undergoing the surgery, something she told Flashscore<\/a> ahead of her return.<\/p>\n \u201cTennis is fine. I went to play after six months, and it felt like the break was only two weeks,\u201d said Pliskova. \u201cMy arm is totally fine. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve lost my feel for the ball. It\u2019s the physical condition that\u2019s worse. I mean, I couldn\u2019t even walk, so it took me an awfully long time to start running and moving in general.<\/p>\n \u201cMovement is just a bigger problem, it\u2019s not that good, but I believe I\u2019m going to pass something and get some portion of matches in over time. But I have the strength, I\u2019ve actually been in the gym continuously and have been for two months post-op. At the time I was like, I\u2019ve got to be quick, quick, just in case the leg is good, I\u2019d better be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n This sentiment was echoed in the on-court interview after the match, as Pliskova suggested she is not too focused on results.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me at the moment it\u2019s not a matter of tennis, it\u2019s a matter of getting back my physical condition,\u201d said the 33-year-old.<\/p>\n Karolina Pliskova back on court with a good win at the Caldas da Rainha WTA 125. <\/p>\n 7-5 in the 3rd, 2h30 over Adrianjafitrimo. <\/p>\n \u201cFor me atm it\u2019s not a matter of tennis, it\u2019s a matter of getting back my physical condition\u201d. pic.twitter.com\/rF25FuF0gK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jos\u00e9 Morgado (@josemorgado) September 15, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n What are Karolina Pliskova\u2019s plans for the rest of the 2025 season?<\/p>\n With Pliskova making her return to tennis after a lengthy absence, there are understandably now questions about what her plans are going forward.<\/p>\n However, the Czech appears to be taking things day by day, but Pliskova did reveal that she has already been offered wildcards for upcoming tournaments in Asia.<\/p>\n \u201cI got my [wild]card for Portugal, then I have cards somewhere in Asia,\u201d said Pliskova. \u201cI think I got it for Tokyo and somewhere in Japan and I\u2019ve also been offered somewhere in China. But that\u2019s more of a plan for later, when I feel more comfortable and confident.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, with this first start, we\u2019re kind of living day to day. I can\u2019t plan anything five or six weeks in advance yet. Of course, I would like to go to as many tournaments as possible, but we\u2019ll see what my body says.\u201d<\/p>\n Pliskova also has a protected ranking of world number 40 at her disposal, something she has hinted she is intending to use for both the Australian Open<\/a> and Wimbledon<\/a> next year.<\/p>\n As she now looks to recover from her first match back in some time, Pliskova will look ahead to her second round match against Polina Iatcenko.<\/p>\n ![\"Karolina](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2168266943-1024x708.jpg\")
Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY\/AFP via Getty ImagesKarolina Pliskova makes winning return in first match since 2024 US Open<\/p>\n