NEW YORK — On the cusp of history, Serena Williams couldn’t write the final chapter Friday.
NEW YORK — On the cusp of history, Serena Williams couldn’t write the final chapter Friday.
With a calendar year Grand Slam on the line, Williams was shockingly beaten in the U.S. Open semifinals by Roberta Vinci. Vinci was unseeded, had never beaten Williams in four previous matches, had never won a set from her or taken more than four games in one.
Then Friday, the 32-year-old Italian used her considerable guile to upset the No. 1 player in the world in a result that no one could have foretold, just as it couldn’t be predicted that she would be facing Flavia Pennetta, her 33-year-old countrywoman, in Saturday’s final. Vinci won, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Pennetta beat the No. 2 player in the world, Simona Halep, with surprising ease, 6-1, 6-3. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was stunned.
Shortly after the match, Williams credited Vinci for the quality of her play and dismissed the question of disappointment for not adding the Open title to her Grand Slam portfolio this season of the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
“I don’t want to talk about how disappointing it is for me,” Williams said. “If you have any other questions, I’m open for that.”
Williams rallied to take the first set after being broken in the third game.
Then Vinci craftily worked her way into the match, starting to serve better, moving Williams from side to side and from backcourt to the service box, where she seemed uncomfortable. It was a virtuoso performance from a player who never before had been in a Grand Slam semifinal.
“I thought she played the best tennis of her career. She’s 33 (actually 32), she’s going for it at a late age,” said Williams, who turns 34 this month. “So that’s good for her to keep going for it and playing so well. Actually, I guess it’s inspiring. But yeah, I think she literally played out of her mind.”
Though Williams served 16 aces and only four double faults, her thunderous clout didn’t seem to phase Vinci, who picked up her timing on the serve as the match progressed.
“It’s amazing. It’s like a dream,” Vinci said. “I’m really happy, but of course I’m a little bit really sad for Serena because she’s incredible player, No. 1.”