Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, reacts after beating Serena Williams during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in NY.

She couldn't help but keep one eye on Karolina Pliskova's stunning US Open semi-final victory over Serena Williams - which assured Kerber would gain the ranking she's been inching toward for weeks.

The 28-year-old German goes for her second grand slam title of the year against 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova, who hopes to ride her huge service game to a maiden major in the Arthur Ashe Stadium showdown.

She is halted there for now, tied with Steffi Graf for the record of Open era Slams at 22.

Lightning struck for the second year in a row here last night as Serena Williams was again beaten by an underdog in the semi-finals of the US Open just when she was on the brink of history.

"I mean, there is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in NY", she said.

Even though Serena Williams broke her serve for the first time and lost her first set, the Women's World No. 1 prevailed 6-2, 4-6, and 6-3. "I was really going for my win there and got the win, which gave me a lot of confidence".

Kerber is the first German to make the US Open final since Steffi Graf beat Monica Seles here in 1996 and also the first from her country since Graf to become world number one. Pliskova is the fourth woman to beat both Williams siblings during the same Grand Slam tournament.

A two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, she arrived at this year's tournament at No. 74 in the world after missing 2 1/2 months because of an ankle injury.

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Asked about the prospect of facing Kerber, she said: "We played a lot of times. It's my third grand slam final now in one year, so I just try to enjoy it", Kerber said.

She may be in unfamiliar ground in the second week of a Grand Slam, but in Kerber she'll face a well-known foe.

Williams' loss to Pliskova meant that Kerber supplanted her and moved into the No. 1 spot in the rankings.

Williams said she was carrying a knee injury but conceded that her opponent was better than her.

"For me, it's just awesome to be, after Steffi, the next number one player in Germany".

"I wasn't able to move the way I wanted to move or.when you're injured you're thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking up your shots and my line was just a little bit everywhere".

"But clearly should have" challenged it, she added.

"To be in the final means a lot and to be number one in the world sounds fantastic". Speaking of her wonderful performances, the athlete said her mental development was the factor that enhanced her game.