For Williams it was a case of déjà vu. Now in her third Grand Slam final of the year, she will face Pliskova, who beat her in Cincinnati, tomorrow for the title.
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For the second year in a row, Serena Williams’ bid to make history ended with a shocking loss in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Kerber had never made a Grand Slam final at the start of this year. She will climb to No 6 in next week’s updated world ranking list or to No 5 if she wins the title.
Williams 186-week reign atop the rankings is over after she lost her semi-final to Karolina Pliskova 6-2 7-6 (7-5) at Flushing Meadows.
Pliskova advances to her first major final.
Although Pliskova played superbly and kept her nerve throughout, Williams was suffering from an injury which she had sustained earlier in the tournament.
“I have been having some serious left knee problems. You know, I have huge respect for her”.
“When you’re hampered, you’re thinking of other things”. “She has a big serve and I know how she’s playing and she’s playing very well”.
According to Mouratoglou, Williams received treatment all day and scrapped most of her warm-up.
However, there was much more to Pliskova’s game than a powerful serve.
Pliskova, meanwhile, is now one victory from her first, and on Thursday night, she certainly looked the part of an up-and-comer with the strokes and demeanor to go far.
Williams, who had only one break point in the match, fought back from 3-0 down in the tie-break to lead 4-3, but double-faulted on the next point and again on match point.
“Obviously, she’s had a great year”, the Dane said.
“I’m growing and I’m not putting the pressure on my shoulders if something like this happens”, she said.
Mats Wilander meanwhile had clear ideas about who is the most interesting player in the ATP circuit, “When I watch Andy Murray play I enjoy it more than with any other. She deserved to win”.
Williams said later that the injury’s effect was more mental than physical. Then Pliskova changed course, saying: “I mean, actually, I do believe it”.
“I was always dreaming about being No.1 when I was really young”.
“OK, I’m not going to repeat myself”. “Was my first match on center court”.
Angelique Kerber has moved into the world number one position in the WTA rankings after she registered a straight-sets win over Caroline Wozniacki in the last four of the US Open.
But the 28-year-old German knew she couldn’t afford to celebrate just yet. The current edition is indeed historical as it’s the first Major since the 2004 French Open to not feature Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
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But those who felt that Angelique would be affected by the tension and excitement of being the world no. 1 were proved wrong.
