Serena Williams has lost her No. 1 ranking after she was upset in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday night by Karolina Pliskova, who earned a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pliskova, the No. 10 seed, hadn’t advanced past the third round of a Slam prior to this year’s U.S.
Open, where the Czech Republic native earned victories over both Serena and her sister Venus Williams en route to the final.

Williams’s defeat also means that her wait for Grand Slam title No. 23 will have to wait until next
year. Angelique Kerber will take over as the top–ranked player in the WTA.

Describing the moment, Pliskova said on ESPN after the match:

“Probably right now America hates me because I beat both sisters Williams.”

Serena Williams (R) of the US and Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic pose before the start of their 2016 US Open semifinal match in New York on September 8, 2016


Serena had been No. 1 for 186 straight weeks, tied for longest in Women's Tennis Association history.