NEW YORK -- A year after one of the most significant and stunning losses of Serena Williams illustrious career, shes made it back to the same stage of the same tournament: the U.S. Open semifinals.The stakes and opponent are different. Once again, there is history in the offing.At Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2015, two wins shy of completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam in more than a quarter-century, Williams was upset in three sets by unseeded Roberta Vinci of Italy. At Ashe on Thursday night, two wins shy of claiming a record 23rd major singles title and earning a record 187th consecutive week at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, Williams faces 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.Vinci never had participated in a Grand Slam singles semifinal. Neither has Pliskova, who hadnt even been past the third round at major until now.The 24-year-old Pliskova grew up watching the Williams sisters play on TV and she already eliminated one in this tournament, beating Venus in a third-set tiebreaker after saving a match point in the fourth round.Asked whether she expected to get some advice from her sibling before facing Pliskova, the younger Williams said: Im sure she will tell me something. But Ill be there. Ill be ready tomorrow.Pliskova will be trying to become only the fourth woman to beat both Williams sisters at the same major, joining Martina Hingis at the 2001 Australian Open, Justine Henin at the 2007 U.S. Open, and Kim Clijsters at the 2009 U.S. Open.But Pliskova, who leads the tour in aces this season, realizes what a daunting task awaits her against Williams.Shes a big hitter and she can have 50 winners -- and you cannot do much about it, said Pliskova, whose twin sister is also a tennis player. But Im still going to hope that there is going to be some chance in the match where I can get my chance and be the one who is playing aggressive.The other womens semifinal Thursday is No. 2 Angelique Kerber of Germany against 74th-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, a former No. 1 who is a two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows.Kerber, who is 7-5 against Wozniacki, has a chance to overtake Williams atop the rankings after the tournament.This would mean a lot to me, Kerber said. I mean, when I was a kid, I was always dreaming (of) being the No. 1. Lets see. I mean, there are still matches to go.Williams overcame a real challenge in the quarterfinals, her first of the these two weeks, by getting past No. 5 Simona Halep 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 with the help of 18 aces and by winning the point on 26 of her 32 trips to the net.The sore right shoulder that developed in the days after the American won Wimbledon to tie Steffi Grafs Open-era mark of 22 major championships does not appear to be a problem any long.I feel OK. Im not at 100 percent, but Im OK, Williams said. Nothing to complain too much about.During the difficulties she encountered in the second set of her quarterfinal -- Williams went 0 for 12 on break points -- there never was the sort of emotional display she is famous for. A cracked racket, say, or screams of anger or self-encouragement.I was rather positive today, and thats not normal. Im just going to go with it, Williams said with a smile.Asked later to explain her mental state more, Williams replied: I was really rather calm today and not trying to be. I guess thats just how I got out of bed this morning. I definitely wanted to do some more `Come ons. I dont know why. Thats weird.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichCustom Nike New York Yankees Jerseys .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Cheap Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Wholesale Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. It was the kind of effort that can spur a team to great things, and Everton are looking to make sure Maarten Stekelenburgs heroics against Manchester City werent made in vain as they look to win a fourth straight contest over Burnley on Saturday at Turf Moor.The Toffees (4-3-1) are feeling good about themselves heading into this weekend and have every reason to be after scraping out a 1-1 draw at City on Sunday. Stekelenburg denied penalty attempts by both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero on either side of halftime, and despite conceding an equaliser by Nolito on 72 minutes, there was plenty of praise for the Netherlands international as he took Man of the Match honours.Ive had busy afternoons but none like this, Stekelenburg told evertonfctv.com after he finished the match with seven saves. It doesnt happen a lot. Ive saved some penalties but never two in a game. If you concede two penalties and still find yourself 1-0 up, you hope you get the three points but I think in the end we have to be happy with a point.Romelu Lukaku had staked Everton to a lead just after the hour mark, continuing his scintillating form in which hes scored nine goals in his last seven matches for club and country. The Belgium international also has a match-winner versus Burnley to his credit, scoring in a 3-1 victory at Turf Moor on Oct. 26, 2014.We know Romelu is one of the best strikers because he is strong, he keeps the ball, and normally, if he gets a chance he scores, manager Ronald Koeman said. In the one-v-one situation, how he finished that chance was world class.While the Toffees have taken a dip in form offensively with just two goals from their last three matches, they have clawed out two points, and considering what a haphazard affair the defence was last season, Koeman is pleased with his teams fighting spiritt.ddddddddddddThe intensity of the whole game was unbelievably high, he noted. Ive said several times to our team that we need this because this is football, the highest level of European football.Sean Dyche is hoping a return to Turf Moor will bring about that high level of play Koeman speaks to. The Clarets (2-1-5) were overrun 3-1 at Southampton last weekend, dropping their third straight match on the road. A late penalty by Sam Vokes did little more than flatter the scoreline, but Dyche felt his team was again snakebit over a penalty not called that could have gone in their favour.It doesnt guarantee you win the game, but if you score you have a foothold, away from home and the feeling in the stadium changes and their team feeling changes, Dyche told Burnleys official website. You have to be disappointed because thats three decisions weve had go against us now. We had the penalty not given at Swansea and the one (goal) at Arsenal two weeks ago. And now this.Burnley have collected all seven of their points this season at Turf Moor, going 2-1-2 in those matches. Dyche is counting on his team to show the kind of efforts that resulted in victories over Liverpool and Watford.At home we play with bravery, fervour and energy, he said. Our home form has been good and weve looked solid.Dyche will likely be without midfielder Steven Defour, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first half against Southampton. The Belgium international has three assists, good for joint-second place in the league.Burnley have been outscored 6-1 in their three straight top-flight losses to Everton since a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor in the first Premier League clash between the two on Aug. 23, 2009. ' ' '