ADIOS CARLA! Carla Suarez Navarro Breaks Down Following Her Loss to Karolina Pliskova in Her Final Olympic Games

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was off to an extravagant start after an emphatic display of glamor and pride on its opening night. However, garnering center attention was the tennis event that produced an eventful two days. The first round thoroughly entertained fans who now awaited the fierce second-round outings. Notably, they were up and ecstatic as Carla Suarez Navarro took upon World No. 7, Karolina Pliskova.

Only recently, the Spaniard announced that this would be her last season on-court. Hence, her outing was twice as special for fans to witness. Regardless, Karolina did not let her opponent’s stature drive her focus and played at her very best.

An epic fightback from Carla Suarez Navarro

Right from the first swing of the match, both players looked lethal and ready for battle. They aimed to dominate, forcing errors of out each other. However, Karolina’s authoritative approach gave her the upper hand in the match, winning the first 3 games on the bounce.

Despite her opponent’s skillful attack, Carla did not give up. She fought hard for her place in the first set, but couldn’t get past her Czech counterpart. Hence, Karolina won the first set in dominative style with a scoreline, 6-3.

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 8, 2021 Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova during her semi final match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Toby Melville

Going into the second set, the Wimbledon finalist had booked her place into the next round of the tournament. However, the momentum of the game instantly shifted into her opponent’s court, who had risen from the dead. Carla put on an epic display of character and resilience as she took the second set by its crux.

Karolina fought hard to break Carla’s flow, but the Spaniard looked untouchable. She won the second set in a nerve-wracking style as the match was tied. The scoreline at the end of the second set was 7-6, in favor of a resurrected Carla.

Read more: Donna Vekic Upsets Aryna Sabalenka in Thriller 3-Setter at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Decider set

Carla’s exuberant second-half display was surely the highlight of the tournament so far. Just when the match was deemed finished, she arrived in style and turned the game on its course. However, Karolina did not let her opponent’s character affect her mentally. Despite the second set loss, she started the third set in dominating style. Once again she won three sets on the bounce, getting closer to the next round.

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 29, 2021 Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro waves to spectators after losing her first round match against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Carla’s fight continued in the game, as she wasn’t letting go of her hard-fought comeback. However, the game belonged to Karolina who played some of her best tennis ever. The match ended in favor of the Czech international, with the scoreline 6-3, 6-7, 6-1.
Featuring in her final Olympic tournament, Carla could not have signed off in a better way. Fans will forever remember the veteran for her epic showdown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as she bid goodbye to the sport, on the grand stage.

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