Serena Williams suffered a shocking straight-sets loss to Karolina Pliskova in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday.
With the 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) defeat, Williams will lose her status as the world's No. 1-ranked player to Angelique Kerber, snapping her record-tying streak of 186 consecutive weeks at tennis' helm. It also ended Williams' bid for a 23rd Grand Slam title and seventh at Flushing Meadows.
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Pliskova, who had never previously made it beyond the third round of a major, controlled the match with her big serve as she moved into a final against either Kerber or Caroline Wozniacki. The Czech No. 10 seed became just the third player to beat both Williams sisters at the same U.S. Open, joining Kim Clijsters (2009) and Justine Henin (2007).
Pliskova broke in the third game as good depth led to Williams sending a backhand long. After a tough hold, Pliskova broke to love for a 5-2 lead, this time Williams netting with a forehand, and she had no trouble closing out the first set.
Williams needed to save a break point to start the second as she tried to get herself going before Pliskova went 3-2 up, but gave that advantage up with a poor game. Both players held through to a tiebreak, where Williams' errors saw her fall behind 3-0 — only to win the next four points.
A double fault allowed Pliskova a way back in before Williams powered a backhand winner down the line.
Williams sent a backhand long to gift Pliskova match point before a double fault saw her bow out, giving up the top ranking.
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STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Pliskova [10] def. Williams [1] 6-2 7-6 (7-5)
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Pliskova – 19/25
Williams – 20/31
ACES
Pliskova – 7
Williams – 5
BREAK POINTS WON
Pliskova – 3/6
Williams – 1/1
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Pliskova – 56
Williams – 53
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Pliskova – 84/38
Williams – 66/52
TOTAL POINTS
Pliskova – 69
Williams – 63