Vandeweghe third American woman in US Open last four after beating Pliskova

Coco Vandeweghe continued America’s dominance of the women’s US Open with a quarter-final victory over Karolina Pliskova that ended the Czech’s reign as world number one.

Pliskova needed to at least match her achievement of last year by reaching the final to prevent Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza overtaking her.

She had a set point in the opener against Vandeweghe but could not take it and the 20th seed completed a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 victory to reach her second grand slam semi-final of the season.

Vandeweghe joins compatriots Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens in the last four. Victory for Madison Keys over Kaia Kanepi later would make it the first clean sweep for the host nation since 1981.

“When I won this event as a junior I always dreamed about being here on the real stage,” said the 25-year-old. “To come together this year, it is a process. I did expect it overnight when I was 16 but now here I am and I couldn’t wish for anything better.

“I watched the match last night with Venus and think she said it best. We have to admire Serena and Venus, Lindsay (Davenport), Jennifer (Capriati). They all motivated me to be the next great American coming up and let’s make it four for four.”

Pliskova was the only top-eight seed to make it through to the quarter-finals and looked to have hit her stride after shaky early performances. But she again struggled to find her best form, making crucial errors in the first set tie-break in particular.

Pliskova has made no secret of the weight she has felt on her shoulders this tournament and hopes the experience will help in the long run.

She said: “With this pressure, what I had here, this tournament, it was something new for me. I never felt like this before. I was never actually defending the final of a grand slam. So it was totally different. Maybe I’m going to feel better in the next grand slams.

“Hopefully I have many more chances. There is many more grand slams to come, so I believe I can win one.”

As for losing the number one ranking after eight weeks, the 25-year-old said: “I don’t care. I don’t think something is going to change if you are number two.”

Vandeweghe made the better start and moved into a 4-2 lead but two double faults gave the advantage back, the American smashing her racket in annoyance.

Pliskova had a set point at 4-5 but Vandeweghe produced a fine backhand to save it and she was the more consistent player in the tie-break. Both women are very strong servers so breaks were always likely to be at a premium.

It was Vandeweghe who secured the crucial one in the second set, breaking for 3-1, and she saved a break point in the final game before clinching victory when Pliskova netted a return.