Serena Williams crashes out of Australian Open after twisting left ankle on first of FOUR match points when 5-1 up in third set
The American sporting giant was on the verge of booking her spot in the semi-finals until an ankle injury on match point saw her lose the next SIX games to Karolina Pliskova
SERENA WILLIAMS is OUT of the Australian Open – after injuring her left ankle on the first of her four match points.
The American was serving to move into the semi-finals in Melbourne and a reunion with US Open champion Naomi Osaka.
The 37-year-old lost the first set and was a break down in the second but fought back to lead 5-1 in the deciding third set against Czech Karolina Pliskova.
But while during the rally on match point at 40-30, she appeared to turn her ankle and was in great discomfort. Serena did not win another point on serve after that moment.
Pliskova broke Serena's serve to win that game - helped by a double fault and unforced error from the American - and then claimed the next five games in a row to move into the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time after an astonishing two-hour battle.
Overall Williams squandered FOUR match points and said: "There's nothing I did wrong on those match points. I can't say that I choked. She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots.
"I don't really take losses well. But Karolina played lights out starting 5-1, 40-30. Literally, I've never seen anything like it. If anything, that's a little bit easier to know.
"OK, next time I'm up 5-1 against anybody, I just need to make sure I play lights out when I have match points.
"I really hate calling the trainer out. And at that point I didn't feel like I needed it, or I didn't feel like it would be a big deal. So I just kept going. I like to just kind of tough it out. It was fine."
Pliskova reached only her third Grand Slam semi-final and first in Melbourne with the victory. The 26-year-old star said: “Serena improved her game in the second set, she went for her shots, she was more aggressive. I was struggling.
“I played too passive. On one hand I was almost in the locker room, now I am standing here as the winner. It’s a good feeling.
“My mind was in the locker room. She was playing well.
“I didn’t have many chances. Mentally I was down. I just said: ‘Let’s try to keep playing, at 5-2, and I will have chances.’
“She got a bit shaky at the end. I took my chances and then won.”
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Williams did not reach for the excuses book at the end.
The 37-year-old added: “My ankle seems to be fine. I usually don’t know until the next day.
“I stayed aggressive. Obviously I made some mistakes, but she played really well after that.
“It’s a good learning experience to know the next time I'll just like go bananas on it.”
For Williams, the wait goes on as she looks to win a record-equalling 24th major title and draw level with Aussie Margaret Court.
All eyes will now be on her at the French Open in May where she will be hoping for a more favourable draw - but Serena may well have to beat four top-ten players en route to winning at Roland Garros.
The defeat also means Williams avoids another clash with Osaka – four months after her US Open final meltdown against the Japanese star.
Today's defeat was also Williams' first at the Australian Open since the 2016 final when she lost to Angelique Kerber in three sets. Of course, two years ago she lifted the title while being eight weeks pregnant.
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