Even though Pliskova has already had a noteworthy tournament by beating both Williams sisters and getting to the championship round, it seems unlikely she will beat Kerber. “It doesn’t happen often that you’re playing especially semifinal against Serena on center court here in NY”.
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Pliskova has had an incredible tournament, having never progressed further than the third round of a grand slam before, but now finds herself in contention to win a title. “She has a big serve. I am excited to be in the final and to beat Serena as she is such a great champion”, said the 6pht 1in (1.86m) Czech who had also beaten Venus Williams in the fourth round.
Williams said it was on her mind throughout the 85-minute defeat. “I just blame that on just mentally thinking about my leg and just not thinking about the shot”. But it was what it was.
“For me, it’s just awesome to be, after Steffi, the next number one player in Germany”.
Pliskova, who has been riding her own string of success in Flushing Meadows, cruised to a win in the first set, but Williams battled back down the stretch and rallied to 3-all in the tiebreak.
Pliskova will play Angelique Kerber in Saturday’s final.
“If someone is not ready and she doesn’t think she is ready, she should not go on the court”.
“America probably hates me because I beat Venus and Serena”, Pliskova said after the match.
Her aggression from the baseline was too much for Wozniacki, a former world number one but now down to 74 in the rankings.
“I mean, it’s my third Grand Slam final now in one year, so I just try to enjoy it”.
The German tennis player became the official 22nd player in history who occupies the No.1 position on the WTA tour.
She said, “Karolina played great today”. “Steffi’s a great player and a great person, and I think she’s proud of me, to be the next one after her”. “It’s a big result for me”, she said.
Earlier in the tournament, Williams won her 308th Grand Slam singles match, passing Roger Federer for the Open era record.
Pliskova has been in fine form, claiming the title in Cincinnati heading into the year’s last major, with her victory over Williams extending her winning run to 11 matches.
“There is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in NY”, she said.
“I’m a perfectionist and I love to win”.
She couldn’t help but keep one eye on Karolina Pliskova’s stunning US Open semifinals victory over Serena Williams – which assured Kerber would gain the ranking she’s been inching toward for weeks. She had already lost in the Australian and French Open finals, although she did win Wimbledon.
On match point, after missing the first serve, it seemed nearly inevitable she would dump the second serve in the net – perhaps why her swing and racquet speed slowed and instead she sent the serve sailing long, double-faulting out of the US Open.
She suspected the injury surfaced in the second round.
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Pliskova, who survived a match point en route to a fourth-round victory over Venus Williams, was almost betrayed by her nerves as up 3-0 in the tiebreaker she produced three errors, including a double fault. Though she was able to hold and force Kerber to serve for the set, an error-filled final game handed Kerber the set. “I don’t care who I play in the final”.
