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Pliskova doubles down on Williams to reach U.S. Open final

By The Associated Press Jamie Murray of Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil won the U.S. Open doubles championship Saturday for their second Grand Slam title this year, beating Spaniards Pablo.

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Events: Women’s Singles Final: No. 2 Angelique Kerber vs.

“To me it’s obvious that she’s injured”, said Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou after the match.

On taking the positives from the US Open.

“Karolina played great today”, she said.

Kerber, who becomes the only German woman other than Graf to get to No. 1, had a chance to overtake Williams last month by winning a hard-court tournament in OH, but lost the final there to Pliskova.

– Kerber has enjoyed a breakout year.

Pliskova said she felt no sadness in defeat.

“Steffi is a great champion, a great person and I think she’s proud of me to be the next number one after her”.

Williams, whose 22 grand slam titles has her tied with Steffi Graf, was bidding to break the professional era record with victory in NY. Kerber got broken early in the third and bounced her racket off the court. I know how she is playing.

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. Pliskova is only the fourth woman to beat both Williams siblings during the same Slam.

But this was Kerber’s turn to show some mettle, breaking back to 3-all and again to end it.

Australian Open champion Kerber beat Denmark’s Carolina Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 to reach her first US Open final. She had never been past the third round at a major. There is a huge possiblity that Serena will lost her No. 1 rank in the new rankings. Pliskova, a 24-year-old from the Czech Republic, won the match 6-2, 7-6 (5), and advanced to the women’s final. I have to see her when Serena is able to challenge her and I’ll tell you how good she is. Kerber acknowledged that aspect of her game will be key on Saturday.

“Even if I don’t get it, it’s a big result. I’m not going to sit here and make an excuse”. “To be here in the final for the first time means a lot and to be number one in the world – it sounds awesome”.

Both players excel at outlasting their opponents in long rallies, but against Kerber Wozniacki was committing just too many unforced errors to keep up.

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This year it was Czech 10th seed Pliskova, who until this week had never played beyond the third round of a Grand Slam, delivering the upset as she swept Williams off an Arthur Ashe Stadium court she claims as her own in one hour, 26 minutes.

Williams crashes out of US Open, says neither fatigue nor injury to blame