The 6ft 1in (1.86m) Monte Carlo-based Czech had never got beyond the third round of a Grand Slam in 17 prior attempts before coming to NY.
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No one can accuse Karolina Pliskova of taking the easy route to her first grand slam final, the lanky Czech pulling off the rare Williams family double beating both Serena and Venus to reach the U.S. Open title clash. “I’m really happy to be there and even have the chance to play in the final here”.
After witnessing Serena Williams lose to Karolina Pliskova, Kerber was aware that victory over her Danish opponent would see her overtake the American in the standings but she showed little nerves on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. I’m the number one player on Monday.
The better fitness, via extra time in the gym and longer, more intense practice sessions; an improved serve and a new willingness to attack during points, rather than mainly counter-punching, via instruction from coach Torben Beltz; a more positive attitude on court, via help from a mental coach.
“I’ll do anything for getting the title”, Pliskova said. “I will try to take this challenge”.
Kerber came back to win five of the last six games – after trailing 3-1 in the third set – to overpower the 10th-seeded Czech in a gripping decider at Flushing Meadows in NY.
“It didn’t look good”, Beltz said about the deficit. “I know what to change”.
Unfortunately for Pliskova – always outwardly calm on court – she couldn’t handle the pressure of serving to stay in the contest.
While 40 have tried only nine times have both Williams sisters been beaten by the same player at the same tournament and that list reads like a grand slam Hall of Fame with names that include; Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, who like Pliskova, pulled the double off at the U.S. Open.
It was Pliskova who guaranteed Kerber’s ascension in the rankings by beating Williams in the semifinals, ending her streak of 186 consecutive weeks at the top, which began in February 2013 and equaled Graf’s mark. “I don’t care who I play in the final”. Her defense is exemplary, scrambling along the baseline to put her racket on seemingly every ball, crouching so low that her knees would come close to scraping the ground. Pliskova made 17 unforced errors to three for Kerber.
“With Angie, you can not wait for mistakes”, Pliskova said. She’s never giving up. Kerber also won the Australian Open in January. And after frittering away her first four break points of the match, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley victor that curled over Kerber and alit right by the baseline. She blasted seven aces and stood firm when Williams rallied in the second set tiebreak with some sensational shot making.
Now it was a match, filled with terrific points, tense moments and plenty of emotion.
It is the second year running Williams has lost here in the semis and the 34-year-old, who turns 35 later this month, was hobbling in the second set. Then came Williams, never one to back down, going ahead 5-4, two points from forcing a third set.
In the end, Kerber’s experience probably made the difference in the German’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory, Pliskova said.
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But she fought back in the third set and wore down the towering Czech, who started to wilt in the punishing conditions, hunching over her racket at the end of nearly every point.
