Serena Williams' 186-week reign as world No.1 is over after Karolina Pliskova beat her 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in the semi-finals of the US Open.
The 10th-seeded Czech moves into the final at Flushing Meadows to meet either Angelique Kerber - who will replace Williams as the world's top-ranker player - or Caroline Wozniacki.
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Serena Williams stunned by Pliskova
Serena Williams' 186 week reign as world No 1 is over after Karolina Pliskova beat her in the semi-finals of the US Open.
With the defeat, Williams' bid to break the professional era record for career grand slam titles came to a halt.
For Williams, whose 22 grand slam titles has her tied with Steffi Graf, it marked the second consecutive year she lost in the semis while chasing history.
![Disappointing exit: Serena Williams.](/web/20160911174810im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/c/i/h/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.grcije.png/1473388909776.jpg)
Williams came into last year's semi-finals as the three-time defending champion and two wins shy of a rare calendar-year grand slam but was upset by Roberta Vinci.
She clutched at her left hamstring occasionally in the second set and double-faulted to end it.
The loss also prevents Williams from earning her US Open crown.
Pliskova advances to her first grand slam final.
AAP-Reuters
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