“‘BEATING VENUS TOUGHER” Pliskova claimed it was harder to beat Venus Williams than it was to stun Serena.
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Karolina Pliskova beat Angelique Kerber in the final of the Cincinnati Masters three weeks ago and is eyeing a repeat in NY.
“I made a lot of errors and I didn’t play as well as I have been playing”, Williams said, “She (Pliskova) was a good, all-around player”.
“It doesn’t happen often, that you’re playing especially a semi-final against Serena on centre court here in NY”.
The “next time” has arrived, with a grand slam crown now at stake.
Williams was hoping to win an Open-era record 23rd major singles title but double-faulted on match point to stay level with Steffi Graf.
Pliskova won six matches to get to the final, and all of her matches except her fourth-round victory over Venus Williams came in straight sets. In her serve, she has a weapon that could prove to the deciding factor. “It was always a dream to, you know, get a title, get to the semi-final, get to the final”, Czech Pliskova said in her post-match press conference on Thursday, wtatennis.com reported. Pliskova is riding an 11-match winning streak, which includes today’s takedown of Williams.
Her coach said the disappointment will be palpable, however. “I tried to concentrate on my own stuff”, added the player. “Being a professional, if I am not able to recover, I am not going to make excuses”.
“I will just do anything to win the title here”. But it was what it was. “I think she’s proud of me to be the next one after her”. Following her shocking loss Thursday, she told reporters: “I don’t have anything to blame today”. “Now especially after the win against Serena”. Kerber raised her right arm in triumph and Wozniacki quickly scurried off the court. She averaged 109 miles per hour on her first serves Thursday – faster than the younger Williams, known for the best serve in the women’s game – and leads the tour in aces this year.
“I’m a perfectionist and I love to win”. Becoming world’s No.1 sounds incredible.
Kerber, the 28-year-old left-hander, is the first German woman to reach the final since Steffi Graf in 1996.
Kerber was beaten by Pliskova when they last met, in the Cincinnati final as the German was then denied the top ranking.
“Steffi is a great champion, she’s a great person”. “I don’t talk about that whatsoever”, she said.
Twelve months ago at the semifinals of the US Open, Serena Williams was shocked.
“There is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in NY”, she said. “I don’t care who I will play in the final”.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber advanced to her maiden U.S. Open final shortly after becoming the world’s top-ranked player for the first time, defeating Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 in a battle of two of the best retrievers and movers on the WTA Tour. “I thought she served well and that was definitely a big thing for her”. Pliskova won the first set in 26 minutes without facing any break point.
There were a few signs of nerves as Pliskova let a 3-0 lead slip but from 5-4 in front, Williams produced a forehand wide, a backhand long and a double fault to end with 31 unforced errors.
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A bad left knee visibly hampered her late in the second set.
