sport news Williams refuses to blame injury after crashing out of Australian Open

Serena Williams refused to blame a jarred ankle after suffering a remarkable Australian Open collapse in the quarter-finals against Karolina Pliskova.

From a set and a break down, the title favourite turned things around to lead 5-1 in the deciding set and had four match points but lost six games in a row to fall to a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 defeat.

Williams had her first match point at 5-1 but, after being called for a foot fault on what appeared to be an ace, she jarred her left ankle and did not win another point on serve during the match.

Serena Williams refused to blame an ankle injury for her incredible collapse at Australian Open

Serena Williams refused to blame an ankle injury for her incredible collapse at Australian Open

Williams appeared to jar her ankle on match point and went on to lose six straight games

The American appeared to be praying for a miracle during a break in play

Williams appeared to jar her ankle on match point and went on to lose six straight games

The other three chances came with Pliskova serving at 4-5 but the Czech was rewarded for bravery on her forehand, and Williams insisted afterwards it had been her opponent who had won the match rather than she who had lost it.

Williams said: 'There's nothing I did wrong on those match points. I can't say that I choked. She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots.

'I don't really take losses well. But Karolina played lights out starting 5-1, 40-30. Literally, I've never seen anything like it. If anything, I think that's a little bit easier to know, OK, next time I'm up 5-1 against anybody, I just need to make sure I play lights out when I have match points.

'It's little things like that that I used to do, always do, that I need matches to know that, OK, this is when you go psycho.'

Pliskova was happy to agree with Williams, saying with a smile: 'I'm not going to go against Serena.

'Normally I'm having lot of comebacks, but maybe from being a set down or a break down, so nothing like this. I think it's going to be the best comeback ever so far in my life.'

Karolina Pliskova was delighted to book her place in the semi-finals as she spoke to the media

Karolina Pliskova was delighted to book her place in the semi-finals as she spoke to the media

Williams reacts after losing a point during her narrow Australian Open quarter-final defeat

Williams reacts after losing a point during her narrow Australian Open quarter-final defeat

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