Obscure Italian shatters Serena in shocker

Serena Williams saw her dream of a calendar year Grand Slam title sweep shattered in stunning fashion Friday as Italy’s Roberta Vinci shocked the world number one to reach the US Open final.

Vinci battled back for an epic upset of the three-time defending champion 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, ending Williams’ 33-match Grand Slam winning streak.

World number 43 Vinci was set to face 26th-seeded compatriot Flavia Pennetta -- who upset Romania’s second-ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 6-3 -- in the first all-Italian Grand Slam women’s final in the Open Era.

“I think she played out of her mind. I don’t think I played that bad. I think she just played really well,” said Williams. “She played the best tennis of her career.”

It was a shocking end to Williams’ run at not only a sweep of the year’s four major titles, a feat that hasn’t been done since Steffi Graf’s 1988 effort, but her bid for a 22nd Grand Slam title to match Graf’s Open Era career record and take a fifth Slam crown in a row.

“I don’t want to talk about how disappointing it is for me,” said Williams in a brief post-match news conference. That left it for her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, to sum up the failure. “The pressure of this tournament was enormous and this was a match which she managed less well than the others,” he said. “After her career, what we will remember isn’t that she didn’t win the Grand Slam. We will say that she is the greatest champion of all time.”

Vinci was overjoyed by her shock win. “It’s an incredible moment for me,” Vinci said.

“It’s like a dream. I’m in the final. I beat Serena. It’s an amazing moment. It’s incredible. “It’s I think the best moment of my life.” Vinci apologized to the crowd for ending Williams’ Grand Slam sweep dream.

“Sorry for the American people, for Serena, for the Grand Slam and everything. Today is my day. Sorry guys.”

Vinci, 32, said she never thought to win after losing four prior matches against Williams without taking a set.

“No, really, it’s true,” she said. “When I wake up, I say, ‘I have a semi final today. I play Serena. Try to enjoy.’ I didn’t expect that I win.”

(AFP)