Serena reaches US Open semi-finals as Stephens exits

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Six-time champion Serena Williams shook off a sluggish start to power past eighth-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday and into the US Open semi-finals.

The US superstar, chasing a record-equaling 24th major title, surrendered an early break to Pliskova, but she roared back with a streak of eight straight games to put away the opening set and take a 4-0 lead in the second against the woman who beat her in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2016.

Serena finished the match with 13 aces and will take on Anastasija Sevastova for a place in the final after the 19th-seeded Latvian toppled defending champion Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-3.

"I really feel like right now I'm playing free because I was having a baby this time last year, so I have nothing to prove," said Williams, who is seeking her first major title since her daughter Olympia was born on September 1 of 2017.

With a win she would break out of a tie with Chris Evert for most US Open titles, and equal Margaret Court's all-time record for Grand Slams.

Sevastova surprises Stephens

Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia celebrates her victory against Sloane Stephens of the United States in the women's singles quarter-finals. /VCG Photo

Earlier, Anastasija Sevastova ended Sloane Stephens's US Open title defense, toppling the world number three 6-2, 6-3 to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final.

Stephens refused to blame the punishing heat and humidity on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where her inability to convert any of seven break chances in the opening set paved the way for her defeat.

"When you don't play big points well, the match can get away from you," she said.

The defeats of Stephens and Pliskova completed the exodus of top 10 seeds.

The semi-final lineup will be completed on Wednesday when Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro takes on 2017 runner-up Madison Keys and Japan's Naomi Osaka faces Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko.

Source(s): AFP