TWIST OF FATE

Serena Williams Loses to Karolina Pliskova at Australian Open

Tennis legend was just one point away from comeback victory when she hurt her ankle.

Serena Williams was just one point away from a comeback victory in the Australian Open quarterfinals Wednesday when she twisted her left ankle and subsequently lost to Czech star Karolina Pliskova. After a promising start, Williams squandered four match points along the way to dropping the last six games of a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 loss to No. 7 seed Pliskova at Melbourne Park. Instead of Williams moving one match closer to an eighth championship at the Australian Open—and record-tying 24th Grand Slam title overall—Pliskova will advance to the semifinals in the pursuit of her first major trophy. “I was almost in the locker room,” said Pliskova, who trailed 5-1 in the third set, “but now I’m standing here as the winner.” She will face No. 4-seeded Naomi Osaka, who beat No. 6 Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1 earlier Wednesday.

CHEATED

Serena Deserved Better. And So Did Osaka.

Danielle Tcholakian