NEW YORK – The end came at 2:56 p.m. Eastern Time and the final dagger was a delicate forehand drop volley, of all things, on triple match point. Roberta Vinci cupped her hands to her face, stunned by her own accomplishment. The calendar Grand Slam, a dream Saturday for tennis fans in search of a once-in-a-generation accomplishment, all gone thanks to the soft, slice-happy hands of a 32-year-old woman from Taranto, Italy, who had failed to reach beyond the second round of any major this year.
Where does Vinci’s 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 U.S. Open semifinal win on Friday over Serena Williams rank among upsets in the history of women’s tennis?