Vandeweghe knocks out world No.1 Pliskova

NEW YORK, September 6: CoCo Vandeweghe defeated world No.1 Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to become the third American woman to reach the semifinals at the US Open on Wednesday.

The New York native fed off the energy of the partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which erupted when Pliskova returned a serve into the net on match point.

Defeat for the Czech ensured that she would no longer be top when the latest rankings are released next week. That honour will now fall on Spain's Garbine Muguruza who had earlier lost to Petra Kvitova in the pre-quarterfinal.

No.1 ranking will be @GarbiMuguruza's when the latest @WTA list is released on Monday. Congratulations! 👏https://t.co/YMC06orqH7 #usopen pic.twitter.com/2UB5L0jtHH
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017

A frustrated looking Pliskova struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match, serving just two aces while committing three double faults.

After wrapping up victory, Vandeweghe briefly fell to her knees before shaking hands with Pliskova and then walking over to her box to celebrate with her team.

Match Point Moment: @CoCoVandey
- d. No.1 player in the world, KaPliskova ✅
- reaches US Open SFs ✅https://t.co/9RmfubpzZn #usopen pic.twitter.com/d4kXamZWDg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017

"Even though we are out here individually, it's a team sport," she said in an on-court interview.

"They work as hard as I do."

CoCo on 🔝! @CoCoVandey d. No.1 Pliskova 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the US Open SFs! https://t.co/VyGB8UxoYW #usopen pic.twitter.com/vdERB9VOlJ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017

The 25-year-old progressed to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time and also reached that stage at the Australian Open earlier this year.