US Open 2016: Serena Williams suffers shock defeat, Angelique Kerber reaches final and takes world number one ranking
Serena Williams suffered a shock US Open semi-final defeat to Karolina Pliskova on Thursday night.
The American stood two victories away from beating Steffi Graf's Open-era best 22 major triumphs but her charge was ended in stunning fashion by Pliskova, who who won 6-2 7-6 (7/5).
The disappointment is doubled for Williams as it means she will also surrender the world number one ranking at the end of the tournament to Angelique Kerber.
Germany's Kerber celebrated her new status as the top female player on the plant by booking her spot in the final with victory over Caroline Wozniacki.
Kerber won 6-4 6-3 to set up a showdown with William's conqueror Pliskova on Saturday.
The 28-year-old is the first German to make the US Open final since Steffi Graf beat Monica Seles here in 1996 and also the first from her country since Graf to become world number one.