Kerber on Pliskova revenge mission

Serena Williams’ stunning semifinal loss at the U.S. Open paved the way for Kerber to take the top spot, and she’s certainly earned it with her 2016 season.

The German left-hander was assured of becoming number one when the new rankings come out on Monday after top-seeded American Serena Williams was defeated by Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova 6-2 7-6 (5) in the earlier semi-final.

Last year, the 34-year-old became the victim of one of the biggest upsets in tennis history when she suffered a defeat at the hands of Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals.

She said, “Karolina played great today”.

She won the Australian Open in January, before losing at SW19 to defending champion Serena Williams in July.

“So I think I wasn’t at 100 percent, but I also think she played well. My mind was just a little bit everywhere”.

“I mean, there is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in NY”, she said.

Pliskova will now play Angelique Kerber, who is the new number 1, in the women’s final.

Williams won the next point, but double faulted to make it 4-all and gave Pliskova her first match point when she sent a backhand out on 5-all. “I think she’s proud of me to be the next one after her”.

“I wasn’t exhausted from yesterday’s match”, Williams said.

Pliskova is looking for right time and taking it when Serena delivered her sixth double fault of the match. “Then I was just trying to get used to this pressure, all the stuff that happened after Australia”.

Kerber will now go up against Pliskova in Saturday’s final.

“I made a lot of errors and I didn’t play as well as I have been playing”, Williams said, “She (Pliskova) was a good, all-around player”.

For the first time in 186 weeks, there’s a new name next to the No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis – Angelique Kerber. “So it’s something really special for me”. When her booming opening serve in the third game was called a let she indulged in a verbal jab at the chair umpire, but steadied herself to hold.

“Like I was making errors that I never make, and definitely I didn’t make in this tournament in particular”. I know how she is playing. Just as she had after her quarterfinal victory, Wozniacki declined to address a question about reports that her father told media she could retire in the next year or two.