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Not much has changed for Nicole Vaidisova. The former World No.7 is still traveling the globe, discovering new countries and cultures to explore.

But these days, the two-time Grand Slam semifinalist leaves her racquets at home.

“Ever since I decided, ‘This is it,’ I just wanted to take a breather and just really enjoy life,” she told WTA Insider. “It’s definitely different, going from the tour – where you’re on a set schedule and you know your whole year is going to be mapped out – to deciding what you want to do and feeling like doing and want to see.

“For example, I’ve always wanted to see Iceland; obviously there’s no tournament there, and it was really nice to be able to plan a trip, see something for the first time, and get my mind off tennis. It was a good time for me.”

There hadn’t been too many good times in the months leading up to her choice to conclude her second career. Close encounters with Ana Ivanovic and Simona Halep had gotten her close to the Top 200 in early 2015, but chronic injuries stunted her progress at every turn. For the 27-year-old, it began to feel as though there was little to life beyond fixing a broken body.

“It’s been a long time coming because I was dealing with so many injuries – repeat injuries – and I had to spend so much time at doctor’s offices and rehab facilities, trying new and different things that would end up not working.

“It got to the point where I was so worried about every pain and I said, ‘This is it.’ I don’t want to put my body through any more radiation or surgery, or any more poking and prodding. There’s only so much a person can take.

“It was just a vicious cycle.”

So…This has been one of the hardest words for me to write.After months and months of thinking and agonizing about this, I have decided to retire from professional tennis.It has been one of my hardest and most emotional decisions of my life.As many of you know,I have been struggling with various injuries on/off for the better part of the last 2 years and it has gotten to the point where I have spent more time in hospitals,physical therapy and doctors offices then on the court,playing the sport I love.This has been painful and exhausting,not just on my body,but on my mind as well and I have reached the point where I did not want to put my body throught it anymore.Coming to this final decision took me months,as even through all the ups and dows,it is a game I grew to love for what it is.Ever since I decided to come back 3 years ago,it has been a roller coaster ride of huge highs and lows,on and off the court.I am forever grateful and feeling so incredibly lucky to have had the unwavering support and uncoditional love of my family,friends,Daniel,as well as my medical and tennis team.Without them,it would have been imspossible to come back.My tennis career has been anything but ordinary,but above every opinion,comment and what ifs,I can proudly say it has been MINE.I do not regret any decision,good or bad,as it has made me the person I am today.As I close this chapter of my life,I look back in amazement at everything I was able to do.I am proud to have been able to compete with the best athletes in my sport and represent the Czech Republic,the country I love,in many fed cups and Olympics,it has been an honor.Finally,I can never thank all of you enough for all the support and words of encouragement that I have received over the years,it has meant the world to me and kept me going when I wanted to give up.Thank you,from the bottom of my heart,I will never be able to express enough gratitude to every single one of you,I am so honored. 20 years ago, this little girl had a dream,and today, I can say it has come true ❤️

A photo posted by Nicki Vaidisova (@nicolevaidisova) on Jul 20, 2016 at 2:57am PDT

The cycle began not long after the Miami Open, where she pushed Halep to three sets and appeared poised to rise up the rankings the way she did as a teenager, before a shoulder surgery took her off the tour in 2010. A second surgery proved necessary to kick start her comeback in 2014.

“The shoulder has always been in the back of my mind, because after two surgeries, it’s never going to be 100% again. I also don’t think it helped that I stopped for such a long time. Going from zero to 100, I don’t think my body reacted to it that well. I think all of the injuries after the shoulder had to do with that.

“But it was also a little bit of bad luck. I was feeling good about Miami and was practicing when I tore a tendon in my ankle, basically a week after. The same thing happened later with my wrist.

“The last two years was me playing for a couple of months, getting injured, and then trying to build back up from zero – going through rehab and getting back into shape again. It just takes so much out of a person to feel like you’re continuously starting over.”

A pattern of stops and starts gave way to more permanent pain, leading Vaidisova to reassess and, ultimately, retire.

“Bone spurs in my heels were basically the nail in the coffin, because they keep coming back – in both heels. Any athlete who’s had to deal with this knows it’s such a pain because you’re walking on them every day. I went from having therapy to having radiation on it. They weren’t really helping, and it became a cycle of getting rid of one, which would take six months, and then another would grow back on my outer heel.

“Even though I stopped playing, I still have to get laser treatments because growths on heels are so hard to get rid of. It affects you on a daily basis because you’re walking every day. I can’t really go running because that aggravates it.

“Right now, I’m not feeling so much of a time crunch where I need to fix it right this second just to compete, so I want to take a gentler approach where I can get rid of it over time and not really do anything invasive.”

Few would have predicted Vaidisova’s story would end this way, certainly not a 12 years ago, when she began her career as the sixth youngest WTA titlist in Vancouver, aged just 15.

Within a year of that initial breakthrough, the talented ballstriker was among the most consistent forces in tennis, winning three titles in three weeks, and getting within a game of the French Open final in 2006.

“I was so young,” she said of the fornight that saw her claim wins over Amélie Mauresmo and Venus Williams en route to the semifinals. “It was just so surreal. I couldn’t even believe it myself that I was there.

“I was just a young girl who couldn’t believe how far I’d come, and the players I’d beaten.”

A second semifinal appearance soon followed at the Australian Open, before injuries and inconsistencies caused a crisis of confidence.

“I think at that time, I really didn’t know myself, to be honest. I was really frustrated, not only being injured, but on the court, a lot of things in my personal and family life were not going good. I just wasn’t a happy person on the court, and it was making me miserable. I just needed to get away, and I didn’t know in that moment if I was going to come back or not.”

Three years of soul-searching led her back to the game; this time, it would be on her terms.

“When I was growing up as a child, it was just a given. This is what I did. I played tennis, and you don’t really think about what else could be out there, or if you really love it or not because this is just what you’re doing. You also get a little lost in the mentality where winning is everything, and moving on, wanting to do better from one tournament to the next, with better scores and better results.

“When I went through my surgeries and I didn’t play, I realized I missed it. I missed the game and really wanted to get back to playing. Through that, you realize if you really do love the game or not.”

Vaidisova plans to pursue new passions in the fall when she enrolls in university, but has an eye on remaining a part of the game in one way or another. Resolved not to regret, she hopes the next group of prodigies takes time to enjoy the view, even as they aspire to the tour’s more dizzying heights.

“I did what I could to really get myself healthy, fit, and ready to compete on that level, and it’s not always a fairytale. Sometimes things are just not meant to be.

“I just wish, that because it was so new, and everything was so intense, that I had more time to really enjoy it. I never really looked back and appreciated the moments where I was winning tournaments or doing well at the Grand Slams. In the moment, you’re going 100 miles an hour, and I was too young to really appreciate it for what it was in the way that I do now that I’m older.

“The field has gotten tougher overall; the girls are more athletic, and you have so many young girls charging up the rankings. It’s hard to step back and appreciate things when you’re younger and have a team, especially when a lot of them are family members. But I really wish I could say that to them – along with my younger self – to just enjoy and remember those moments.”

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

The WTA World No.1 Ranking will be on the line at this year’s US Open. Can Serena Williams extend her stay atop the WTA Rankings and make history?

Only 21 players have occupied the No.1 ranking since the computer rankings were introduced in November 1975. Will we see a new player take hold of the No.1 spot for the first time in three years?

wtatennis.com breaks down the No.1 scenarios ahead of the US Open:

Serena Eyes Another Record: Williams enters the US Open as the WTA World No.1-ranked player, a distinction she has held since February 18, 2013. Through the two weeks at the US Open, Williams will extend her streak to 186 consecutive weeks, tying the WTA record for most consecutive weeks at No.1 held by Stefanie Graf (186 weeks, August 17, 1987 through March 10, 1991).

Williams currently holds a 190-point advantage over Kerber in the rankings. However, to break the record, Williams will need to at least reach the semifinals and possibly advance further. Williams is defending 780 points at the US Open as she advanced to the semifinals last year before Roberta Vinci stopped her run.

As Kerber progresses, though, Williams will need to advance further:

–   If Kerber reaches the quarterfinals at the US Open, then Williams will need to reach the final to have a chance at keeping the No.1 ranking.
–   If Williams wins the US Open, she will secure the No.1 ranking, regardless of any other results.
–   A championship match showdown between Williams and Kerber, the Top 2 seeds, would see the winner walk away not only with the trophy, but the No.1 ranking.

Williams’ ranking points have come from seven tournaments in the last 52 weeks – 2015 US Open (780), Australian Open (1300), Indian Wells (650), Miami (120), Rome (900), Roland Garros (1300) and Wimbledon (2000).

What Will It Take For Kerber To Become World No.1?: Angelique Kerber is bidding to become the 22nd player to hold the WTA World No.1 Ranking since the computer rankings were introduced in November 1975. The German came within one win of unseating Williams at No.1 in Cincinnati, but fell short in the final against Karolina Pliskova.

Last year, Kerber lost to Victoria Azarenka in the third round at the US Open and as a result is only defending 130 points in Flushing Meadows.

Kerber will have a 460-point advantage from the start of the tournament. An early exit would not necessarily prevent her from moving to No.1.

Kerber consistently has reached the final four at the tour’s biggest events with six finals appearances this year, winning the title at Australian Open and Stuttgart, finishing as runner-up at Brisbane, Wimbledon and Cincinnati. (She also reached the final at the Olympic Games, although that does not count towards ranking points). As a result, Kerber’s ranking has been on a steady incline after finishing 2015 at No.10.

Muguruza Also Has A Chance: One of three Grand Slam champions this year, Muguruza will need to reach the final at the US Open to have a chance of overtaking the No.1 ranking. Should she win her second Grand Slam title of the year, the Spaniard would take claim to the No.1 spot unless Kerber also reaches the final.

First Grand Slam Title Could Vault Radwanska To The Top: To have a chance at moving to No.1, Agnieszka Radwanska would need to win the US Open, although if she is able to win the title in New Haven this week, a run to the finals could potentially be enough.

CINCINNATI, OH, USA – Karolina Pliskova isn’t one to do things halfway. That’s not how she plays her tennis and it’s not how she’s gone about her career. The 24-year-old Czech blitzed the field at the Western & Southern Open last week, capping off a dominant run with a 6-3, 6-1 win over No. Angelique Kerber in the final to win the biggest title of her career. And she’s not done yet.

Pliskova’s 2016 season has not matched the consistency of her breakout 2015, which saw her soar from outside the Top 20 to a career-high of No.7. She finished last season by making the final at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, finishing the season having played the most matches of anyone on the WTA tour.

Yet despite that consistency, Pliskova was not satisfied. She lost two tough three-set finals to Kerber at big Premier events in Eastbourne and Stanford. She consistently made the business end of tour events but couldn’t make it into the second week at the majors. Talking to Pliskova throughout last year, it was clear she was pleased with her season but something was missing.

The thing that was missing was a big title or signature win. Pliskova crossed both off the list in Cincinnati. She came into the tournament having never beaten a Top 5 player at a tour event. She proceeded to beat two, losing just four games each to Garbiñe Muguruza in the semifinal and Kerber in the final. With much of the discussion ahead of Sunday’s final concerning Kerber’s quest for No.1, few were paying attention to Pliskova, who was on fire all week.

“There is – I would say 99% of the players – I can beat all of them if I play good tennis. But it’s not always [that I play well],” Pliskova said after beating Muguruza 6-1, 6-3 on Saturday. “But with this victory, even it was a little bit easier than I was expecting, I believe I can win a big tournaments and even Slams later in my life.”

Pliskova got better and better with each match she played in Cincinnati. She skipped the Olympic tennis event in order to focus on her tennis, using the two weeks off as a heavy training block that has left her fitter and more focused.

“Definitely this tournament gave me a lot of confidence,” Pliskova said. “I beat the last three rounds very dangerous and very good players. I feel very good now, especially on the hard court. I have enough matches. That’s what counts before US Open.”

WTA Insider sat down with Pliskova after her big win.

WTA Insider: How does it feel to win the biggest title of your career?
Pliskova: I mean, it feels amazing. I’ve played a few big finals so far and lost them – two of them, actually, were to Angie. So I’m really happy to take this third one, especially here in Cincinnati at such a big tournament.

WTA Insider: When you arrived, obviously you’ve played here before, but you have to had known that these conditions suit you.
Pliskova: I knew it, and I played some good tennis last year as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t get as far as this year, but I’m really happy that my tennis here was good. I’ve played some good matches against top players, which always counts – especially for the next tournaments, as well. These conditions, I knew they were going to suit me, and I’m really happy I took the title this year.

WTA Insider: A year ago, you’re losing these sorts of matches to Kerber, both on grass and hardcourt. This year you turned it around in a really straightforward way. How different is the Karolina Pliskova of 2016 compared to 2015?
Pliskova: Definitely I have some new experience in these finals, especially against her. It was always close, very close, and I could have beaten her either of those times. It wasn’t just about her; I knew if I played good tennis, the kind I played this week, that I could beat her. It happened today because I was aggressive enough and serving well. It happened.

WTA Insider: You said earlier this week that people have said your season hasn’t been as great as last year, but you’ve thought this year was better. Why do you think that?
Pliskova: Last year was totally different than this year. This year, I’ve had some ups and downs while last year was more solid, and I didn’t lose early at too many tournaments. It was different, but this year I’ve played bigger tournaments and bigger matches. I won a few, lost a few, and this one is just the biggest of my career so far.

I’m just happy that it happened this year, because so many people were saying this year has been so bad, and, ‘You have been playing so bad,’ and everything like this. So I’m just happy even for those people, that they can see I can still win something.

WTA Insider: In one way, yes, last year was very consistent, but this year you reached bigger peaks and highs. The way you play tennis, one might think you prefer this season a little more, where you go for the big shots, and it’s not so much about consistency.
Pliskova: Definitely, it’s not my style just to defend. I’m really happy with this title because always – well, not always – I lost in finals, and this shows I can still play good tennis in a final. I definitely prefer this.

WTA Insider: We’re heading to New York in a couple of weeks; what is your relationship with New York? Do you like it? Is it too much? How do you feel about it?
Pliskova: After this week, I’m not going to think about New York yet, but obviously it’s the last Grand Slam of the season, and I just want to play the type of tennis I played this week here, there. It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, but as long as I stick to the game plan I had here, I believe I can have good results, even there.

WTA Insider: How different do you find the conditions there compared to Cincinnati?
Pliskova: The balls are different; that’s what I remember. They fly more here. Last year, I didn’t play much there; it was really terrible for me, there. Definitely, it can only be better this year. I’d like to gain. But I think the conditions everywhere here are pretty hot and humid, so it’s going to fly a lot. It can be similar to here.

WTA Insider: When we talked earlier in the week, I assumed you’d taken those weeks off from Rio to relax and rest. That wasn’t what you did; you hit the practice courts and the gym a lot harder. Obviously it’s paid off, but does that change how you see things moving forward, that you want to take more of these breaks to prepare for the bigger tournaments?
Pliskova: To be honest, I got a lot of ugly messages because I withdrew from Rio. A lot of people in Czech didn’t take it the right way, the way I took it. But now I’m really happy the way it paid off; I wasn’t just on the beach somewhere, I was practicing. I’m happy it paid off and how it helped me prepare for here and this tournament.

WTA Insider: How do you plan to celebrate in Cincinnati?
Pliskova: Definitely, some good dinner, and I have three guys with me, so we’re going to have a small party.

WTA Insider: Like a steakhouse? That’s probably where they’d want to go.
Pliskova: Probably, but we have to go somewhere where they have beer, because they love that.

WTA Insider: When you’re a week away from a tournament, and here you played very deep and played a good number of matches. Do you take time to enjoy New York? Or do you get back on the court right away?
Pliskova: I’m going to have one or two days off for sure; maybe I’ll do some fitness stuff just to stay fit and stay still in the game. I’m withdrawing from New Haven, so I’m just going to get ready for New York the way I did for this tournament.

Listen to more from Pliskova in the latest episode of the WTA Insider Podcast:

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.