Angelique Kerber defeats Caroline Wozniacki to reach US Open final and take No. 1 spot

Kerber completed a 6-4 6-3 victory to reach her maiden final in New York and take the No. 1 spot from Serena Williams, who lost to Pliskova in the other semi-final.

The 28-year-old from Bremen made a watertight start to the contest, staying in the rallies and jumping on any slower returns.

In what was turning into a slug fest, the Dane handed Kerber a double break following a number of miscues.

The Australian Open champion was hitting the ball flat and showing excellent length on her groundstrokes to move 4-1 up before the two-time runner-up in New York elevated her game to make a comeback.

But Germany's Kerber composed herself to hold for 5-3 and then held her nerve on her next service game to take the opening set after 45 minutes of relentless tennis.

The US Open has been the site of Wozniacki’s two major finals - in 2009 and 2014, when she lost to Kim Clijsters and Williams respectively, and her run to the semi-finals has been warmly received having dropped to a lowly ranking of No. 74 following a succession of injuries.

But her hopes of reaching a third major final took a blow when she was broken in the opening game of the second set as the unforced error count mounted.

A further break of serve put Kerber firmly in control at 5-1 and although Wozniacki pulled one of the breaks back, winning nine straight points, the German eventually got the job done to reach her third Grand Slam final of 2016.

"It's just incredible. It's a great day," Kerber said on court after the game. "To be here in the final for the first time that means a lot. To be number one in the world, it sounds amazing."