For world No. 1 Serena Williams, crashed and burned.
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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).
“Even my game I think was a little bit better against Venus”.
For top-seeded Williams, whose 22 grand slam titles tie her with Steffi Graf, it marked the second consecutive year she lost in the semis at Flushing Meadows while chasing history.
“When you’re hampered, you’re thinking of other things”. “I just blame that on just mentally thinking about my leg and just not thinking about the shot”.
Williams said later that the injury’s effect was more mental than physical. “Being a professional, if I am not able to recover, I am not going to make excuses”.
With Serena Williams stunned in the last round, Kerber stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium as the provisional WTA World No.1 – she’ll assume the top spot when the new rankings are released on Monday.
At the start of 2016, Kerber had never made a Grand Slam final.
Kerber, this year’s Australian Open champion, took the court knowing the No. 1 ranking was hers, running out to a 4-0 lead in her semifinal against former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki before wrapping up the victory 6-4, 6-3.
He said she spent far less time than usual warming up for the match, after getting treatment much of the day.
Just moments after becoming the oldest first-time world number one, Kerber raced out of the blocks against the Dane, a two-time runner-up at the tournament.
Kerber’s opponent in the final, Pliskova is now on an 11-match winning streak after entering the tournament on the heels of winning Cincinnati.
“Once I beat Venus here I knew I’m playing good tennis and I have a chance to beat anyone in the tournament”, said Pliskova, who before this U.S. Open had never been beyond the third round of a grand slam.
The temperature was in the low 80s, and the air was muggy and still, and Williams kept using the pleats of her black-and-pink skirt to wipe her sweaty palms between points. Even if she wins the second, it’s not the point.
“I was expecting tough match but I knew I can win”.
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.
All of 7 minutes in, Pliskova showed she was not shaken by any of it – the stage, the setting, the stakes or the foe – and broke to lead 2-1.
“I mean, there is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in NY”, smiled Pliskova.
“It’s incredible to be in the final and to be the world number one, it’s a great day”, said Kerber, who will return to Hong Kong in October to participate in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Into the tiebreaker they went, and Pliskova jumped ahead 3-0. “I remember the match also in Cincinnati where I have the chance to reach it with the win there”. There the Czech steamrolled a exhausted Kerber, who had just come from a Silver medal run at the Rio Olympics, 6-3, 6-1.
“I always know I have a chance to beat anyone if I’m playing my game”, Pliskova said after the match.
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Williams’ loss was her 11th against 89 wins here since 1998. So I will be ready for anything. So will a 23rd Grand Slam championship, another record. Of course, probably nerves from both sides.
