The 28-year-old has returned the favour in NY as her victory preserves two of Graf’s long-lasting records.
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Comparisons, though, are inevitable after Kerber became the first German to win the U.S. Open since Graf claimed the last of her five Flushing Meadows crowns in 1996.
Kerber, who is taking over the No. 1 ranking for the first time, is in her third major final of the year, while this is the first of Pliskova’s career.
So while Kerber hunts her second Grand Slam title, she faces a hungry challenger who took advantage of the tournament’s top seed. “I was just pushing too much the balls there, so I will think I will change this a little bit”. She has been in the top 10 since 2012.
Pliskova looked like a bag of nerves early on as she opened up with a double fault before wafting a forehand volley wide when she had the whole court at her mercy.
“I was trying to stay in the moment, trying to play my game”, Kerber said.
“I remember the Cincinnati final”.
In the end, Kerber’s experience probably made the difference in the German’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory, Pliskova said. “All the dreams came true this year”.
Karolina Pliskova revelled in the “dream” of reaching the US Open final, but feels she still has one step to go after upsetting Serena Williams.
Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic knocked out both Williams sisters but can’t add the title.
“It’s a big result for me”. I found some power in myself in the second set. “But after the match I would say it’s still her choice if she wants to play”. By the conclusion of the 2-hour, 7-minute final, Pliskova totaled 47 unforced errors, 30 more than Kerber.
Pliskova beat Kerber in the final at Cincinnati almost three weeks ago for a breakthrough title for the 24-year-old Czech, and she’s been riding that momentum ever since. Kerber, having won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics the week before, appeared out of gas.
And to think: The 24-year-old Pliskova had never been past the third round in 17 previous appearances at majors. Ill do anything for getting the title, Pliskova said.
Mate Pavic of Croatia and Laura Siegemund of Germany won the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship in their first tournament together, beating the American duo of Rajeev Ram and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-4 in the final Friday.
There was more drama to come, however, as a resilient Kerber regained her composure to break back for 3-3 and three games later, she landed the knock-out blow.
They dropped only one service game and won 71 percent of first-serve points against their unseeded opponents.
It would explain some of her unusual statistics against Pliskova, who plays Kerber in Saturday’s finale.
She was also runner-up to Serena at Wimbledon and has led the WTA Tour in match wins this season.
Pliskova is fearless on court, but while her movement has improved, she is still vulnerable in that department.
A Kerber-Williams final would have been a battle for the No. 1 ranking, the spot that Williams had held since February of 2013, 186 weeks in a row.
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Pliskova had knocked out Serena Williams in the semi-final in NY but could not manage a repeat against Kerber, who becomes the first German US Open champion since Steffi Graf in 1996.
