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Shocking! Serena stunned by Pliskova in US Open semis

Angelique Kerber, of Germany, reacts after defeating Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in NY. A period of adjustment followed, with opening match defeats in Madrid, Rome and Paris but she was back in the championship match again at Wimbledon, where Serena avenged her Melbourne defeat.

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Angelique Kerber, of Germany, returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in NY.

Simple, says Karolina. She has two Polynesian-style tattoos, one on her left thigh and on her left arm.

“I wasn’t able to move the way I wanted to move or.when you’re injured you’re thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking up your shots and my line was just a little bit everywhere”.

‘I just blame that on thinking about my leg and just not thinking about the shot’.

“For me, it’s just unbelievable to be after Steffi the next No. 1 player (from) Germany”, said Kerber, who at 28 will become the oldest player to reach No. 1. “But it was what it was”. 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. In her 51 previous visits to the grand slams, the Italian had reached the semis once, at the 2013 US Open. If I was exhausted I should definitely get into a new career. “I didn’t play as well as I’ve been playing”. “If I was exhausted I should definitely get into a new career”, Serena was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com following the match.

Pliskova became only the fourth singles player to beat both Serena and Venus Williams in the same Grand Slam event.

“She was not moving at all today”, Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said. “I think she’s proud of me to be the next one after her”.

Graf and Williams had both spent an unmatched 186 consecutive weeks at the top but the American refused to discuss the matter.

“I was expecting tough match but I knew I can win”.

Williams broke back and consolidated for a 4-3 lead, shouting “Come on” when Pliskova sent a backhand long.

“Karolina played great today”. So I think I wasn’t at 100%, but I also think she played well.

She is chasing a 12th win in a row, obliterated Williams with her deadly serve and also beat Kerber only last month en route to winning the title in Cincinnati. I lost to her. Then Pliskova changed course, saying: “I mean, actually, I do believe it”. “Sometimes it is like this”.

“But clearly should have” challenged it, she added.

“For me, I think the most important step was to get through to the fourth round”, Pliskova said on Thursday.

Williams didn’t even get there.

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And while there was no title to win on this day Williams stepped onto the court with something to lose. “When it landed, I saw it on the line and I just wasn’t ready for it”.

Kerber beats Wozniacki, reaches US Open final