In Saturday’s final, Pliskova will be up against new world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany after she beat Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Advertisement
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 Serena’s service games in the first set and converted twice.
Williams, who practices every day, and noted that she had no problem with daily tournament play, adamently stated that the two matches within two days had nothing to do with her loss. “It’s a big result for me”, she said.
“When you’re hampered you’re thinking of other things”, said the American, a six-time US Open champion.
“I wasn’t able to move the way I wanted to move”, Williams explained. “But it was what it was”.
“I wasn’t exhausted from yesterday’s match”, Williams said.
“For me, it’s just wonderful to be after Steffi the next No 1 player in Germany”, added Kerber, who at 28 will become the oldest player to become No 1.
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.
“Obviously, she’s had a great year”, Wozniacki said. “We play every single week”.
“I’m a professional player”.
“So many simple, simple shots that I easily could have made”. The defeat means she will lose her No. 1 WTA ranking for the first time since February 2013.
Graf and Williams had both spent an unmatched 186 consecutive weeks at the top but the American refused to discuss the matter. “I will talk with my coach about the game and I will try to take the challenge again against her”.
Pliskova broke in the third game as good depth led to Williams sending a backhand long. And she completed an emphatic opening set in just 26 minutes to stunned spectators on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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. She adamantly denied that she was exhausted from the game the night before, and she said she wasn’t going to make any excuses for the way she played. “I had to fight hard to win”.
Williams had to back up from her three-set quarter-final win against Romania’s Simona Halep yesterday, and has to call the trainer out during today’s match to work on her leg. I know what to change.
“To be honest, I don’t remember that”, Williams said of the early miscues. “Sometimes it is like this”.
“But clearly should have” challenged it, she added.
With her mind on the injury, Williams’ game went awry. “Serena, she’s a champion, so it’s never easy to play her”.
The 34-year-old lost in straight sets to the Czech 10th seed and will be replaced by Angelique Kerber, who progressed to the final to face Pliskova.
Advertisement
“It was always a dream to get a title, get to the semi-final, get to the final”.
