Pliskova Saves Four Match Points to Stun Serena Williams, Osaka, Djokovic and Pouille Reach Australian Open Final Four

(January 23, 2019) Karolina Pliskova won the last six straight games, saving four match points to shock Serena Williams 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the semifinals on the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Serena Williams, was down a set and a break before rallying and taking  a 5-1, 40-30, serving for the match in the third set, when she rolled over her left ankle. From that point on, the 23-time major champion would fail to win another point on her own, serve.

“I literally did everything I could on those match points. I can’t say that I choked on those match points. She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots,” Williams said.

“I can’t say that I choked on those match points.”

“She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots.”

“I was almost in the locker room,” Pliskova said in her on court interview, “but now I’m standing here as the winner.”

“There’s nothing I did wrong on those match points. I didn’t do anything wrong. I stayed aggressive,” Williams said in her news conference. “She just literally hit the lines on some of them.”

“She got a little bit shaky in the end,” Pliskova said.

“So I took my chances. And I won.”

Seventh seed Pliskova will be joined in the semifinals by US Open champion and No. 4 Naomi Osaka, who beat No. 6 Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1.

In men’s action, top seed and six-time champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the final four when his opponent, 8th seed Kei Nishikori retired with a leg injury, with the Serbian leading 6-1, 4-1.

After losing in the first round of the Australian Open for the past five years, Lucas Pouille is in the semifinals with a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 win over 16th seed Milos Raonic. The Frenchman is now coached by former WTA No. 1 and tennis Hall of Famer Amelie Mauresmo, herself a former Australian Open champion.