Karolina Pliskova's remarkable run at the US Open continues as the 10th seed from the Czech Republic came back from a set down to oust the USA's sixth seed Venus Williams in a high-quality fourth round encounter that had plenty of momentum swings.
Pliskova is now on a nine-match winning streak and is full of confidence after claiming her biggest title of her career at the Western and Southern Open defeating French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the semifinals and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the final.
The Czech had to overcome adversity and had the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd against her.
Williams gets the early break
The 10th seed won the coin toss and elected to receive as she was trying to get the early break in this match, however, Williams quickly established a 30-0 lead but two unforced errors got the game to 30-30, and the sixth seed got a good first serve in and forehand unforced error out wide, however, a passing shot from Pliskova got the game to deuce but a backhand error and an 114mph ace out wide gave the American the early 1-0 lead.
However, in the following game, Pliskova was immediately under pressure with the American becoming aggressive with a forehand volley winner at the net, backhand winner at the net and another forehand volley at the net to gain a 0-40 lead.
The Czech saved one of the break points with an 110mph ace down the T, however, a backhand error handed Williams the early break to lead 2-0.
Williams consolidated the break easily to extend her lead to 3-0 and in the fourth game of the match, Pliskova got on the scoreboard by holding to 15 but trailed 3-1.
The two-time US Open champion bossed the fifth game with a backhand winner down the line, a nine shot rally ending with another backhand down the line with Pliskova placed on the other side of the court, and a backhand error got the game to 40-0, however, Pliskova responded with a forehand winner down the line but an 113mph ace down the T nudged the scoreboard again for Williams to have a commanding 4-1 lead.
The reigning Western and Southern Open champion was clearly struggling in her surroundings in the Arthur Ashe Stadium and quickly trailed 0-40 down, furthermore, Pliskova got Williams out wide with the former world number one placing the forehand into the net, an ace out wide saved the second break point and a good second serve down the middle got the game level at deuce.
Williams responded by wrongfooting the Czech and placed a forehand winner to get a fourth break point chance, and Williams took it by virtue of a forehand unforced error sailing into the net to get the insurance break to lead 5-1.
Pliskova fights back
The sixth seed was serving for the opening set but three uncharacteristic points with a backhand unforced volley at the net and back-to-back double faults gave the Czech three opportunities to get one of the breaks back, however, she snuffed one out with a 108mph ace down the middle, and a good first serve drawing the backhand error but the Czech didn't hesitate to take the break at the third time of asking with a backhand unforced error going wide from Williams' racquet.
The Czech was serving to stay in the opening set and she held serve but still trailed 5-3, and asked the American had another chance to get the first set under her belt.
Once again, Williams started the game poorly by playing a backhand unforced error in the net and Pliskova punished Williams' second serve with a forehand return winner, a couple of more errors from Pliskova's racquet got the game to 30-30 and a return winner gave Pliskova the chance to recover the break.
However, a backhand error allowed Williams to save the break point and Pliskova came to the net but failed to put away a volley which gave the American her first set point, however, Pliskova saved it with a good return on Williams' 79mph second serve and a forehand unforced error into the net gave the Czech a second chance to break.
Williams failed to serve out for the second set again and gifted Pliskova the break by virtue of a double fault to get the game back on serve at 5-4.
Williams edges the opening set
The Czech was serving to stay in the opening set for the second time, and the second time proved to be a task too many as she reeled off three consecutive games to have the advantage but produced errors and found herself at 0-40 down.
Pliskova saved the second set point she faced with Williams' backhand missing the line and saved the third set point with a serve out wide and a forehand winner, however, the 10th seed's backhand sailed long giving Williams the opening set 6-4 in 40 minutes.
Williams takes an early lead
Both players opened the second set with love games at 1-1 and the American held easily to hold for 2-1. However, in the fourth game of the second set, Pliskova committed unforced errors and the 36-year-old had a break point with a double fault from the 10th seed's racquet and Williams took the break point at the first time of asking with amazing movement, and Pliskova played a half-volley at the net but a sliced backhand down the line gave Williams the early break to lead 3-1.
However, Pliskova looked down and out but began to swing freely as she had nothing to lose, and she broke back with a forehand smash-winner to create a third break point and a backhand error from Williams gifted the Czech the break back at 3-2.
The Czech takes the match into a decider
The pendulum swung with the 10th seed holding easily to get the second set levelled at 3-3, and the American's game went off the boil with Pliskova punishing Williams' second serve, coming out on top in a nine-shot rally with a forehand unforced error going into the net but Williams responded with a good first serve, however, Pliskova's backhand lob with Williams at the net created the first first break point, and the big-serving Czech took it with Williams' forehand going into the net.
The Czech consolidated the break to lead 5-3 but the American wasn't giving up this set without a fight as she held serve easily to 15 but Pliskova was serving for the second set at 5-4.
A forehand unforced error handed Pliskova a 15-0 lead but a backhand winner down the line from Williams shortly followed, however, another forehand winner out wide and two back-to-back aces out wide handed Pliskova the second set, 6-4 in 37 minutes.
Pliskova gets the early break
Both players held serve at the beginning of the final set, but in the third game, Williams opened it with a double fault, and she struggled with her second serve but Pliskova tried to be aggressive with it and committed a backhand unforced error.
Pliskova missed a smash at the net to give the American a 30-15 lead but a good return from Pliskova and the Czech followed this up by getting Williams on the move in an 11 shot rally and a forehand unforced error gave Pliskova the first break point in the decisive final set.
A backhand unforced error allowed Williams to save the break point, however, two unforced errors gave the 10th seed the break to lead 2-1 in the final set.
Williams was looking for the immediate break back but had three break point chances but Pliskova extended her lead with a backhand unforced error by the American to consolidate the break and lead 3-1.
Both players held their serves easily in the next two games with Pliskova nudging the scoreboard in her favor to lead 4-2, and Williams held serve to love with a forehand winner in the corner and an ace out wide trailing 4-3.
Williams breaks back
The pendulum swung again in Williams' favor and a crucial challenge by Williams on Pliskova's serve going long meant it was a second serve for the Czech and she subsequently placing a forehand error in the net.
However, Williams placed a forehand unforced error in the net got the game to 15-15 but a backhand drive volley in the corner followed by a backhand unforced error in the net from Pliskova's racquet gave the American two break points, and a tense Pliskova landed another tame backhand unforced error in the game to surrender the break to Williams and the match was evenly poised at 4-4.
The American lead at 5-4 in the final set and the 10th seed had the task of serving to stay in the match which proved to be difficult.
Two errors from Williams gave the Czech a comfortable 30-0 lead but a backhand winner down the line coupled with two more errors handed the two-time US Open champion a match point, a gutsy forehand drive volley allowed Pliskova to save the match point.
Pliskova was firmly under the pressure with the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd backing Williams to the finishing line but the Czech came out on top in a ten shot rally finished with a forehand winner in the corner, and a good first serve drawing the backhand error from Williams allowed Pliskova to survive and have the match levelled at 5-5.
Late drama commenced
The sixth seed had a 30-0 lead with two errors from Pliskova but two back-to-back forehand winners placed in the corner put the pressure back on Williams at 30-30, and a backhand unforced error in the net handed Pliskova a break point but Williams saved it brilliantly in a 15 shot rally with a forehand winner down the line but an unforced error out wide handed the Czech another break point, and Pliskova took advantage of this with a forehand winner helped with the net cord.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd got louder and louder, trying to put the pressure on Pliskova who was serving for the match, a good first serve out wide, followed by a timely ace down the T and a forehand winner gave Pliskova three match points.
A double fault, followed by a backhand volley at the net and a courageous backhand cross-court winner out wide, were three consecutive points won by Williams, as Pliskova squandered the three match points and was clearly nervous, and a forehand winner in the corner, and an exquisite forehand winner down the line allowed Williams to take in the match into a final set tiebreak.
Pliskova breaks through
The momentum shifted in Williams' favor but the American began the tiebreak first and a forehand unforced error into the net gave Pliskova the minibreak, and a backhand error from Williams on Pliskova's serve gave the Czech a 2-0 cushion but a backhand winner down the line allowed Williams to recover the minibreak but trailed 2-1.
Williams was yet to win a point on her serve in the tiebreak and Pliskova re-established the minibreak with Williams' sliced backhand breaking down sailing into the net but the seven-time Grand Slam champion was able to stay in touch by winning her first point on her serve in the tiebreak coming out on top in an 11 shot rally and placing the volley into the corner.
Unfortunately for Williams, a backhand approach down the line looked to be her point but a brilliant pickup at the net allowed Pliskova to extend her lead to 4-2 in the tiebreak, and a backhand unforced error allowed Pliskova to have a commanding 5-2 lead.
Williams' forehand on her serve went wayward committing an unforced error out wide giving Pliskova her third match point but a late challenge from Williams gave her a glimmer of hope as Pliskova's backhand missed the back of the court.
However, Pliskova's lead was unassailable and on her fifth match point a backhand sailed long from Williams' racquet giving the 10th- seeded Czech a remarkable 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory in 2 hours and 24 minutes to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open on the 18th attempt at Slams.
Match stats
Both players served eight aces each and Pliskova won 75 percent of the points on her first serve along with 33 winners and 30 unforced errors.
Williams won 64 percent of the points on her first serve but committed 40 unforced errors and produced 38 winners.
Pliskova denied the two-time US Open champion the chance to reach her 12th Grand Slam quarterfinal in New York.
Next for Pliskova
The Czech lefty will be competing in her first US Open quarterfinal against a fellow first-time quarterfinalist, the fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Ana Konjuh for a place in the semifinals.