She upset Serena in the semifinals, spoiling the potential Kerber-Williams rematch at the Australian and Wimbledon finals.
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Reaching top of the world seems to agree with Angelique Kerber, who celebrated her ascension to the No.1 ranking with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday to advance to Saturday’s US Open final.
Kerber was at her counterpunching best and picked her spots to be aggressive against the powerful Pliskova, who wilted late in the third under hot, humid conditions.
Pliskova got in just 53 percent of her first serves, and Kerber was all over her second serves, winning 71 percent of those points.
“I was always dreaming of one day being number one and to be in the Grand Slams”, she said. She has now added the US Open title to a sensational year. “For me, it’s just awesome to be after Steffi the next No.1 player in Germany”, said Kerber, who at 28 will become the oldest player to reach No.1. Graf is also the only other German woman to achieve the top ranking. “And also, mentally to be more positive, a little bit stronger, and just focusing on the moment I am on court”.
Kerber, the vanquisher of Serena Williams at the Australian Open, faces Karolina Pliskova at 4 p.m. ET. Graf went on to win the Grand Slam that year – all four majors – and an Olympic gold medal.
On paper, Pliskova, the first Czech in the U.S. Open final since Helena Sukova lost to Graf in 1993, is the tournament leader.
“Yeah, I think I will go out there trying to get my next chance against her and take the revenge, of course”.
With the victory Pliskova completed a Williams family double having also beaten Serena’s older sister, sixth-seeded Venus, in the fourth round.
Kerber is 44-0 this season when she wins the first set. Before then, she has the Czech today. “She has a big serve”.
“You know, it’s never easy for the player who is attacking and is doing more mistakes”, Pliskova said.
Kerber would have overtaken Williams for the top spot had she defeated Pliskova in the Cincinnati final August 21. “I always dreamed to be No. 1, always dreamed winning a Grand Slam and this is my second and especially in NY”.
She couldn’t help but keep one eye on Karolina Pliskova’s stunning US Open semi-final victory over Serena Williams – which assured Kerber would gain the ranking she’s been inching toward for weeks.
“In Cincinnati, I knew Angie. kind of felt some pressure there”, said Pliskova.
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On Saturday, the No. 2-seeded Kerber trailed by a break at 3-1 in the third set before coming back against Pliskova, a 24-year-old Czech who was seeded 10th and hadn’t been past the third round at a major until this tournament. After hitting a backhand wide and then putting what should have been a simple backhand into the net, Pliskova missed a forehand on the first match point. However, her class and consistency showed as she closed out the match superbly.
