+ A
A -
AFP
New York
American 20th seed CoCo Vandeweghe reached the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Karolina Pliskova as the Czech player lost her World No. 1 ranking to Garbine Muguruza.
Pliskova had been the runner-up in 2016 and her failure to defend those points means that Wimbledon champion Muguruza will take the top ranking for the first time despite the Spaniard losing in the last 16 in New York.
Vandeweghe's victory means that the US Open will have an all-American semi-final line-up in New York for the first time since 1981 if Madison Keys defeats Estonia's Kaia Kanepi late on Wednesday night.
Vandeweghe advanced on her second match point against Pliskova as the Czech seed netted a return and the winner fell to her knee in relief.
Vandeweghe recently hired former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash as her coach, with the arrangement paying quick dividends.
"Even though it's an individual sport, it's a team effort," Vandeweghe said after beating a number one player for the second time this season (she stopped Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open).
"When I won here as a junior, I always dreamed of being up on the real stage. It has come together for me this season."
"I couldn't wish for anything better," she said after winning in 94 minutes.
