Serena out of US Open, record reign ends
Serena Williams walks off the court after losing to Karolina Pliskova in the US Open semi-finals. Photo: AAP
Serena Williams’ 186-week reign as world No.1 is over after Karolina Pliskova beat her 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in the semi-finals of the US Open.
The 10th-seeded Czech moves into the final at Flushing Meadows to meet either Angelique Kerber — who will replace Williams as the world’s top-ranked player — or Caroline Wozniacki.
With the defeat, Williams’ bid to break the professional era record for career grand slam titles came to a halt.
For Williams, whose 22 grand slam titles has her tied with Steffi Graf, it marked the second consecutive year she lost in the semis while chasing history.
She is also tied with Graf for the WTA record of 186 weeks as world number one.
Williams came into last year’s semi-finals as the three-time defending champion and two wins shy of a rare calendar-year grand slam, but was upset by Roberta Vinci.
Pliskova went into the match on a 10-match winning streak. Photo: Getty.
She clutched at her left hamstring occasionally in the second set and double-faulted to end it.
The loss also prevents Williams from earning her US Open crown.
Pliskova advances to her first grand slam final.
