Kerber, this year's Australian Open champion, took the court knowing the No. 1 ranking was hers, running out to a 4-0 lead in her semifinal against former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki before wrapping up the victory 6-4, 6-3.
There are, however, some key differences, including that the earlier one was at a run-of-the-mill event and the upcoming one is at a Grand Slam tournament. When Kerber broke to start the second, she was in control, and she turned that into a 4-1 advantage.
Serena Williams has failed in her attempt to win a seventh US Open title after she was defeated by Karolina Pliskova. "Steffi's a great player and a great person, and I think she's proud of me, to be the next one after her".
Pliskova is 24, 10 years younger than Serena and 12 years younger than Venus, and remembers watching them play on TV as she grew up. "She deserved to win".
"Here I have one day off [on Friday] so I can really prepare for the final against Pliskova".
"But at the end I know how I was playing in Cincinnati".
The 10th-seeded Czech player, who had never made it past the third round of a major before, makes her first Grand Slam final. This one goes pretty high on the list, too. Pliskova is the fourth woman to beat both Williams siblings during the same Grand Slam tournament. In the fourth round she beat Venus Williams after saving a match point. Ten of her 15 visits to the main draw had ended in the first round. Pliskova is on an 11-match winning streak and has beaten the three-time Grand Slam victor in the Cincinnati Masters in August. So I think I wasn't at 100%, but I also think she played well.
She was also runner-up to Serena at Wimbledon and has led the WTA Tour in match wins this season. "I don't talk about that whatsoever", she said.
"For sure, she has a lot of confidence. I don't care who I will play in the final". Now, all that stands between her and a second grand slam title is a meeting with Pliskova on Saturday. This US Open final will be a shot at retribution.
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At 28, she's the oldest woman to reach No. 1 for the first time and the first German since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf.
The resulting defeat cost Williams her 23rd Grand Slam. Even in the second set there was some complications.
"When you're hampered, you're thinking of other things. If I was exhausted I should definitely get into a new career". "So many simple, simple shots that I easily could have made", Williams said.
"She didn't show up".
Serena later disclosed that she had been playing with a serious knee injury that curtailed her movement on court. "She was slow, very, very slow. She's not going to win the third".
Still, Pliskova surely had a lot to do with Williams' woes.
Despite the injury, Williams admitted Pliskova earned her victory. And Pliskova's deep, flat groundstrokes produced the rare sight of Williams on her heels.
Williams yelled out, "Ai-yai-yai!" and slapped her left thigh.
"I watched the last few points".
