Australian Open: Serena Williams knocked out after she loses quarter-final to Karolina Pliskova

Serena Williams on Wednesday was knocked out of the Australian Open by former world no.1 Karolina Pliskova. Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals. 

"She improved her game in the second set. I was struggling a little bit against the wind. She was playing very well in the second set. I was almost in the locker room but now stand here as the winner. My mind was in the locker room at 5-1 down but I was still here. I was too passive and mentally down. She got a little bit shaky in the end. I took my chances and I won," Pliskova said after her win.

"I'm happy to play two days in a row. I like it. Naomi Osaka [her semi-final opponent] is dangerous but there is nobody more dangerous than Serena, she concluded.

By virtue of this win, Pliskova advanced to meet Japan's Naomi Osaka for a place in the final.