Two days after upsetting Serena Williams in the U.S. Open semifinals, Cincinnati champion Karolina Pliskova will play in a Grand Slam title match for the first time in her career. Standing in Pliskova’s way of the winner’s trophy on Saturday is Angelique Kerber, who triumphed at this season’s Australian Open.
It will be a rematch of the recent Cincinnati final when Angelique Kerber and Karolina Pliskova battle for the U.S. Open title on Saturday night. Pliskova clobbered Kerber 6-3, 6-1 last month for the biggest title of her career, but it is the German who still leads the head-to-head series 4-3–including 3-2 on hard courts.
Heading into semifinal action on Thursday, a different rematch was expected: a third Grand Slam final this season between Kerber and Serena Williams. Pliskova, though, had other ideas and she stunned the top-ranked American 6-2, 7-6(5) in the first of the two semis. That breakthrough result was preceded by victories over Sofia Kenin, Montserrat Gonzalez, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Venus Williams (in a third-set tiebreaker), and Ana Konjuh. Pliskova’s 11-match winning streak dating back to the start of the Cincinnati event also features defeats of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Garbine Muguruza.
But, of course, it reached a whole new level with the 11th-ranked Czech’s semifinal upset of the No. 1 seed.
“It doesn’t happen often that you’re playing [in a] semifinal against Serena on center court here in New York,” Pliskova commented. “It doesn’t happen often that you’re in the final of Grand Slams. I’m really excited to be there and really excited to be in a Grand Slam final for first time in my life…. It was always a dream to get a title, get to the semifinal, get to the final. So it’s a big result for me. I hope I [don’t] stop yet, that there is still one more step to go. I’ll do anything [to get] the title.”
It won’t be easy with Kerber on the other side of the net. The second-ranked German has been the best player on the WTA Tour this season, with a title at the Australian Open, a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, and a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. For her efforts (and even without getting any points at the Olympics), she will be No. 1 in the world on Monday. Kerber already had that milestone wrapped up when Williams lost to Pliskova, after which she put an exclamation point on the day by beating Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3.
“It feels amazing,” the second seed said of her upcoming distinction as the world’s best. “It feels just great. I mean, the day came today and to be now the No. 1 in the world, that was always a dream for me. I was trying to not [think] too much the whole last few weeks about this, and now I [have reached] it. So it’s something really special for me, because I was dreaming for this No. 1.”
Kerber came within one match of locking it up last month, but that is when she succumbed to Pliskova in the Cincinnati final. This time around, she will not have the added pressure of needing to win in order to reach the top spot. Instead it could be Pliskova feeling the pressure even though she is an obvious underdog on paper, as she has never competed in a major title match. Kerber, on the other hand, is now a three-time Grand Slam finalist to go along with two additional semifinal appearances and two quarterfinal finishes. As such, the favorite should be able to turn the tables on Pliskova and exact revenge for what transpired in Cincinnati.
Pick: Kerber in 3
[polldaddy poll=9517504]
WWW?
go angie!! no choking please for this match. make margot happy!
Kerber in three
Both women looked great in the Semis….should be a great final. Kerber in 3.
Kerber in 2. She would have beaten Serena too. I think she’s the best in the world now, and almost unbeatable.
[polldaddy poll=9519215]
I don’t know. It should be close and exciting if they both can play their best!
My head tells me Kerber but I have a funny feeling Pliskova will do it.
so your head tells you….. ?
I have plis at 35-1 from start of tourney but hedging some off on kerb who i think will win in 2 (unless plis can redline but is a bit too loose)
solid hedge
Hard to pick ,both playing really well.Kerber in three because of her experience in Slams.
Plus I picked Angie in my Brackets?
Very excited for this final!
In our WTA bracket seven of us picked Serena to win, two picked Angie, and one picked Simona. Most of us picked a Serena vs Angie final. No one picked Karolina Pliskova to the final, but Big Al took her to the SF 😉
Angie has the first break and holds. Karolina botching some easy volley’s. Nerves all around. 2-0 Angie
Be surprised if Pliskova can overcome nerves to win this. Only once to the 3rd round of a slam in her career before NY.
Guessing she’ll get warmed up and into it. She’s doing alright, Hawks! Pressuring Angie’s serve.
3-1 Angie
pliskova has started slow before ie against venus..doesn’t mean she won’t get a lot better later..
not that i want her to win mind…
I’m nervous for both of them 😀
let’s hope it’s a gr8 match! but i want angie to win…
Yeah I’m leaning toward Angie. But also rooting for Karolina to keep it close.
Would be cool for Angie to get another GS. Karolina is young — plenty of time…
what i don’t want is for angie to lose because she gets tight again. if she is outplayed then fair enough. but as long as she doesn’t choke her defence and movement are too good for karolina IMO…
I don’t think the real pressure would come until towards the end of she gets a lead when she’s looking to hold her last few games to close it out. That’s usually when it really sets in for a first time finalist. That said she certainly kept it together against Serena.
I’m pulling for the underdog.
lol, Angie ☝ giving a Federer finger
Just so long that she doesn’t start pointing at her head.
Point at the head and ripping shirts — that’s tomorrow.
Okay Angie got the first set, it’s time for Karolina to get a set. Go tennis!
Smart. Karo used a moonball and then changed direction and it worked – she needs break up the baseline rallies. Has to hold her serve. Definitely cheering for Plish now.
Ana Konjuh and Anastasjia Sevastova were surprises of this tournament. Of course hoping to see Monica Puig back up her gold medal with some great tennis this fall.
Break for Plisko!
Dang it. Stay out of the rallies! Come on get a set. Yesss!
1-1 S3
Oh no…Can Angie break back?
NOW the real pressure starts for Pliskova up a break in the decider.
i will be surprised if she does. Seen this scenario too many times.
#HowManyTimes???
Both playing tight now. Kerber with the errors.
Good conversion on the break.
Pliskova’s single break will not be enough.
bah, I wanted Plisko to win a set. So many of these Finals are duds. Now I hope Angie can fight for the break back and the win. But …
Nerves fail Pliskova surrendering the break.
She appears calm but she’s having trouble but holds! 4-4
Angie got the break back. Wow forehand DTL makes it just. Phew. she holds. 43 kerber
Pliskova no where near the level she was against Serena.
Angie has the edge fitness-wise. I’d like 5 sets…Kerber would win no doubt. Then it would make the young girls like Madison Keys, ect. get fit.
Yup. At least semis and finals would help better separate slams from WTA events.
Although some of that tiredness in Pliskova’s case was no doubt nerves.
But when you can run for over four hours @ 7 minute mile, it helps your nerves — makes for confidence.
I’d make a hard taskmaster.
Overcooking her shots.
Much better to get to game point. Big point.
Nice serve to hold for 4-all.
Another UE for 15-0.
Another UE for 0-30.
Chokey McChoke.
Well done though to Kerber.
Fun final.
Yay, Angie! good job.
AO, US Open, Olympic silver… Congrats Angie #1.
Pliskova was most awesome vs Serena and Venus.
Thanks again to everyone in the WTA Bracket Pool!
http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketUsOpenWTA/jalep2/pool/whatif.aspx
Congrats to Big Al and Margot ???
Congrats to Kerber, well deserved champion and world no.1. Her 2016 is awesome – winning AO and USO, reached final at Wimbledon, silver medalist at Olympics. She also beat Serena in the AO final, no mean feat.