Serena Stumbles in US Open Semi-Finals

Published on 8-Sep-2016 by J Square Humboldt

Tennis    Tennis Daily Update

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Serena Stumbles in US Open Semi-Finals

By Monday, the women's WTA World No 1 won't be.

It took a baseline bomber to do it, as 10th-ranked Czech Karolína Plíšková powered to her first Grand Slam final by dethroning Serena Williams, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

It's ironic that the fiercest server in women's history was bounced by the same weapon in another's hand.

Even more so that she tumbled out of the tourney by double-faulting on match point.

This is the second straight year Serena's been ousted one match away from the ultimate round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This time, it dashed a number of her dreams.

Gone are these goals:

  • A seventh title at Flushing Meadows, which would have been an Open-era record;
  • A 23rd Grand Slam championship, another record; and
  • Her 3½-year reign at No 1 in the WTA rankings is over, one week shy of what would have been yet another mark.

Adding insult to injury was an actual injury:

Earlier in the tournament, the 24-year-old Plíšková had eliminated Venus Williams -- 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) -- becoming only the fourth woman to beat both Williams siblings during the same Grand Slam tournament.

The Czech will now face Angelique Kerber for the title. If the German prevails, it'll be her second Slam championship after topping Serena in the Australian Open in January.

The younger Williams sister is now 34, but if anyone else is gonna hoist the hardware, they'll still have to deal with her first.