Serena says still ‘long way to go’ at US Open

Serena Williams is taking nothing for granted as she heads into the US Open semi – finals on Thursday with a record -equalling 24 th Grand Slam title on the horizon .“ I ’ d been a couple of steps away at the last Grand Slam, so I ’ m definitely not ahead of myself , ” said Williams, who fell to Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July.

“ I still know that no matter whether I ’ m in the semi – finals or the finals , I have a really long way to go to win that .

“ That proved to be true at Wimbledon . I ’ m just taking it one at a time — literally . ”

Williams booked her last -four spot with a 6 -4 , 6 – 3 victory over eighth -seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova.

The win came in her 100 th match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she won the first of her six US Open titles in 1999 .

She avenged a semi – final loss to Pliskova in the 2016 US Open and notched her first win over a top -10 player since she returned in March after the birth of daughter Olympia in September of last year .

“ Shocking , my first top – 10 win , ” said Williams, who will face Anastasija Sevastova for the first time for a place in the final after the 19 th seeded Latvian knocked out defending champion Sloane Stephens , the world number three .

The departures of Stephens and Pliskova left 14 th – seeded Madison Keys and Williams — seeded 17 th despite her world 26 ranking — as the highest seeds remaining in the women ’ s draw .

Keys faced Spain ’ s Carla Suarez Navarro for a semi – final berth on Wednesday , with the winner to face either Japan ’ s Naomi Osaka or Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine .

Pliskova, who seized the world number one ranking herself briefly last year , said that even though Williams is still rebuilding her world ranking , she ’ s playing more like her old number one self than a number 17 .

“ She ’ s playing with the same power . She can still serve well , ” Pliskova said . “ I don’ t think there ’ s any change with her game . She ’ s just going for her shots . ”

That ’ s good news for the 36 -year – old Williams as she vies for a title that would see her break out of a tie with Chris Evert for most US Open victories and equal Australian Margaret Court’ s all – time record of 24 major titles .

While she says she doesn ’ t feel pressure , she admits that she savors every opportunity more now .

“ I don’ t have 10 more years , at least I don’ t think so — I said that 10 years ago .

“ I don’ t think I have another 10 years of having opportunities to be able to play and win championships . Every match really means a lot to me . ”

( AFP )

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