NEW YORK -- A look at Thursdays play in the $46.3 million U.S. Open tennis championships:WEATHER: Sunny, hot and humid. High of 88.ATTENDANCE: 22,038.RESULTS (Womens Semifinals): First-time major semifinalist Karolina Pliskova upset six-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams 6-2, 7-6 (5), ending Williams chance to win her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. Pliskova will face No. 2 Angelique Kerber for the title Saturday. Kerber beat two-time U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 and will ascend to the No. 1 ranking Monday.ON COURT FRIDAY (Mens Semifinals): No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 10 Gael Monfils, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 6 Kei Nishikori.STAT OF THE DAY: 309 -- The number of weeks Serena Williams has been ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour until Monday, when she will be surpassed by Angelique Kerber.QUOTE OF THE DAY: If I cant turn around after 24 hours and play again then I shouldnt be on tour. So I definitely wasnt tired from yesterdays match at all. -- Serena WilliamsFRIDAY ON TV (All Times EDT): Noon-2 p.m., ESPN2; 3-11 p.m., ESPNON THIS DATE (Sept. 9, 1968): Arthur Ashe beats Tom Okker 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to win the first U.S. mens singles title of the Open era. Cheap Jerseys . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. China Jerseys . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. http://www.cheapjerseysdiscount.com/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Throwback Jerseys .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Jerseys Outlet . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. HOUSTON -- Down two starting infielders, the Astros did one thing they have struggled to do this season -- finish off the Rangers.Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman both left with injuries, but George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez homered and the Houston Astros helped their fading playoff hopes with an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.I really like the way we fought back, even after they scored the run in the first, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. We keep fighting, and we finished tonights game a lot better, obviously.Altuve exited after the fourth with right oblique discomfort, and Bregman was pulled in the sixth with right hamstring discomfort.Neither player was available to speak after the game.Theyre getting looked at, getting all the tests, Hinch said. Theyre going to have a full evaluation before we know anything. Im not optimistic about Friday for either one of them.Houston snapped a th