Serena fails to break Vinci code

New  York, September 11

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Serena Williams' bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam came to a shuddering halt at the US Open on Friday when the three-times defending champion suffered a stunning 2-6 6-4 6-4 loss to unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci. For world No. 1 Williams, who was bidding to become only the fourth woman to win all four majors in the same year, it marked the first time she lost to Vinci in five career meetings. 

Vinci, appearing in her first grand slam singles semifinal, took advantage of some loose points from the American with inspired play and determination to snap Williams' streak of 33 consecutive match wins in the Grand Slams. The 32-year-old Italian ended the two-hour shocker with a half-volley winner to set up a most unlikely Flushing Meadows final against 33-year-old compatriot Flavia Pennetta, who beat Romanian second seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3 to reach her first Grand Slam singles final.

Pennetta stuns Halep

Flavia Pennetta crushed Romanian second seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3 with an stunning upset that put the Italian into her first Grand Slam final. Pennetta, 33, entered the contest as the clear underdog but the 26th seed showed her experience and was not overwhelmed on the big stage having reached at least the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows in six of the last seven years.

“It's amazing. I didn't think to be so far in the tournament,” said Pennetta, who will play compatriot Roberta Vinci in Saturday's final. “Today I think I played really well.” After rain forced officials to postpone the women's semifinals by a day, the clash had an undercard vibe to it as it preceded the match featuring Williams.

Pennetta, playing in her 49th Grand Slam, needed 59 minutes to get by Halep and secure a long-awaited berth in the final of one of the sport's four blue riband tournaments. Aside from her US Open resume there was little to hint at a US Open final by Pennetta, who by her own admission had an unimpressive run-up to the year's final Grand Slam that included second-round exits in Toronto and Cincinnati and a first-round loss in New Haven.

“I just tried to play every match the best I can from the first one. Try not to think too much about the draw, just play match by match,” Pennetta said after her win. “I tried to be focused on what I have to do all the time when I on the court and here I am, so I'm very happy.” With the crowd still filing into Arthur Ashe Stadium Pennetta grabbed the first break of the match to go up 3-1 and then pulled away from an out-of-sorts Halep.

Halep's problems followed her into the second set as Pennetta broke again to take the early initiative before the feisty Romanian finally began to push back breaking the Italian and surging into a 3-1 lead.

One of the WTA Tour's best counter punchers, Halep tried to go on the attack but a calm Pennetta would not crack and swept through the next three games to regain momentum and a 4-3 advantage.

Serving to stay in the match, Halep fought off one match point before her resistance collapsed, Pennetta finishing off her opponent with stinging forehand winner. — Reuters