Angelique Kerber backed up her new-found impending status as the world No 1 by beating Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to reach the final of the US Open.
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Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, reacts after a point to Angelique Kerber, of Germany, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in NY.
Simona Halep was Williams’ first seeded opponent for this US Open. And her 3 1/2-year reign at No. 1 in the WTA rankings is over, too, one week shy of what would have been yet another mark.
Kerber had never made a Grand Slam final at the start of this year. She could end it as a two-time major champ.
Wozniacki did break the Kerber serve during the opening set but she was only able to win eight points during her return games in comparison to 19 for Kerber, who was able to break twice to move closer to the final. Same as it didn’t save Williams in four of her past five Grand Slam losses before this.
Karolina Pliskova is only the fourth woman to beat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam tournament – and she thinks needing to face Venus in the U.S. Open’s fourth round was quite useful when it came time to face Serena in the semifinals. Instead, Pliskova won that day for a breakthrough title and has been riding the momentum ever since.
“I will try to take my revenge against her”, said Kerber, who first broke through at the majors in NY in 2011, arriving as the world No 92 in 2011 to reach the semis.
“For me, it’s just wonderful to be after Steffi the next No. 1 player in Germany”, said Kerber, who at 28 will also be the oldest player to reach the top of the rankings.
Williams was bidding to surpass Steffi Graf’s Open-era record 22 major triumphs but she bowed out in Arthur Ashe Stadium to a ruthless Pliskova, who won 6-2 7-6 (7/5).
“I’m growing and I’m not putting the pressure on my shoulders if something like this happens”, she said.
Wozniacki, who like Kerber, has Polish roots, and is a personal friend, was complimentary in her post-match interview.
Kerber was ruthless in her pursuit, breaking again for a 4-1 lead before she cracked when serving for the match, getting broken to love.
“My mind was just a little bit everywhere, but it was what it was”, Williams said.
“But clearly should have” challenged it, she added. Wozniacki even mixed in quite a few moon balls, but to no avail.
The unseeded Wozniacki had an injury-plagued season in which she fell to No. 74 in the world. She was seeking to become the lowest-ranked women’s finalist at the U.S. Open, other than an unranked Kim Clijsters in 2009.
“Definitely, they did a lot for tennis”, Pliskova said.
How much longer might she keep trying to prove people wrong?
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But the 28-year-old German knew she couldn’t afford to celebrate just yet.
