Williams wary of another semi-final slip-up
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[September 08, 2016]
By Steve Keating
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Serena Williams
will be wary of another semi-final slip-up when she takes to the
Arthur Ashe Stadium court on Thursday to face 10th seed Karolina
Pliskova for a spot in the U.S. Open final.
A year ago Williams arrived at the semi-finals on the cusp of a rare
calendar slam when unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci, a 300-to-1 long
shot to reach the final, recorded one of the biggest upsets in grand
slam tennis.
It has appeared lesson learned for the world number one, who has
been all business at Flushing Meadows, playing with unusual
intensity and focus as she zeroes in on what would be a record
seventh U.S. Open title in the professional era.
Standing in the way of Williams's ninth trip to the final is
big-hitting Pliskova who has led the WTA Tour in aces the last two
seasons and is one of the few players capable of going toe-to-toe
with the muscular American.
"There will be a lot of aces in that match I think," said Williams,
who laid down 18 aces in her quarter-final win over Simona Halep.
"I haven't played against many big servers recently but she places
her serve really well.
"She definitely gets some speed on it but her placement is really,
really nice."
There is no calendar slam up for grabs this year but history
continues to beckon Williams, who would stand alone as the greatest
grand slam champion in the Open Era if she can claim a 23rd title.
That would move her past Steffi Graf and leave her one shy of
Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list.
While Williams will compete in her 33rd grand slam semi-final, the
match is further uncharted territory for Pliskova, who arrived as
the only top-20 player to have not reached the fourth round at one
of the four blue riband events.
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Serena Williams of the United States gestures after winning a point
against Simona Halep of Romania (not pictured) on day ten of the
2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center. Williams won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff
Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The other semi-final is an equally attractive matchup pitting
unseeded former world number one Caroline Wozniacki against second
seed Angelique Kerber, who could leave New York with her second
grand slam title and snatch Williams' number one ranking.
Australian Open champion Kerber holds a 7-5 lead in head-to-head
meetings against the Dane, with their last two hardcourt encounters
split.
The 26-year-old Wozniacki, meanwhile, is still chasing an elusive
maiden grand slam title but has come close at Flushing Meadows,
reaching the semi-finals on five occasions and the finals twice in
2009 and 2014.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
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