Serena Williams knocked out of U.S. Open semifinals, will lose No. 1 ranking

Karolina Pliskova defeated Serena Williams during the U.S. Open semifinals Thursday, 6-2, 7-6, becoming the fourth person to beat Williams and her sister, Venus, in the same Grand Slam.

Williams was eyeing her 23rd Grand Slam title and seventh U.S. Open championship. Last year, she was also beaten in the U.S. Open semifinals, and with her defeat, Williams lost the No. 1 ranking she has held for a record-tying 186 weeks; when the new rankings are released on Monday, Angelique Kerber will move up to No. 1.

Pliskova, 24, of the Czech Republic, is the No. 10 seed, and will play either Kerber or Caroline Wozniacki in the championship on Saturday. "I had a goal today, to beat Serena," she said after the game. "And that's what I did. I don't believe it. Actually, I do believe it. I knew I could beat anyone if I'm playing my game."

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