Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerber roads to the 2016 US Open final
Serena’s reign as number one is over… for now. Karolina Pliskova stunned Serena Williams 6-2 7-6 in the semifinals and Angelique Kerber is the new number one. Kerber and Pliskova will face in the final in a rematch of Cincinnati’s final. Let’s have a look at both players road to the final:
Karolina Pliskova’s road to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Sofia Kenin | 6-4 6-3 |
| R2 | Montserrat Gonzalez | 6-1 7-5 |
| R3 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [17] | 6-2 6-4 |
| R4 | Venus Williams [6] | 4-6 6-7 7-6(3) |
| QF | Ana Konjuh | 6-2 6-2 |
| SF | Serena Williams [1] | 6-2 7-6(5) |
Karolina Pliskova cruised through the first three rounds without dropping a set, but had to work hard to get past Venus Williams in the fourth round. She dispatched Ana Konjuh 6-2 6-2 in the quarters before outgunning ending outplayed Serena Williams to reach the US Open final. She became only the fourth woman to beat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam tournament.
“I don’t believe it, I knew I had the chance to beat anyone if I played my game. I am excited to be in the final and to beat Serena as she is such a great champion. Even when she was down a set and break she was still fighting. I had to fight hard to win.”
Angelique Kerber’s road to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Polona Hercog | 6-0 1-0 ret. |
| R2 | Mirjana Lucic | 6-2 7-6(7) |
| R3 | Catherine Bellis | 6-1 6-1 |
| R4 | Petra Kvitova [14] | 6-3 7-5 |
| QF | Roberta Vinci [7] | 7-5 6-0 |
| SF | Caroline Wozniacki | 6-4 6-3 |
Angelique Kerber reached her third Slam final of the year without losing a set. A dominant performance by the new number one.
“It’s just incredible, it’s a great day. To be here in the final for the first time means a lot and to be number one in the world – it sounds amazing.”
#No1 and #USOpen final!!!! Thank you for being part of this amazing journey ? #TeamAngie pic.twitter.com/Kt4XVW2Lc3
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) September 9, 2016
Angelique Kerber – Karolina Pliskova head to head: 4-3
| Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score |
| 2011 | Copenhagen R32 | Hard | Angelique Kerber | 6-2 6-2 |
| 2014 | Doha R32 | Hard | Angelique Kerber | 7-6 6-4 |
| 2014 | Nürnberg QF | Clay | Karolina Pliskova | 7-6 6-4 |
| 2015 | Sydney SF | Hard | Karolina Pliskova | 6-3 6-2 |
| 2015 | Birmingham F | Grass | Angelique Kerber | 6-7 6-3 7-6 |
| 2015 | Stanford F | Hard | Angelique Kerber | 6-3 5-7 6-4 |
| 2016 | Cincinnati F | Hard | Karolina Pliskova | 6-3 6-1 |
Kerber is the favorite to capture her second Grand Slam title, while Pliskova has nothing to lose. Karolina or Angelique? Please share your comments below.
Photo credit: Luis Fonseca
Read more:
– 2016 US Open QF: Angelique Kerber defeats Roberta Vinci
– My pics of Angelique Kerber at practice at Roland Garros
– Stuttgart 2016: Angelique Kerber retains her title
