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NEW YORK -- A year ago, this was precisely the time and place Serena Williams crashed and burned.She was attempting the rare calendar-year Grand Slam, having won her first 26 major matches of the season in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and through the quarterfinals in New York.And then Williams was blindsided by Roberta Vinci of Italy, playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal. The pressure that had been building all year -- pressure Williams had flatly dismissed -- seemed to paralyze her.This year, with milestones of a more cumulative sort on the line, Williams had been noticeably calmer -- until Thursday night. But playing against Karolina Pliskova, a 24-year-old from the Czech Republic, there were times when the same looks of dread and absolute anguish that surfaced against Vinci again crossed her features.The No. 10-seeded Pliskova produced an emphatic 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory to advance to Saturdays final against the winner of the late match between No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber and two-time US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki.Williams wasnt just a victim of nerves; as the match progressed she seemed troubled by a left hamstring injury that had her hobbling into the tiebreaker.I had a goal today, to beat Serena, Pliskova said in her on-court interview. And thats what I did.I dont believe it. Actually, I do believe it. I knew I could beat anyone if Im playing my game.A few more takeaways from this stunner:Pliskova never, ever blinked: Down a set and 15-30 in the opening game of the second, Williams desperately needed to change the momentum of her swiftly vanishing match against Pliskova. So she cracked a forehand right at Pliskovas midsection, who was lucky to barely deflect it with her racket. Williams let out a huge roar, but Pliskova wasnt impressed. She hung on to force a second-set tiebreaker and closed the deal there -- just as she had done earlier against Serenas sister Venus. America probably hates me, she said, because I beat Venus and Serena.Williams was physically compromised: Williams did not move particularly well throughout the match, possibly because she was playing for a second consecutive night. Ultimately, that was her responsibility because she asked the USTA to play her first match last Tuesday, which meant playing the quarterfinals and semifinals on successive nights. Coming off a difficult match against No. 5 seed Simona Halep that she won in three sets, Williams seemed to be increasingly troubled by a left knee injury. Her deteriorating footwork and her tight forehand didnt help, either.This was a coming-out party: While Williams was going for a handful of cherished records, Pliskova played with a grit and style that belied her lack of major experience. This was her first Grand Slam semifinal, while Williams has now appeared in 33. Pliskova is the first Czech woman to reach the US Open final since 1993, when Helena Sukova did it. Shes on a career-best 11-match winning streak. And to think, she had never been past the third round of a major. Pliskova has now beaten five top-10 players this year -- including all three 2016 Grand Slam winners: Svetlana Kuznetsova, Garbine Muguruza, Kerber, Venus Williams and Serena Williams.Serena needs a vacation: After losing to Vinci a year ago, Williams shut it down for the rest of the season. It worked, and she won a Slam this year and got to another final. Williams, who turns 35 at the end of the month, might want to consider that again. Nike Air Force 1 Womens Ireland . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Nike Air Force 1 Ireland . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. http://www.cheapnikeairforce1ireland.com/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Cheap Air Force Ones .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Nike Air Force 1 Wholesale . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Carltons misfiring attack has taken a hit with full-forward Levi Casboult offered a one-week ban by the AFLs match review panel.The Blues suffered their fourth loss in a row on Sunday when Adelaide prevailed by 10 goals at the MCG and that disappointment was compounded after Casboult was cited for striking Crows defender Kyle Hartigan.Casboult appeared to strike Hartigan in the midriff after a marking contest just seconds before halftime. He was immediately reported and had a 50m penalty awarded against him.The Blues forward risks a two-match ban if he unsuccessfully challenges the MRPs assessment at the tribunal.He will miss Sundays clash against West Coast at the MCG if he acccepts.dddddddddddd.The MRP laid seven charges in total after assessing round 16 AFL action, with six other players able to accept fines.West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett can accept a $1000 fine for striking North Melbournes Jack Ziebell during the second quarter of the Eagles win at Subiaco.Teammates Patrick McGinnity and Sharrod Wellingham were also fined, along with Fremantles Lachie Weller, Collingwoods Brayden Maynard and Brisbane skipper Tom Rockliff.Match day reports made against Gold Coasts Nick Malceski and St Kildas Seb Ross were thrown out. ' ' '