The left-handed German was crowned on another shocking night at Flushing Meadow in NY, that saw longest reigning holder, Serena Williams dethroned by big serving Czech, Karolina Pliskova, who beat her 6-2, 7-6.
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On the other hand Pliskova, who will now meet German second seed Angelique Kerber in Saturday’s final, said she learned plenty during her match with Venus that prepared her for Serena.
A year ago, Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam ended when she lost in the U.S. Open semifinals to unseeded Roberta Vinci of Italy in the semifinals.
Kerber becomes only the second German woman to achieve this historic milestone of becoming world No.1 since computer rankings were introduced in 1975, and the first since Steffi Graf spent the last of her record 377 weeks at No.1 in March 1997. “I think if she had played any less, then maybe I would have had a chance”, Williams said.
“Serena, she’s a champion so it’s never easy to play her”.
“It’s just incredible, a great day”, Kerber said. “To be here in the final for the first time means a lot and to be number one in the world – it sounds awesome”. “If I can’t turn around after 24 hours and play again then I shouldn’t be on tour”.
By virtue of her recent hot streak, Pliskova has now won 22 of her last 26 matches and will rise to No. 6 in the WTA rankings following the conclusion of the year’s final Grand Slam, according to Richard Finn of the tournament’s official website.
Serena said she had “talked a little bit” with Venus about Pliskova’s game but added she received little in the way of advice. I know how I was playing in Cincinnati. Kerber beat Williams in the Australian Open final in January, then lost to her in the Wimbledon final in July.
“I’m growing and I’m not putting the pressure on my shoulders if something like this happens”, she said.
At least she has the consolation of knowing her surprise run to a fifth semi-final in the city where she keeps a second home will translate to a place back in the world top 30. She flubbed shot after shot, 31 unforced errors in all.
Pliskova, who has led the WTA Tour in aces the last two seasons, kept the 34-year-old American under pressure nearly from the start and had break chances on all but one of Williams’ service games in the first set and converting twice.
The New York crowd approved. Williams engineered a winning backhand down the line for 5-4, only to lose the final three points.
Afterward, Williams dismissed the notion she was tired from a grueling three-set quarterfinal against Simona Halep that concluded less than 22 hours before the semifinal started (Pliskova, whose quarterfinal was earlier Wednesday, watched, then slept in until 1 p.m. on Thursday).
Williams opened the contest with an ace but in the end it was the American’s serve that ultimately let her down as she committed six double faults, including the deciding point in the tiebreak.
Pliskova may not have 22 grand slam titles behind her, in fact she had previously never been past the third round of a major tournament, but the world number 11 remains a risky prospect.
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According to Mouratoglou, Williams received treatment all day and scrapped most of her warm-up. Wozniacki, a former No. 1, was always behind against Kerber, trailing 4-0 in the first and 5-1 in the second. Pliskova’s power is of the sort that Williams so rarely is forced to confront – much like the difficulties the American’s own game presents others.
