Top-ranked Serena Williams had her calendar Grand Slam quest crushed in stunning fashion Friday as Italy’s 43rd-ranked Flavia Pennetta delivered a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 upset shocker to reach the US Open final.
In Saturday’s championship match, Vinci will face 26th-ranked compatriot Flavia Pennetta, who upset Romanian second seed Simona Halep 6-1, 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Williams was trying to complete the first calendar Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and match Graf’s Open Era record of 22 career Slam titles.
Pennetta leads their career rivalry 5-4. It will be the first all-Italian women’s Grand Slam final in the Open Era.
(Vanguard)
