Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the 2018 US Open women's quarter final clash between six-time champion Serena Williams and 2016 finalist, Karolina Pliskova. The ladies are due on court in Arthur Ashe Stadium shortly.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - WILLIAMS 6-4 6-3 PLISKOVA. Serena marches into the last four as she concludes a straight sets victory in just one hour and 25 minutes. The six-time champion nailed three aces to seal it to love and take her tally to 12 for the night. She will now meet Anastasija Sevastova in the last four on Thursday.

WILLIAMS 6-4 5-3 PLISKOVA. Serena makes deuce with a sensational forehand winner but aces two and three keep Pliskova in it for the moment. Serena will now serve for the match.

WILLIAMS 6-4 5-2 PLISKOVA. It's almost a major wobble, but Serena gets the job done to move within a game of the last four. The six-time champion hits back from 0-40 down courtesy of some big serving and an ace. She then does a skip of disappointment when she blows a simple enough forehand into the net, but saves the fourth BP of the game with a 10th ace of the night. Pliskova will again look back and rue another big opportunity to up the ante in this match. She will now serve to stay in it.

ACE COUNT: Williams 8-1 Pliskova.

WILLIAMS 6-4 4-2 PLISKOVA. That's better from the Czech No.8 seed. She picks up an easy hold to love for the first time in a while.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 6-4 4-1 PLISKOVA. Hang on. Serena throws in a loose service game and Pliskova ends her eight-game losing streak. Serena coughs up two BPs and thinks she's saved both when she lands a wide ace. Kaja challenges and it's shown to be out. Serena misses with the second serve and the double fault costs her one of her breaks.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 6-4 4-0 PLISKOVA. It's surely all-but over. Serena has got her eye firmly in and Pliskova's game is falling apart. The Czech skews a poor backhand into the tramlines on break point from deuce and has the demeanour of a woman who knows defeat is inevitable now.

WILLIAMS 6-4 3-0 PLISKOVA. Serena comfortably consolidates as aces six and seven help her to an easy hold to love. That scoreboard is looking rather good for the home crowd's favourite right now.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 6-4 2-0 PLISKOVA. This purple patch is threatening to become decisive. Serena breaks to love and has now won six games on the spin.

WILLIAMS 6-4 1-0 PLISKOVA. Serena maintains her momentum with a hold to 30. Pliskova just hasn't been able to adjust to the six-time champion's gear shift and will look back on Set 1 as a missed opportunity.

SET! - WILLIAMS 6-4 PLISKOVA. It's four games in a row! Serena's early wobbles seem like a long time ago as she sets about Pliskova at 40-0 down to force deuce with a brace of stonking forehands. A stunning return winner earns a set point that Kaja saves, but Serena isn't to be denied and an unforced backhand error from the Czech sees the 23-Grand Slam champion take the opener in 49 minutes.

WILLIAMS 5-4 PLISKOVA. Williams has found an extra gear at just the right time. She hammers down the big serves, including another ace, as she applies scoreboard pressure with a hold to 15.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 4-4 PLISKOVA. Serena makes her move and it's all square! A pair of quite brilliant forehands apply some heat at 30-30 and Pliskova caves as a couple of errors with backhand attempts up the line snap into the net.

WILLIAMS 3-4 PLISKOVA. Serena stays firmly in touch with a strong hold to 15.

WILLIAMS 2-4 PLISKOVA. Kaja is almost made to rue the missed opportunity for the double break immediately as Serena steps it up a gear to snare her first break points of the contest. Pliskova is having none of it though, and saves both to make deuce before two more big serves ensure she maintains her first-set advantage.