'If it's hot, the ball flies more' - Pliskova hopes for London heatwave at Wimbledon 2018

The words 'tattoo' and 'Wimbledon' don't often appear in the same sentence. But if Karolina Pliskova were to win a first Grand Slam title on the Wimbledon grass this summer, the Czech's friends would urge her to celebrate with some body art, to add to the Polynesian-style tattoos she already has on her left leg and left arm. 

What the former US Open finalist wouldn't consider is having the tournament branding inked on to her skin. "For sure, I don't want to have a Grand Slam logo or anything to do with tennis on my body - but there are a few people who, if I win a Grand Slam, think I should get another tattoo. So that's going to be their goal," Pliskova said in an exclusive interview with wtatennis.com. 

"Maybe that’s something to think about later, as right now I don't really know whether I would have another tattoo, or what design I would have. Maybe in the future I would stick some art somewhere but right now I'm not sure." 

Before London's tattoo artists start planning any designs, it should be remembered that Pliskova is yet to go deep into the Wimbledon draw, after losing in the second round for the past five summers. Given Pliskova's game, built around the might of her serve, it's something of a mystery why she has not performed better on the lawns in the past.

While Pliskova has played in a US Open final, and has also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the last four of the French Open, she has consistently underperformed in south-west London. Moreover, she has proven herself on grass as a two-time titlist, lifting the trophies in Nottingham in 2016 and Eastbourne last year.

Looking back at her defeats at the All England Club, Pliskova couldn't identify a common theme.

“There isn't one really, as every year it's a bit different with different players and different matches. Maybe sometimes you need to be lucky with the draw with the early rounds, and then you get to play well later in the tournament," Pliskova said.

"But I've never had that chance to get into the tournament and play well in the second week. It's not just that my opponents played well, but also that I didn’t play well." 

LISTEN: Champions Corner - Pliskova serves it up in Stuttgart

Each summer, Pliskova tries something new when she plays on the grass.

"Every year, I try to change it a little bit with a couple of things each year. I have a new team this year, so for sure there are going to be some things in my game that are different from last year," she said. 

Much will depend on her serve - and she could take advantage should the unusually warm UK weather continue into Wimbledon fortnight.

"It should be a weapon everywhere, on all surfaces, but maybe it could be more of a weapon on the grass. It depends on the court, and also on the weather. If it's hot, the ball flies more so it's a lot faster, and I have more points. If I'm feeling good, I can serve well on grass, just as I can on any surface, with the percentages and the aces." 

That's something Pliskova is already proving during the grass warm-ups this year. At the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne this week, she has already struck 15 aces en route to the quarterfinals, where she faces Aryna Sabalenka today - taking her tally for the year to 233, second only to Julia Goerges.

This much she does know - her disappointing results aren't because she doesn't like Wimbledon's traditions, including the strict almost-all-white clothing rules. In fact, it's the opposite: "It's a nice change! Usually we are all in different colours and then on the grass we are all in white. On the grass, it looks nice to have the white clothes. It's an environment I like playing in." 

During the tournament, Pliskova will rent a house in Wimbledon Village.

"A few times a year - not just during Wimbledon - I rent an apartment or maybe a house instead of being in a hotel again. I've done that in Paris for a few years now. Sometimes I invite more people, sometimes less - it's just good to spend some time together with my team and maybe have someone cooking the dinners," Pliskova said. 

"For sure, when you're in an apartment or house, it's different to when you're in a hotel. As a tennis player, you're in a hotel every week so it makes a nice change. I think it's important to sometimes stay in a house and spend some time with the team."