Vondroušová Criticizes Plíšková Following Podcast Comments on Match Withdrawal
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová publicly challenged former world number one Karolína Plíšková after Plíšková questioned Vondroušová’s decision to retire from her recent match against Karolína Muchová in Tokyo. The exchange stemmed from comments made on the Raketa podcast, where Plíšková drew parallels between Vondroušová’s withdrawal and a similar situation involving Tomáš Macháč in Shanghai.
Plíšková, a regular on the podcast alongside her twin sister Kristýna, Muchová’s husband and manager Michal Hrdlička, and commentator František Hašpl, stated she believed Vondroušová “gave up” the match, suggesting she may have recognized she was outmatched rather than being hampered by injury. “Sorry, but I think it could have been finished today…Maybe somthing hurt Markéta, but rather I think she saw that she didn’t have a chance and for this reason she gave up the match,” Plíšková said on the podcast. She also referenced Vondroušová’s previous losses to Muchová in Ningbo and Indian Wells.
Vondroušová responded on Instagram, stating, “Everyone who has ever played with an injury knows that sometimes it’s just not possible to continue. after shoulder surgery, I’m doubly aware of this. I don’t understand that this is being questioned by someone who should understand it the most.”
The podcast comments sparked debate among fans, with some pointing out Plíšková’s own history of retiring from matches during her career. The Tokyo match ended with Vondroušová trailing 2-6, 0-1 when she stopped playing and appeared in tears.
