Serena Williams loses stunner in Australian Open quarterfinals
/ CBS/AP
Melbourne, Australia — Four times, Serena Williams was only one point – a single point – from closing out a victory in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
On the first such chance, at 5-1, 40-30 in the third set, she turned her left ankle awkwardly. The owner of the best serve in the sport would lose every point she served the rest of the way.
And so it was that a startling reversal and result would follow Wednesday at Melbourne, with Williams dropping the last six games of a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 loss to No. 7 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
"I can't say that I choked on those match points," Williams said. "She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots."
The 37-year-old American didn't call for a trainer during the match and later wouldn't blame the ankle for the way everything changed down the stretch, saying afterward that it "seems to be fine."
But instead of Williams moving closer to an eighth championship at the Australian Open and record-tying 24th Grand Slam title overall, it is Pliskova who will continue the pursuit of her first major trophy.
"I was almost in the locker room," Pliskova told the Rod Laver Arena crowd, "but now I'm standing here as the winner."
In the semifinals, Pliskova will face No. 4-seeded Naomi Osaka, who advanced by beating No. 6 Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1 earlier Wednesday. The other women's semifinal will be two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova against unseeded American Danielle Collins.
In the men's quarterfinals Wednesday, 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic met No. 28 Lucas Pouille, before 14-time major champion Novak Djokovic was scheduled to face 2014 U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori at night.
Williams' surprising departure scuttled what would have been a much-anticipated rematch against Osaka, who beat her in the chaotic U.S. Open final last September. That, points out CBSSports.com's Kevin Skiver, featured Williams calling umpire Carlos Ramos a "thief" and accusing him of calling her a cheater.
This defeat is the earliest in Australia for Williams since way back in 2014, when she exited with a fourth-round loss to Ana Ivanovic. Since then? She won the tournament in 2015, lost in the final in 2016, and won again in 2017 while pregnant, before missing last year's edition a few months after the birth of her daughter.
As for chasing Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24 Slam trophies in singles, Williams said: "It hasn't happened yet, but I feel like it's going to happen."
The match against Pliskova was played under a stifling sun, with the temperature around 80 degrees. Williams – coming off an intense three-set victory over No. 1 Simona Halep in the fourth round – often stepped into the patches of shade behind each baseline.
She did not start well, not well at all. Her mistakes were mounting and her deficit was growing.
In the first set alone, Williams made more than twice as many unforced errors as her opponent, 11-5, a pattern that would continue throughout. By the end, the margin was 37-15.
Looking increasingly frustrated, Williams would yell at herself after mistakes or gesture as if to say, "That's NOT how I should be hitting the ball!" Add it all up, and Pliskova led by a set and a break at 3-2 in the second.
Only then did Williams get going. From there, she immediately earned her first break point of the match and converted it to get to 3-all, beginning a run in which she claimed nine of 11 games.
"You don't really feel," Pliskova said, "like you're going to win this match."
Serving for the victory at 5-1, 40-30, Williams was called for a foot fault – reminiscent of an infamous such ruling at the U.S. Open a decade ago. During the ensuing point Wednesday, Williams twisted her left ankle and dumped a forehand into the net.
She grabbed at her foot afterward, then double-faulted and would go on to cede that game.
Not a big deal, right? She still had a sizable lead.
Except that three more match points would follow while Pliskova served, and she saved each one.
"There's nothing I did wrong on those match points. I didn't do anything wrong. I stayed aggressive," Williams said. "She just literally hit the lines on some of them."
Williams would again serve for the match at 5-3 – and again get broken. The owner of the most feared and respected serve in women's tennis was broken for a third time in a row at 5-all, and Pliskova was on her way.
"She got a little bit shaky in the end," Pliskova said. "So I took my chances. And I won."
Osaka will carry a 12-match Grand Slam winning streak into the semifinals.
The 21-year-old from Japan moved closer to a second consecutive major championship by parlaying her aggressive and powerful style into a 31-11 edge in winners against Svitolina.
"For me, right now, I just try to keep looking forward. So I'm not really satisfied. Like, I am happy that I'm here, but at the same time, I want to keep going," said Osaka, who never had been past the fourth round at the Australian Open. "There is more matches to win."
First published on January 23, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Los Angeles teachers overwhelmingly OK pact ending 6-day strike
Marathon bargaining session led to deal; walkout was mainly over pay, class size, support staff in nation's 2nd biggest school district
updated 34M ago 
The best jobs in America for 2019
Jobs may be plentiful, but they don't always offer great pay and satisfaction. Here's where Glassdoor says you should look
2H ago 
Eye doctors offer free exams to NFL refs after blown call
The passive aggressive gift is the result of a controversial call during Sunday's NFC Championship game, which infuriated all of New Orleans
3H ago 
Couple claims their dog died while with a walker from a popular app
"We will never allow a stranger to take care of our dog ever again," Nick Moore, of Houston, Texas, said of the experience with Wag
3H ago 
Mariano Rivera becomes first player unanimously elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Rivera received all 425 votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America
1H ago 
Ocasio-Cortez wins seat on powerful House Oversight committee
The move signifies a major victory for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the freshman class of progressive lawmakers now in the Democratic majority
5H ago 
Justice Department asks Supreme Court to review Census citizenship question
The Trump administration wants to ask respondents if they are citizens, a move decried by immigration rights activists
7H ago 
Democrat floats idea to reopen government, end "self-inflicted crisis"
Rep. Ro Khanna said President Trump and congressional leaders should appoint outside negotiators to broker a budget deal
7H ago 
Elizabeth Warren brings populist economic message to Puerto Rico
In a speech in San Juan, Warren discussed the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico's financial woes
8H ago 
Here are the questions Democrats intend to ask Matt Whitaker
The acting attorney general is likely to face hours of questioning next month
8H ago 
Serena Williams loses stunner in Australian Open quarterfinals
Was point from win four times vs. young Karolina Pliskova; loss ends shot at rematch with Naomi Osaka, who beat her in controversial U.S. Open match
updated 1M ago 
Witness wracked with guilt over WWII crash honors fallen airmen
Tony Foulds was only 8 when he saw a damaged bomber try to land on a field where he was playing
7H ago 
Chris Brown released after Paris rape complaint, denies allegation
The American star has a long history of violence, including a felony conviction for 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna
4H ago 
Dad will do "whatever it takes" to get 5-year-old across U.S. border
The father, who was deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, knows the risks – but believes it's his son's only hope
11H ago 
Zimbabwe leader vows probe amid deadly crackdown on protesters
President Emmerson Mnangagwa calls violence by security forces "unacceptable," pledges investigation, but opposition says beatings continue
17H ago 
James Gandolfini's son to play young Tony Soprano in upcoming movie
"It's a profound honor to continue my dad's legacy while stepping into the shoes of a young Tony Soprano," 19-year-old Michael Gandolfini said
2H ago 
Oscar snubs & surprises: Emily Blunt, Michael B. Jordan miss out on Academy Award nominations
Bradley Cooper is out of the running for Best Director, and other notable omissions from the list of contenders for this year's Oscars
3H ago
Chris Brown released after Paris rape complaint, denies allegation
The American star has a long history of violence, including a felony conviction for 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna
4H ago 
"The Favourite," "Roma" tie for most Oscar nominations
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reveals Oscar nominees in all 24 categories
10H ago 
Melissa McCarthy nominated for best and worst actress
Melissa McCarthy has been nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie
10H ago 
Astronaut pulled from upcoming flight due to medical issues
NASA Astronaut Eric Boe has been pulled from a commercial crew test flight for medical reasons
7H ago 
Scientist who helped create first gene-edited babies fired by university
He Jiankui evaded supervision of his work and violated research norms because he wanted to be famous — and could face prosecution for using CRISPR technology, authorities said
Jan 21 
French watchdog slaps Google with $57M fine under new EU law
Internet giant punished for violating European privacy rules aimed at protecting consumer data
Jan 21 
"Super blood wolf moon" puts on show in night sky
The rare celestial event wowed anyone who saw it
Jan 21 
Almanac: The English Channel Tunnel
On January 20, 1986, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Francois Mitterand broke new ground on the long-dreamed-of "Chunnel"
Jan 20 
CBS rejects Super Bowl ad touting benefits of medical marijuana
Medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and Washington, D.C., but its use is still banned in the NFL
2H ago 
Johnson & Johnson to pay $120 million to settle hip-implant claims
Attorneys general across U.S. alleged the company used deceptive practices to promote two hip-implant devices
8H ago 
These two factors may help women live longer
New research finds certain body sizes, as well as the amount of time exercising per day, may play a role in longer lifespans
11H ago 
How to protect yourself in dangerous, freezing weather
The record-breaking and deadly chill slamming three-quarters of the country is posing serious health risks
13H ago 
Insulin prices more than doubled over 5 years
The surging cost of insulin is causing hardship for some diabetics, who have resorted to cutting back on the drug
15H ago 
The best jobs in America for 2019
Jobs may be plentiful, but they don't always offer great pay and satisfaction. Here's where Glassdoor says you should look
2H ago
Johnson & Johnson to pay $120 million to settle hip-implant claims
Attorneys general across U.S. alleged the company used deceptive practices to promote two hip-implant devices
8H ago 
2017, 2018 were costliest ever years for natural disasters
Two straight years of fierce hurricanes, massive wildfires and flooding caused global losses of $650 billion
9H ago 
Federal workers to miss 2nd paycheck if government doesn't reopen
The government shutdown has entered its fifth week, the longest in American history
2H ago 
Stocks slide on rumbles of a weaker global economy
Slower growth forecasts for the U.S., China and most everywhere else send stocks down around the world
10H ago 
4 arrested in plot to attack Muslim community in New York
Investigators said the suspects were targeting Islamberg, a community that's been targeted in the past
7H ago
Chris Brown released after Paris rape complaint, denies allegation
The American star has a long history of violence, including a felony conviction for 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna
4H ago 
Missing 23-year-old Boston woman found alive; suspect charged with kidnapping
Boston police had earlier released surveillance images of a man they said was connected to Olivia Ambrose's disappearance
7H ago 
Alleged assault live-streamed on Facebook
A woman said she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a nightclub and that the incident was live-streamed
10H ago 
Missing Colorado mom's close friend reveals red flags about her fiancé
"The moment that I found out that she had been missing the first words that came out of my mouth were, 'He did something to her'"
15H ago
