Australian Open: Serena Williams loses to Karolina Pliskova

Serena William's bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam Singles title ended today, as she made a shock quarterfinal exit from the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, at Melbourne.

The 37-year old American, seeded 16th, was stunned by seventh placed Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

Serena, who returned from maternity leave in March last year, rose from 183 to 16 in the world rankings, and was eying to match Margaret Court's mark of 24 Singles Slams on the Aussie's home soil.

The American was also chasing a record eighth Melbourne title. For Pliskova, she will play in the semi-finals of the event for the first time, just like her opponent



Japan's Naomi Osaka. Osaka beat Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 6-4, 6-1 to seal a last-four berth.

Czech Petra Kvitova and American Danielle Rose Collins have already set up a semi-final clash.The Men's Singles quarterfinal between Canada's Milos Raonic and Frenchman Lucas Pouille is underway. 

World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia will battle it out against Japan's Kei Nishikori in the fourth and final last-8 match later today.

Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had stunned world number three and defending champion Roger Federer in the Round-of-16, has already set up a semi-final clash with second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain.