Veni, Vidi, Vinci: Italian stuns Serena in semis to end Grand Slam dream

For Serena Williams’ first 26 matches at major tournaments in 2015, no deficit was too daunting, no opponent too troublesome, no victory too far from reach. She was unbeaten and, seemingly, unbeatable nearing the first Grand Slam in more than a quarter-century. All Williams needed was two more wins to pull off that rare feat. And yet, against an unseeded and unheralded opponent in the U.S. Open semifinals, she faltered. Her pursuit of history ended, oh so close.

I think she played out of her mind. I don’t think I played that bad. I think she just played really well.

Serena Williams

In one of the most significant upsets in the history of tennis, Williams finally found a hole too big to climb out of, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Friday at Flushing Meadows to 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci, of Italy. Williams was bidding to become only the fourth woman to win all four majors in the same year with what would have been the first calendar Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and a tournament win to match Graf’s Open Era record of 22 career Slam titles.

It’s an incredible moment for me. It’s like a dream. I’m in the final. I beat Serena. It’s, I think, the best moment of my life. … Sorry for the American people, for Serena, for the Grand Slam and everything. Today is my day. Sorry, guys.

Roberta Vinci

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