Karolina Pliskova was casually watching TV coverage of her identical twin sister, Kristyna, on her way to victory on day one of the Australian Open when she heard a comment she didn’t like.
“We were watching it with my coach and Rennae Stubbs was commentating, and I was, what the hell? What did she just say, that she (Kristyna) has a better serve?,” a laughing Karolina said.
“She is lefty, there are not many lefties in the top 100, so it’s more tough for everyone than the right-handed serve. But I still think I have the better serve.”
In 2015, Karolina’s serve was undeniably a huge weapon, with 517 aces putting her top of the tree, above world No 1 Serena Williams.
“Yes, finally I won it,” she said of the ace race. “Last year I lost, it was pretty close, and this year I won. It’s a good win.
“Definitely the serve is my best shot, you could see the serve is working the whole year, it’s helping me through the matches and on important points.”
Karolina’s weapon of choice was on song in her 6-4 6-4 first-round win over Australian Kimberly Birrell on Tuesday.
“I don’t know how many aces I did today (13) but my goal was actually 10, because my sister did 10 yesterday,” she said.
Both sisters won Grand Slam titles as juniors, but since turning professional, their paths have rarely crossed. Karolina’s stock has soared, while the left-handed Krystina has struggled for consistency and is ranked 114.
Perhaps things are about to change. Ninth seed Karolina joined her twin in the second round on Tuesday after Krystina upset Australian Sam Stosur on day one.
It’s the first time the sisters, who turn 24 in March, have reached round two of the Australian Open and only the second time they have done it at a Grand Slam, the first coming at Wimbledon last summer.
“She has a great game and big game so hopefully, if she can keep playing like this during the season and if she can start to be a bit more solid and win close matches, which she was losing last year, she can be much higher,” Karolina said.
“I don’t want to say top 10, but she can be for sure top 100. She belongs there and she has a great game to beat great players. Hopefully she’s going to be closer and we can see each other more often.”
Like most siblings, the Pliskovas are competitive about virtually anything.
“We were always a little bit fighting, about everything actually (when they were younger),” Karolina said.
“But now it’s better because we don’t see each other that often. Before, when we were always together, we were fighting about everything, clothes and everything.
“But it improved a lot. Also with age, we are older now so it’s getting a little bit better. We are not really fighting now.”
For Karolina, who ended last year ranked No 11, reaching round two is nothing new. But she is determined to improve her Grand Slam performances, having yet to go beyond the third round.
“I am happy with the last year, obviously there were a few things that didn’t work out in the Grand Slams but I was probably attacked (by nerves), being seeded in the Grand Slams for the first time, everything was new so I felt a little bit of pressure,” she said.
“Everything was going so fast, the results were going up and up and then people were expecting me to go to the semis in Grand Slams. I just had to go through it.”
Being part of the Czech Republic team that won the Fed Cup late last year was a huge confidence boost, she said, while the Olympics is a big goal for 2016.
“I always had a dream to play at least one Olympics,” she said.
“In (the) Czech (Republic) it’s pretty tough because there are like 100 players, so hopefully I can make it and I will really enjoy it if I can.
“I’ll be happy if I’m there, for singles, doubles, whatever, mixed, anything. Or all three, maybe.”
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